GEORGE TOWN – The state government has reached out to the Penang Medical Practitioners’ Society (PMPS) for help monitoring some 9,000 Covid-19 patients quarantining at home to ensure their health does not deteriorate.
Health exco Dr Norlela Ariffin, in a statement to The Vibes, said that “95% of the patients registered with Covid-19 Assessment Centres (CACs) are in Categories 1 and 2. Although they are required to quarantine at home, they need monitoring support to relieve anxiety and panic, and must be alert to their oxygen levels.
“This is paramount so that their symptoms do not escalate to Categories 3 to 5, where patients need oxygen supply.
“I have asked PMPS president Dr Parmjit Singh to assist CACs in conducting home monitoring for some 9,000 patients quarantined at home. On behalf of PMPS, he has agreed.”
Dr Parmjit has engaged at least 50 general practitioners to help monitor patients observing isolation in their own homes or at hotels.
The GPs will have to undergo CAC training online conducted by the Health Department. Under the initiative, the department foots a bill of RM10 per patient, per day over the course of their quarantine period of 10 to 14 days.
More service vehicles for patients
Dr Norlela said there are seven high-risk Covid-19 patient transport service vehicles with nine to 12 seats and oxygen supply for those suffering breathing difficulties before being sent to low-risk quaratine centres (PKRCs) or hospitals.
“More needs to be done to increase PKRCs’ capabilities so that patients do not become Categories 4 and 5 cases, or end up as brought-in-dead cases.”
Many hotels that have applied to serve as PKRCs have yet to secure approval, she said.
“I am also requesting for the Health Department and district health offices to expedite the approval of patients’ applications for hotel quarantine.
“For Categories 1 and 2 patients, they need a room to isolate themselves, to prevent infecting high-risk family members.”
Strict requirements for hotels
Dr Norlela also shared comments by the Malaysian Association of Hotels’ Penang chairman K. Raj Kumar, highlighting the Health Ministry’s 14 conditions for hotels looking to serve as PKRCs.
These include burning linen sheets after use by each patient, the use of at least two elevators, and providing rooms with at least one window – requirements that budget hotels find difficult to meet.
Dr Norlela is requesting that the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) subsidise RM50 per patient, per day for those quarantining at hotels, so that these individuals need only pay RM15 per day.
This is similar to the payment arrangement at PKRCs operating out of Jawi’s Mara Excellence Centre and the Caring Society Complex here.
Neo+ Hotel general manager Gulab Mahatam Rai said the establishment applied to serve as a PKRC months ago, but there has been no response from the Health Department.
Previously, a national service campsite called White Resort Camp applied to serve as a PKRC, but it, too, did not get a reply. The facility is able to accommodate 1,000 people, and meals can be prepared on-site.
Penang’s rate of virus deaths per 100,000 population is now the highest at 16.7. Twenty-seven fatalities were reported on Saturday, taking the state’s overall toll to 915.
The state also reported 1,865 fresh infections the same day, driving up its cumulative caseload to 106,953. – The Vibes, September 13, 2021
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