Severe Covid-19 cases almost double to 15pct in two weeks

 

COVID-19 | The proportion of severe Covid-19 cases has almost doubled in just half a month.

This came as the Health Ministry mobilises 14 more public hospitals and allocates more beds to treat patients with the virus. 

Cases are classified into categories, the most severe being Category 4 (patients with pneumonia and requiring oxygen) and Category 5 (patients with critical illness and multi-organ failure).

According to the ministry’s Crisis Preparedness and Response Centre (CPRC), Category 4 and 5 patients made up nine percent of all infections as of Jan 4. 

Just over two weeks later, these patients now make up 15 percent of all Covid-19 cases, said Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

With 39,464 active cases nationwide as of today, this suggests that there are presently about 5,900 Covid-19 patients in serious condition.

“Patients in Category 4 and 5 have increased to 15 percent. This is very high.

“If we group them together with Category 3 patients, this may make up around 20 percent (of all patients),” he said at a press conference this evening.

Category 3 patients are those with serious Covid-19 symptoms.

539 more Covid-19 beds

The ministry presently hospitalises Category 3, 4 and 5 patients.

From this month onwards, Noor Hisham said that an additional 539 beds have been allocated to treat Covid-19 patients in eight states.

These beds are in 14 public hospitals previously not designated to treat patients with the virus (non-Covid-19 hospitals).  - Mkini