KUALA LUMPUR – Malaysia’s severe Covid-19 cases in May are four times higher than in the preceding month, according to the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC).
The number of Categories 4 and 5 patients stood at 6,751 in April, and surged to 30,287 last month, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Adham Baba.
He is expecting another spike this month, with Malaysia already logging 22,857 such cases as of yesterday.
Category 4 patients need oxygen, while those in Category 5 require breathing aid.
Meanwhile, the nation’s intensive care capacity has hit 97%.
There are 1,767 intensive care unit beds across the country, including at public and military hospitals, of which 1,161 are occupied by coronavirus patients, with 452 on ventilators.
Dr Adham said the government has instructed private clinics and medical centres to provide itemised billing relating to on-site Covid-19 screening to ensure adherence to the ceiling prices set by the Health Ministry.
Putrajaya’s ceiling price for the RT-PCR test is RM150, rapid molecular test (RM270), RTK Antigen test (RM60) and rapid antibody detection (RM50) in the peninsula.
In Sabah and Sarawak, the ceiling prices are RM200 (RT-PCR test), RM350 (rapid molecular test), RM80 (RTK Antigen test) and RM70 (rapid antibody detection).
The public can lodge complaints with CPRC and the Private Medical Practice Control Section if private medical facilities are charging above the ceiling prices, said Dr Adham. – The Vibes, June 14, 2021
