Speaking at his daily media briefing, Noor Hisham said all Covid-19 hospitals and low-risk centres were capable of treating up to 23,000 patients at a time.
However, its limits were being reached with the current 22,089 active cases in the country.
“We are looking at further preparations if the cases continue to increase,” said Noor Hisham. “But 89- 90% of the cases are asymptomatic, so we are considering isolating them and having them quarantine at home.”
For patients in stage 1 and 2 of Covid-19, the health ministry would give priority to people such as foreign workers and others who did not have a suitable place to undergo quarantine.
Vaccinations might begin in March
Noor Hisham also said the national Covid-19 vaccine strategy was still in the discussion stages, but it would be announced in the next one or two weeks.
“The vaccine is not here yet, so we expect the vaccine approval to be by the end of February or perhaps we will start the vaccination in March.
“It all depends on how fast the (pharmaceutical) companies can respond to the questions and issues raised by the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency,” he said.
In the meantime, Noor Hisham said the health ministry would continue to look into the efficacy and safety of the vaccine over the next four to six months.
Yesterday, science minister Khairy Jamaluddin said a national vaccination plan will be finalised in a meeting of the Covid-19 vaccine supply access guarantee committee on Thursday.
Scheduled to start in February, Khairy said the plan would cover the matters on receiving the vaccine, hospitals registered to have access to it and the logistics.
More Covid-19 field hospitals for Kelantan
The Kelantan state government plans to open more field hospitals, or quarantine and low-risk treatment centres, following the increase in Covid-19 cases in the state.
State executive councillor Dr Izani Husin said the three Covid-19 hospitals were at 90% capacity. “We are in the midst of identifying several areas such as Ketereh and Panji to place Covid-19 positive patients,” he told reporters after inspecting a treatment centre at Dewan Jubli Perak here.
The centre can accommodate about 120 patients. He said 32 patients at the Nursing College here would be transferred to Dewan Jubli Perak.
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