Covid-19: 52pct of beds at hospitals, low-risk treatment centres occupied, says Masidi

 

By Olivia Miwil - October 28, 2020 @ 9:23pm

KOTA KINABALU: The bed occupancy rate for hospitals and low-risk treatment centres in Sabah is at 52.5 per cent and not as previously reported at over 90 per cent.

Sabah Covid-19 spokesperson Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said on Oct 22, the state had taken the number of cumulative instead of active Covid-19 cases in the state for the bed occupancy rate.

"For now, there are 7,237 beds for hospitals and quarantine centres with 3,796 active cases which means that the usage rate is at 52.5 per cent.

"In fact, there will be more beds as additional low risk centres would be set up to cater demands," he said in a virtual press conference, adding there are nine hospitals and 35 quarantine centres designated for Covid-19 cases.

Masidi, who is also state Local Government and Housing minister, added that he had to rectify the unintentional miscalculations to alleviate fear of the public of not having adequate beds for patients.

Sabah recorded 546 new cases today with the state capital has highest number of cases (159), followed by Sandakan (116),Tawau (101), Lahad Datu (44), Tuaran (28), Putatan ( 25), Papar (15), Keningau (11), Penampang (nine), Beaufort (eight), Kota Belud (seven), Semporna and Ranau (six), Kudat (four), Kinabatangan and Tambunan (two), Kunak, Nabawan and Tenom (one each).

Sabah capital registered more than half of the 3,769 active cases which majority of them were detected in the Kepayan prison cluster here.

Masidi said 2,701 prisoners have been screened and the cumulative number of those tested positive is 1,652 people. The index patient is believed to be infected in the community.

To prevent similar incident, convicted persons would first be screened before being placed at the prison.

"A new cluster today dubbed as 'Sri Gaya' also contributed 11 new Covid-19 cases from a gathering during nikah.

"If we see the nature of infection in the state capital, it is mostly on close contacts of those with Covid-19 who will then infect their family members and more people," he said, adding the state Health department is actively tracing contact and doing mass screening to contain the spread.