Better health facilities no good if people ignore Covid-19 SOPs: Chow

KEPALA BATAS – Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has warned the people that the setting up of an field intensive care unit (ICU) at Kepala Batas Hospital is not a ticket to ignore Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Chow said although the new facility will aid those in dire need of medical care due to Covid-19, there are still inadequacies in accommodating the growing number of cases, especially if people continue to not comply with the SOPs.

“We need to return to the basics, namely, compliance with SOPs, enforcement of the movement control order (MCO), and the role of the community as well as individuals in practising self-discipline, such as undergoing a self-lockdown as advised by the Health Ministry (MoH).

“We, the state government, hope that the people understand what we are doing, and together we can break the chain of infection with SOP compliance,” he said when visiting the field ICU today.

The facility conducted its final dry run this evening, and operations will begin in stages starting tomorrow.

Chow extended his thanks on behalf of the state government to the Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF), MoH, Penang Health Department (JKNPP) and everyone who has worked together to ensure that the hospital operates as soon as possible.

“The Penang government will always provide the cooperation needed by MAF and MoH to ensure smooth operation of the ICU,” he said.

Also present at the event were state secretary Datuk Abdul Razak Jaafar, Sixth Infantry Brigade commander Khairul Anuar Abd Aziz, Kepala Batas Hospital director Dr Norhasimawati Abdul Mutalib, and Penang Public Works Department director G. Balamurugan.

The field ICU will be equipped with 24 beds – 12 for those who need ventilators and another 12 for Category 4 Covid-19 patients.

Its capacity can be increased to 30 beds if needed.

The ICU is housed in three containers and tents built on a hybrid concept and equipped with the necessary medical equipment.

It will be run by three officers, two anaesthetists and 50 MAF personnel who will be on duty 24 hours a day.

Penang recorded 385 fresh cases today, of which 306 were citizens while 78 others, non-citizens.

Of the total, 186 of the cases were traced from close contacts, with the largest cluster being from the Bukit Minyak Industrial cluster, recording 21 cases. – The Vibes, May 24, 2021