Covid-19 outbreak at USM Hospital, operations disrupted, two units closed

 

Scores of healthcare staff at Universiti Sains Malaysia Hospital (HUSM) in Kubang Kerian, Kelantan have been sent into quarantine after several tested positive for Covid-19, according to sources within the hospital.

This has affected operations at the semi-government hospital with at least two units temporarily closed while several wards are now running below their usual capacity due to being understaffed.

The units which have been closed are the labour room under the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department (O&G) and the Surgical High Dependency Unit (SHDU), according to a HUSM staff member.

"So far, the labour room and SHDU are closed. The other wards, so far, are still operational. But many are now short of manpower because many staff had to undergo quarantine."

It is learned that this has caused some patients having to be redirected to a nearby government hospital in Kota Bharu.

HUSM staff members, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Malaysiakini that they knew about positive cases among their co-workers.

However, the employees have not been provided with any official details by their management about the situation.

"I know that there are staff members who have been found positive. However, I do not know how many are affected," said one of the employees.

"Maybe the management does not want to trigger panic," said another staff member.

Another source said that one of those who tested positive was an anesthesiologist. This was confirmed by one of the healthcare staff who claimed that the doctor may have gotten the virus from a patient.

Malaysiakini was informed by a whistleblower earlier this week that a positive case was found among students at the USM medical campus which shares the same location as the hospital.

The individual who contacted Malaysiakini claimed that 600 students at the campus had to be quarantined in their hostel following the incident.

The source also provided a screenshot of an internal memo by HUSM in which director Dr Ahmad Sukari Halim pleaded for donations to fund daily meals for the students under quarantine.

However, attempts by Malaysiakini to get official comments from authorities, including the Health Ministry and HUSM's top management, failed to unearth concrete details on how serious the situation is.

The hospital's public relations officer today re-sent a Nov 26 statement by HUSM director Dr Ahmad Sukari Halim which said that only the Health Ministry had the authority to release an official statement on Covid-19 positive cases.

Asked about the notice seeking donations, the same PR officer has not provided any response as at the time of writing.

Attempts to get a response directly from Sukari were unsuccessful, with text messages to him going unanswered.

Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah, meanwhile, did not confirm or deny the outbreak at the hospital when contacted today.

"Investigation is being carried out," he said in a text message when asked about the claim of positive Covid-19 cases among HUSM staff members and the quarantine order. - Mkini