PUTRAJAYA: Good teamwork has been credited for the low numbers of Covid-19 patients in Intensive Care and low fatality figures recorded in Malaysia, said Health Director-General Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
He was asked if the low figures were due to Malaysia having a different strain of the novel coronavirus compared to other nations.
To this, Dr Noor Hisham attributed it to good team work, adding that there were no conclusions as yet presently on such a claim as it was a new virus.
“We are looking at how we can isolate the virus so we can study it. It is an ongoing process and it will take time for us to do the research and identify,” explained Dr Noor Hisham.
He believes the way Malaysians as a nation managed positive Covid-19 patients could be one of the reasons why the number of ICU cases and fatalities were low.
Dr Noor Hisham said that 88 per cent of positive Covid-19 patients nationwide displayed mild symptoms and were quickly isolated and taken to hospitals before their symptoms became moderate or critical.
“We don’t know which (of those with mild symptoms) will become moderate or critical. Therefore, all positive patients are observed in the ward and only 4.9 per cent of the total number ended in the ICU and even fewer needed ventilators.
“We placed them in isolation so we can study their nature and behaviour. Maybe because we managed the patients early, we detect and admit them the moment they are tested positive - an ambulance will come to pick them up. We are among the very few countries doing this,” added Dr Noor Hisham.
He also credited the success to the team of specialists at all seven Covid-19 designated hospitals for increasing the 44 ICU beds to 112 ICU beds to date.
Adding to the success, according to him includes the 65 specialists from private hospitals, and 909 retired nurses who returned to join the fight against Covid-19.
“We have good teamwork,” he said.
He also commended the innovative engineering team who doubled the capacity of one ventilator which now can benefit two patients at one time; on top of very capable, well trained medical staff nationwide.
He added that in two weeks, a medical team from China will be arriving to share their experience and look at the local health sector’s performance in combating the infection.
“The Chinese medical team will be here in two weeks. They are here to visit and share experience on how they managed the crisis in their country and also maybe learn from us too,” said Dr Noor Hisham.
Meanwhile, on claims of patients being rude, he said all ministry staff have been reminded from time to time to explain to the public on why testing is important and that it is done to protect them and their family as well as to manage the expectation of each patient under their care and that everyone is together in this fight.
Dr Noor Hisham also said that for discharged patients, the ministry has a standard operating procedure which includes counseling, reminding them to practice social distancing, avoid public area, wash hands frequently - as according to him, former patients' antibody may not be strong enough to fight if they were infected again.
He also revealed that about 20 per cent of the Health Ministry's staff had been exposed to Covid-19. These are either by being in close contact with a positive patient, or while serving at a hospital or clinic where the patient did not inform they were in close contact with a Covid-19 patient.
In cases like these, Dr Noor Hisham said the whole department would be closed, screened and affected personnel would be placed on a 14 day quarantine.