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Mahathir repeats call for temporary hospitals as Covid deaths continue to rise

This way, patients can be given oxygen and medical treatment if they take a turn for the worse, he says.

Staff Writers
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Health workers wearing full personal protective equipment work at the Covid-19 ICU ward of Hospital Nukleus in Labuan. Photo: Bernama
Health workers wearing full personal protective equipment work at the Covid-19 ICU ward of Hospital Nukleus in Labuan. Photo: Bernama

Dr Mahathir Mohamad today repeated his call for Covid-19 patients in Category Three to be placed at temporary hospitals to facilitate the administration of oxygen for those whose lungs have been affected by the virus.

At the moment, he said, only patients classified as Category Four and Five are warded in hospital.

“Category One, Two and Three patients are told to quarantine at home. At home, there are no caregivers or oxygen.

“Families are unable to help as they cannot be in close proximity with the patient. Doctors cannot be called, patients become worse and there is no oxygen. In the end, the patient dies,” he said in a blog post.

He suggested that such patients be quarantined at temporary hospitals, saying the military could construct field hospitals while halls in hotels and other buildings can be outfitted with beds, oxygen and medical personnel.

“If a patient takes a turn for the worse, doctors and nurses can administer oxygen,” he said.

“If the response is not good, the patient can be transferred to a regular hospital. I hope this suggestion can be accepted by the health ministry.”

Covid-19 patients are grouped under five categories ranging in severity of infection.

Those in Category One are asymptomatic while Category Two patients display mild symptoms.

Patients in Category Three are those with pneumonia who require observation by healthcare workers, Category Four patients require oxygen and Category Five patients are those in critical condition who are in need of ventilator support.

Covid-19 patients are grouped under five categories ranging in severity of infection.

Those in Category One are asymptomatic while Category Two patients display mild symptoms.

Patients in Category Three are those with pneumonia who require observation by healthcare workers, Category Four patients require oxygen and Category Five patients are those in critical condition who are in need of ventilator support.

Of the 20,897 new infections reported yesterday, more than 20,400 were in Category One and Two.

Category Three meanwhile saw the addition of 224 cases, while 119 cases were in Category Four and 79 in Category Five.