Worrying 80% of Penang’s Covid-19 patients reject quarantine centres

BUKIT MERTAJAM – Almost 80% of Covid-19 patients in Penang have refused to register at low-risk quarantine and treatment centres (PKRCs), said state health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin.

She said most of these patients choose to undergo quarantine at home, and there are concerns about their health deteriorating until it is too late for them to be saved.

“Most Covid-19 patients opt for quarantine at home. That’s what we’re worried about, because now, there are a lot of brought-in-dead (BID) cases.

“Sometimes, these patients have no symptoms, and they think their body is healthy. However, if the assessment finds that they need to go to a PKRC, I beg you to please follow,” she told a press conference after the launch of the Covid-19 Emergency Careline in Taman Guar Perahu here today.

Present was Permatang Pauh MP Nurul Izzah Anwar.

Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin today said patients in Categories 3 (symptomatic with pneumonia) and high-risk 2b (symptomatic without pneumonia) will no longer be allowed to undergo quarantine at home, amid an increase in BID cases over the past weeks. 

He said the ministry has decided that the two groups will have to be admitted to government-designated PKRCs for observation.

Currently, Penang has three PKRCs – the Mara Centre of Excellence in Jawi, which has a 55% bed usage rate; Zakat Training Centre in Balik Pulau (beds are empty); and, Caring Society Complex in George Town (54% bed usage).

Dr Norlela said hotels serving as quarantine centres are not well received, with only one hotel recording a room usage of 22%.

She slammed private hospitals in the state that accept only Categories 1 and 2 patients.

“We need at least 1,500 oxygen beds, but private hospitals are only accepting Covid-19 patients with mild symptoms.

“If we want to revive the medical tourism industry, private hospitals should also help. We need two months before the immunisation programme shows results.”

Penang has nine private hospitals, and is among the states with the best medical facilities, making it a popular choice for medical tourists from abroad.

The state today logged 2,243 coronavirus infections – the fourth-highest tally behind Sarawak, Selangor and Sabah – and five fatalities.

In total, Penang has seen 103,149 cases and 803 deaths since the pandemic erupted early last year. – The Vibes, September 9, 2021