The Malaysian Insight

PATIENTS from the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (Maeps) low-risk quarantine and treatment centre (PKRC 2.0) in Serdang, Selangor were being transferred to the Slim River hospital in Perak as the Klang Valley continues to report a high number of Covid-19 cases, said sources.

At least two sources told The Malaysian Insight that the patients were transferred from the low-risk quarantine centre to the Perak Hospital today as Maeps is facing manpower shortage.

“It is true we have sent some patients to Slim River,” a source said.

The Malaysian Insight is unable to confirm how many patients have been transferred to the Slim River hospital.

The source, however, said the patients needed hospital care.

“Rightfully, those patients should (already) be in the hospital.

“Also, we are short of manpower to monitor them,” the source said.

Maeps PKRC 2.0, which has more than 5,000 beds, had exceeded capacity since May.

Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said on July 8 that all 154 beds allocated for Category 4 patients at Maeps had been used up.

“The remaining beds for Categories 1,2 and 3 Covid-19 patients are also almost fully occupied.

Maeps receives an average of 800 Covid-19 patients a day, with an average of 200 Covid-19 patients in Category 4.

There are five categories of Covid-19 infections: 1 is positive cases with no symptoms, 2 is positive cases with mild symptoms, and 3 is positive cases with pneumonia.

A Category 4 Covid-19 infection refers to a patient suffering from symptoms of pneumonia and is given oxygen support, while a Category 5 patient shares the same condition and has multi-organ failures.

He said the ministry was increasing resources at these Covid-19 treatment centres to cope with the growing patient load.

Malaysia today recorded 9,353 cases, taking the national caseload to 827,191 infections. – July 10, 2021.