Maeps to be equipped with hospital for more severe Covid-19 cases
The Health Ministry is converting the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) into a Covid-19 facility that treats both mild and severe cases.
Maeps was previously used as a quarantine and low-risk treatment centre (PKRC) for patients for no symptoms (Category 1) and mild symptoms (Category 2).
The Health Ministry is converting the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (Maeps) into a Covid-19 facility that treats both mild and severe cases.
Maeps was previously used as a quarantine and low-risk treatment centre (PKRC) for patients for no symptoms (Category 1) and mild symptoms (Category 2).
Health Minister Dr Adham Baba said today that the facility will run as an “integrated hospital" from next Sunday (Jan 24) onwards.
It will admit patients with more serious symptoms (Category 3) as well as those with pneumonia and require oxygen (Category 4).
“For this integrated or Maeps hospital, we will begin on Jan 24.
“And it is for the Category 1 and 2 cases placed here who suddenly advance to Category 3 and 4. (They will be hospitalised here) before they are taken to Covid-19 hospitals for intensive care,” he said in a press conference this afternoon after visiting (above) the facility.
TV3 reported that the Maeps hospital will have 40 beds.
This includes 30 beds for Category 3 and 4 patients and 10 “transit” beds that can be used as intensive care unit (ICU) beds.
Adham said the hospital will also be equipped with infectious disease experts, medical officers, nurses and intensivists. Intensivists are physicians who specialise in ICU care.
Blood pressure kits and negative pressure tents will also be provided.
Patients from other states
Meanwhile, Bernama reported that more beds have been added to the Maeps PKRC wards.
From Monday (Jan 18) onwards, it will have the capacity to accommodate 10,000 Category 1 and 2 patients.
Adham reportedly said that severe Covid-19 cases whose conditions have improved will be sent to Maeps PKRC wards to recover.
Patients from outside the Klang Valley (Selangor and Kuala Lumpur) will also be placed there.
“Maeps PKRC will also admit Category 1 and 2 patients who have recovered after they were treated in Covid-19 hospitals and previously classified as Category 3, 4 or 5.
“This is aside from patients from Johor, Malacca, Negeri Sembilan and the Klang Valley,” he said.
Category 5 patients are those with critical illness and multi-organ failure.
The ministry’s director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah previously proposed that PKRC like Maeps be reserved for foreign nationals with Covid-19.
This included migrant workers whose living quarters are not conducive for self-isolation.
Since Jan 12, the ministry has stopped placing all Category 1 and 2 patients in PKRC and instead instructed them to self-isolate at home.
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