ICU bed usage over 50% in eight states

PETALING JAYA: The occupancy rate of intensive care unit (ICU) beds for Covid-19 patients has exceeded 50% in eight states and federal territories, says Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

They are Kelantan (70%), Putrajaya (67%), Kuala Lumpur (65%), Johor (63%), Melaka (61%), Perak (58%), Perlis (55%) and Sabah (53%).

As for non-ICU beds, 12 states and federal territories have more than 50% of their capacity filled.

They are Selangor (106%), Kuala Lumpur (91%), Perak (91%), Kelantan (87%), Putrajaya (84%), Perlis (78%), Pahang (69%), Johor (68%), Terengganu (60%), Sabah (60%), Penang (57%) and Sarawak (55%).

Melaka is the only state to see more than half of the beds at low-risk quarantine centres (PKRC) taken up, at 57%.

“All states are prepared with a quick action plan in the event there is a surge in cases which requires admissions to PKRC, hospitals or ICUs,” Dr Noor Hisham said in a statement yesterday.

There were 1,555 hospital admissions on Feb 28, of which 592 cases or 38.1% were in Categories Three, Four and Five, while 61.9% or 963 patients were in Categories One and Two.

Malaysia reported 23,100 new Covid-19 infections on Monday, which is a dip from the previous day’s count of 24,466.

A total of 298 of the new cases are imported, while 22,802 are from local transmissions.

Meanwhile, 361 patients are currently warded at ICUs and 193 are being given respiratory assistance.

Recoveries outnumbered new cases on Monday as 30,624 people recovered from Covid-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 3,116,564.

Dr Noor Hisham said 105 cases or 0.43% of the daily count were in advanced stages of infection in Categories Three, Four and Five.

The bulk of the cases (22,914 infections) were asymptomatic (Category One) or mildly symptomatic (Category Two).

Three new clusters were also detected, which brings the total number of active clusters to 480, he added.