GEORGE TOWN – Since Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang started operating as a low-risk Covid-19 centre on November 20, it has been receiving 50 to 100 patients per week.
Seven doctors monitor the patients on 12-hour rotations daily.
To accommodate the expected rise in low-risk coronavirus patients now that the conditional movement control order has been lifted for most of Penang, the facility is looking to add another 100 beds.
Docs On Vacay founder and Covid-19 medical officer Dr Iise Chew told The Vibes of what happens in the ward.
“We take care of about 50 to 100 patients, depending on the rates of admission and discharge. Firstly, our team of medical assistants will check a patient’s vital signs, things like blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen saturation. Based on these markers, we will know whether to further treat a patient or send them to hospital.
“Those in the ward have risks of complications. However, at the low-risk ward, almost all the patients are stable. We usually discharge patients on the 10th day if they are feeling well.
“When we perceive days, we look at when symptoms appear, or when the swab was taken. If symptoms appear first and the swab is taken later, the first day the symptoms appear is calculated as Day 1. If there are no symptoms, but the test is positive, we calculate the swab date as Day 1. If the patient is well on Day 10, we discharge them.
“On the day a patient is supposed to be discharged, we occasionally do a rapid test kit (RTK), where we check their antibodies. The patient would have developed antibodies against the virus.
“I say ‘occasionally’ because there are limited stocks of the kit. RTK is usually done when the first day that symptoms appear and the swab date are ambiguous.
“As for the vaccine, we will have to wait and see. I personally have no idea. Right now, the stock market is going up because everyone is confident about the vaccine, but we still have many factors to look into, like how long it will take before we can vaccinate everybody. So, we still need to remain vigilant.”
At the beginning, he said, more locals than foreigners were admitted to the centre. However, the ratio has since tipped to 70:30.
Since the enhanced movement control order started at flats in Persiaran Paya Terubong, Relau, and the Bistari Desa Flat estate in Batu Uban on Monday, Covid-19 screenings have also been conducted.
Those who have been swabbed will be given either a pink or white wristband. The white wristband is for heads of households, who are allowed to leave their homes to buy essentials.
On Tuesday, state Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin called on tourists visiting Penang to comply with health and safety standard operating procedures (SOPs), and practise “Responsible Tourism”.
“The pandemic situation in Malaysia is not yet under control. Therefore, we must be responsible by always wearing a mask and complying with the SOPs that have been set by the authorities, especially when travelling.”
Since the launch of “Responsible Tourism”, the committee, as well as the state Health Department, Penang Island City Council and Seberang Prai City Council, have been monitoring public places, such as hotels, tourist attractions and shopping malls, to ensure adherence to the SOPs. – The Vibes, December 13, 2020
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