GEORGE TOWN: Penang will use the same method during the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) outbreaks to monitor the spread of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) situation here.
State Health Department director Dr Asmayani Khalib said similar method had been used to follow-up the health conditions of patients categorised under Patients Under Investigation (PUI).
"At first maybe they only exhibit symptoms related to coronavirus slightly when they came in for treatment, so doctors will give them medication and not admit them.
"After that, our officers will go to their homes and ask a few question to investigate the history of their illness. Subsequently, we will call them everyday for the next 14 days to monitor their health," she said.
She said the Health Department will then follow-up with two criterias under the PUI list - patients who went to China within the last 14 days and those who were in direct contact with people infected with the virus.
During the 14-day follow-up, if the patient's condition worsened, they will have to report themselves to the nearest district Health Department for further assessment, she said.
"We also provide pamphlets for self checks called 'home assessment tool'," she added.
The state government had said it would set up a state-level disaster management committee if the situation turned critical.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the committee will be headed by the state secretary with the collaboration of other related agencies.