Page 100 - MALAYSIA HEALTH SECTOR RESPONSE TO COVID-19 PANDEMIC: PERSPECTIVES FROM THE FIELD

Hospital services continued to play a pivotal role in the pandemic response.
As of 30th December 2020, MOH Malaysia has expanded the hospital capacity
nationwide, listing 48 MOH hospitals to treat both COVID-19 and non-COVID-
19 patients . For example, Sungai Buloh Hospital and Kluang Hospital were
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full COVID-19 hospitals treating the critical ill. Other full COVID-19 hospitals
such as Kuala Nerang Hospital, Hulu Terengganu Hospital, Kuala Krai
Hospital, Tampin Hospital, and Rembau Hospital were treating the less
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severe cases . COVID-19 cases could also be managed in 2 university
hospitals (University Malaya Medical Centre and Hospital Canselor Tunku
Mukhriz, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia). As of 30th December 2020, the
total bed capacity in these 48 MOH hospitals and two university hospitals
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was 6,075, with about 54% being already utilised . A total of 446 ICU beds
were available for COVID-19 patients with a current occupancy of 43% .
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There were 1,583 ventilators available nationwide presently, with 40%
usage. Ramping up testing measures, the COVID-19 screening service has
also been made available in 120 MOH hospitals nationwide. The widespread
testing revealed numerous asymptomatic individuals, hence to ensure
proper quarantine and treatment of stable, asymptomatic COVID-19 cases,
MOH Malaysia had established 92 PKRC nationwide, which could
accommodate up to 23,156 patients .
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The rapid surge in COVID-19 cases since September 2020 has prompted the
Malaysian government to reinitiate the lockdown in the form of TEMCO,
EMCO, or CMCO in Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya since the
end of September 2020. MOH Malaysia had proposed to the NSC for a 2 to 4-
week MCO to be implemented in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya 12-
13 . After considering the potential economic repercussions, in view 40% of
Malaysia’s economy was derived from the Klang Valley, the NSC decided to
impose CMCO for the whole state of Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya
commencing on 14th October 2020 . Between 9th November 2020 and 6th
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December 2020, the CMCO was then expanded to include all the Peninsular
states, except Perlis, Kelantan, and Pahang. This was due to the myriad of
newly formed clusters in other states that had movement linked with the
Klang Valley 14-16 . The CMCO in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur was later
extended till 31st December 2020 .
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64 BATTLING THE THIRD COVID-19 WAVE IN MALAYSIA