Covid-19: Four Chinese nationals recover, discharged from hospital

SUNGAI BULOH: Another four Chinese nationals have recovered from the Covid-19 coronavirus and have been discharged from Hospital Sungai Buloh here, says the Health Ministry.

The four are a 65-year-old woman, her 36-year-old daughter-in-law and grandsons aged 11 and two.

All had come to Malaysia as tourists during the Chinese New Year holidays and were discharged on Friday (Feb 14).

On Jan 25, Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad said that the Malaysian authorities were alerted by their Singaporean counterparts that four family members of an infected Chinese national had crossed over from Singapore.

The elderly woman and the two children were put in an isolation ward at Hospital Sungai Buloh while the mother was allowed to stay with her children.

Meanwhile, China's Ambassador to Malaysia Bai Tian, who visited them at the hospital, said he was happy that the patients had been cured and discharged.

“The four patients had not taken any special medication but recovered with their own immune system. These are the cured cases, ” he said when met at the hospital, adding that this showed that it is not a disease to be feared.

Bai Tian also said that he had a “cheerful” long chat with the family.

The mother said she was grateful for the treatment received in the hospital and she was touched by the services they had all received.

“This is a blessing in disguise for them as they had a good experience going through the hardship but see the solidarity, ” Bai Tian said.

He also commended the local medical team for its excellent medical skills and the professionalism and love rendered to the patients, and said the hospital was well equipped and had the state-of-the-art infrastructure.

He added that state government health officials have also been very supportive.

Bai Tian said that the four came as tourists in a big family group comprising grandparents, parents and two children during Chinese New Year and they were diagnosed with Covid-19 shortly after they arrived in Johor Baru.

The father and grandfather were diagnosed in Singapore and were treated there while the four were diagnosed in Malaysia and sent to the Sungai Buloh Hospital.

Three other patients in Malaysia have also recovered and been discharged from hospitals.

They were all Chinese nationals and were aged 40, four and 63.

“I want to thank the Health Ministry for its excellent preventive measures since the outbreak, ” Bai Tian said.

He also commended the ministry's team for its successful communications work as he did not see unnecessary fear and panic in Malaysia.

“With the better knowledge, this helps mitigate the situation, ” he said.

Also present at the hospital Friday was Deputy Health Minister Dr Lee Boon Chye, who congratulated the Hospital Sungai Buloh team for a job well done.

“We stand in solidarity with China. This should not be seen as a China problem but one that should be supported by the rest of the world.

“Wuhan, keep it up, ” he said.