GEORGE TOWN – The Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) has urged people with Covid-19 symptoms to go straight to government hospitals for treatment because they have the expertise to handle the virus.
CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader said that it is best to seek treatment at government hospitals because private hospitals mostly cater to patients with ailments other than Covid-19.
"Even if they opt for the private hospital, they would be transferred to the government one."
He also said likely patients should be tested for Covid-19 before seeking treatment at private hospitals.
Recently, a patient who tested positive while under hospitalisation at KPJ Hospital branch in Seberang Jaya, spread the virus to eight frontliners there.
As a result, the Permatang cluster was born with nine positive cases as of Tuesday.
Ironically, the cluster is seen to have similarities to the Sungai cluster which also involved the staffers of a private hospital, the Kedah Medical Centre (KMC) in Alor Star.
Mohideen said the matter could have been avoided if all patients with symptoms were treated at government hospitals.
"If there are early symptoms, get treatment at a government hospital who has the expertise and facilities in handling Covid-19.
“This is to prevent Covid-19 from entering the community because we do not want the Sungai cluster incident to replicate here," he said to The Vibes.
KPJ Penang in a statement yesterday said that a patient was identified as Covid-19 positive on October 31.
Following that, KPJ Penang conducted a screening test on all of the patient’s close contacts and found that eight hospital staff were also infected with Covid-19.
Currently, KPJ Penang does not allow visitors to the hospital until further notice.
All of its staffers, including the doctors and nurses will need to undergo Covid-19 screening tests.
The Health Ministry had declared that the Sungai cluster in Alor Star, Kedah had ended after no cases were detected in the past 28 days.
However, it did result in 101 positive cases and one death. – The Vibes, November 4, 2020
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