KUALA LUMPUR: The Covid-19 situation is reaching a critical level, especially in the Klang Valley following an increase in coronavirus cases.
The situation began in epidemiology week 12 and lasted until week 17 (May 1) which in turn has caused an increase in new cases, with cumulative infections reported throughout the period standing at 79,881 cases, said Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.
"From the total, Selangor recorded the highest number of 22,099 cases while Kuala Lumpur registered 7,019 cases and Putrajaya recorded 264 cases," he said in a statement today.
Dr Noor Hisham said Malaysia recorded a Covid-19 cases incidence rate of 872 for every 100,000 people from Jan 1 to May 1.
"Three states recorded the highest incidence rate comprising Kuala Lumpur at 1,583 cases followed by Selangor (1,486) and Putrajaya (1,140)."
Dr Noor Hisham said the infectivity rate in the country is showing an increasing trend with the current infectivity rate at 1.14 while Selangor is 1.20, Kuala Lumpur (1.16) and Putrajaya (1.0).
He said there are seven Covid-19 hospitals dedicated to treating patients including one university hospital in the Klang Valley which includes Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya,
"A total of 277 critical beds or intensive care units (ICU) are allocated for both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients for the Klang Valley states.
"Of these, a total of 152 critical beds or ICUs are dedicated to treating Covid-19 patients and the current capacity rate has reached over 88 per cent.
"According to the Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), the latest Covid-19 data on the critical bed and ICU capacity rate were found to exceed 70 per cent in the Sungai Buloh Hospital, Kuala Lumpur Hospital, Ampang Hospital, Serdang Hospital and Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang Hospital.
"Meanwhile, Selayang Hospital and University Malaya Medical Center reported the use of critical beds/ICU Covid-19 at a rate of more than 50 per cent.
"This is due to an increase in critical case admissions by 62 per cent compared to the last two (2) weeks."
Dr Noor Hisham said to date, 108 ventilator units are required for Covid-19 patients in the Klang Valley alone.
He said the ministry monitors the use and availability of critical/ICU and non-critical beds for Covid-19 patients in the Klang Valley through the Central Region Covid-19 Unified Command Center (UCC).
"Among the management of critical beds at Covid-19 hospitals in the Klang Valley is done in an integrated manner under the supervision of the UCC.
"The Sungai Buloh Hospital which is fully operational as a Covid-19 hospital will increase the capacity of critical beds and ICUs in phases to meet the increasing needs. The ministry has procured medical equipment such as ventilators since last year, so the hospital can increase its critical bed capacity when there is an urgent need.
"Elective surgeries and procedures in hospitals around the Klang Valley can be reduced or delayed to allow more hospital beds to be reserved for Covid-19 treatment.
"Appropriate regular wards will be re-purposed to meet the increasing needs. Currently, there are 80 critical care beds created on a re-purpose basis around the Klang Valley and these beds will be added as needed.
"The ministry will continue to work with private, teaching or university hospitals around the Klang Valley to increase the capacity of critical beds."
Dr Noor Hisham said the increase in cases and the rate of healthcare capacity in the states of the Klang Valley is very worrying.
"If this increasing trend of Covid-19 cases continues, then healthcare capacity will be at a critical level and will harm the delivery of public health services as a whole.
"Therefore, the community is urged to help the ministry by always adhering to the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) set by the government and adhere to the health advice to break the chain of Covid-19 infection in the country.
"A level of 100 per cent compliance by all parties is essential to help the country recover from this crisis," he said.