In a Facebook post, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said intensive care unit (ICU) beds in hospitals in Penang have all been taken up following the spike in cases.
“The trend of patients being treated at ICUs in Penang has increased by more than 45% over the past two weeks.
“This trend is expected to continue with the existence of new clusters, involving elderly care centres, among others.”
Yesterday, it was reported that three old folks’ homes in Penang, with more than 200 residents, had been ordered to close after Covid-19 cases were detected among the staff and residents.
Noor Hisham said the armed forces’ Field ICU in Penang can treat 27 critical Covid-19 patients at a time.
These patients are those who require respiratory assistance, dialysis and life support.
The armed forces is also setting up a modular laboratory and a modular radiology unit to provide clinical support to those in the Field ICU.
Earlier, Noor Hisham visited the army’s Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan in Kuala Lumpur to have a closer look at a dry run of the Field ICU.
He thanked the armed forces and staff of Hospital Angkatan Tentera Tuanku Mizan for establishing the Field ICU.
“Hopefully, these efforts can help us provide the best treatment for critical patients in Kepala Batas and the surrounding area, and reduce the fatality rate from Covid-19.”
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