MIRI – Sarawak is looking into converting some hotels in the state into treatment centres to handle low-risk Covid-19 cases as current facilities are overwhelmed with daily surges in infections.
The Sarawak government, Health Ministry and hotel operators are currently discussing this proposal, said adviser to state Disaster Management Committee Datuk Dr Sim Kui Hian.
Dr Sim, who is state Local Government and Housing Minister, said in his social media chats that hotels already functioning as quarantine centres can double as treatment centres if the Health Ministry finds them suitable for patients with mild symptoms.
“We are stepping up measures to get more low-risk quarantine and treatment centres (PKRCs). For example, in Kuching and Samarahan divisions in the last 14 days, the surge was overwhelming.”
Several new PKRCs in Kuching have been set up to handle expected rises in cases, including in Samarahan and Serian districts, he said.
These new PKRCs in Kuching are at Kolej Sains Kesihatan Bersekutuan, Kompleks Belia Sukan (badminton court), Institut Latihan Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia, College Rafflesia at Universiti Malaysia Sarawak and at training centre of Taiyo Yuden industry site.
Dr Sim said the new PKRC at Unimas has 600 beds.
“These new PKRCs for low-risk Category 3 Covid-19 patients have 24-hour service provided by nurses and paramedics. They are additions to the other three PKRCs that opened last week.
“We must plan for the worst while praying (and taking) actions for the best.”
Sarawak, one of the states with the highest daily Covid-19 cases, had recorded 327 deaths and almost 53,000 infections as of yesterday evening. – The Vibes, June 9, 2021
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