MoH adds beds for Covid-19 treatment, quarantine

KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 17): The Ministry of Health (MoH) clarified today that there are 11,076 beds in hospitals and quarantine and low-risk treatment centres across Malaysia to treat Covid-19 patients.

Based on an infographic released by the ministry, an additional 4,281 beds had been added since Oct 9 — from 6,795 beds previously.

A total of 3,505 beds are hospital beds, whereas 7,571 are beds in quarantine and low-risk treatment centres.

The infographic also stated that 5,276 beds are in Sabah.

Sabah is currently the worst-hit state, with the highest number of confirmed infections to date and the Kota Marudu Hospital designated by the MoH as another hospital to treat infections.

The new figures were released after theedgemarkets.com highlighted that the utilisation rate of beds would have risen given the recent spike in new Covid-19 cases.

The infographic also stated that there are 1,515 ventilators across Malaysia. However, it did not state how many of the beds and ventilators are being used.

There are also 43 Covid-19 treatment hospitals as well as 41 quarantine and low-risk treatment centres. Meanwhile, there are 61 labs with a combined testing capacity of 54,706 tests per day.

As for Sabah, there are 180 ventilators available, 120 intensive care unit (ICU) beds, nine Covid-19 treatment hospitals, and 19 quarantine and low-risk treatment centres. The state has three labs that are capable of running 2,500 tests per day.

Yesterday, the number of new Covid-19 cases of the country jumped to above the 600 level again at 629. The number of active cases breached the 6,000 mark at 6,323, according to the MoH. Six more fatalities were reported, with the country’s Covid-19 death toll increased to 176.

Selangor reported 50 new cases, followed by Penang with 33, Labuan (19), Perak (nine), Kuala Lumpur (eight), Kedah (seven), Johor (five), Melaka (three), Putrajaya (two), Negeri Sembilan (one) and Pahang (one). Around 38% of the new cases involved a few clusters, such as the Tembok cluster, the Remand Prison cluster and the Seberang Perai Prison cluster.

Meanwhile, the total number of infections involving those visiting Sabah since Sept 20 increased to 437 after 16 more cases were reported.

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