Shelter for those with mild symptoms

Hospital staff and Tzu Chi volunteers setting up the foldable beds at the Caring Society Complex in Penang. — Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

AS a preparation and standby measure amid the Covid-19 pandemic, the Caring Society Complex in Jalan Utama, Penang, has been turned into a low-risk Covid-19 centre (LRCC) which can house 90 people.

State welfare committee chairman Phee Boon Poh said the move was a request from the state Health Department in view of the current Covid-19 situation here.

“We do not know when we will need to use it, but the place is prepped and ready for use whenever the state Health Department deems necessary.

“The LRCC will be used for observation purposes to house the low-risk cases.

“Low-risk means those who show symptoms for Covid-19, but test negative for Covid-19.

“This means that the LRCC will house those who are suspected to have contracted Covid-19, but are getting tested and need to be quarantined, ” he said when contacted on Tuesday.

Penang Buddhist Tzu Chi Merit Society Malaysia commissioner Khoo Boo Leong, who was present at the complex, said the society provided 100 mattresses and 100 pillows for the LRCC.

“We helped to transfer 100 multi-purpose foldable beds from the Penang Hospital to the complex.

“We also brought in six industrial fans as well as two water dispensers, ” he said when met at the complex. Also present at the complex was Penang Hospital deputy director Dr Goh Hin Kwang.

It was reported that the Penang government was planning to turn the Caring Society Complex into a Covid-19 centre to ward mild cases.

Phee had said the complex was initially gazetted as a disaster relief centre.

The Caring Society Complex became a temporary shelter for the homeless in March when the movement control order was first implemented.

As of Tuesday, there were 1,686 Covid-19 cases accumulated in the state with 266 active cases and 1,413 recoveries.