'Tents outside KK hospital are for screening, not ICU'

 

Tents set up in front of Covid-19 designated Hospital Queen Elizabeth, Kota Kinabalu are not to treat critical patients, but for screening.

Sabah health director Dr Christina Rundi said initial screening is done in these tents to avoid cross-infection with patients in the hospital.

This comes after photos of such tents were circulated on the internet and purported to makeshift wards for critically-ill Covid-19 patients, waiting for beds in intensive care unit (ICU) wards.

Christina said hospitals across Sabah have opened up tents for a person under investigation (PUI) for Covid-19 and those who come in with severe acute respiratory illness (Sari).

The PUI tents are meant for those who have been identified as close contacts to patients, she said in a statement.

"With this tent, patients can be isolated and given preliminary treatment before admitted to isolation wards or ICU if need be," she said.

The SARI tents, she said, are equipped to treat those coming in with severe symptoms, before they are sent to the relevant wards.

She said almost all Sabah public hospitals and clinics have set up screening tents.

"As the number of Covid-19 patients rises, the state health department will take suitable steps to ensure patients receive optimal care and avoid the spread of infection in hospitals or other medical facilities.

"We hope no speculation is made giving rise to negative perceptions towards the service provided by the public hospitals and clinics, who are working towards this pandemic," she said.

On a separate matter, she urged the public not to make any donations to the Ahli Lembaga Pelawat Hospital Queen Elizabeth as no fundraiser has been launched at this time.

"Those who have made donations are urged to contact the Hospital Queen Elizabeth's director immediately," she said.

Sabah yesterday recorded 488 new Covid-19 cases.

Most were found in Semporna (167), Tawau (85), Kota Kinabalu (74), Lahad Datu (59) and Sandakan (41).

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah today said the medical frontliners in Sabah are facing a critical moment in the fight against Covid-19.

Yesterday, he said the public healthcare system in the Borneo state is being "tested" but still operating well. - Mkini