Covid-19: Situation critical in Sarawak public hospitals’ ICU, warns Dr Chin

KUCHING: The usage of intensive care units (ICU) in government hospitals in Sarawak has reached a critical level following the surge of Covid-19 cases in the state, state Health Director Dr Chin Zin Hing revealed.

The hospitals include Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), Sarikei Hospital, Sibu Hospital, Bintulu Hospital and Miri Hospital, he said in a statement following Health Director-General Tan Sri Noor Hisham Abdullah’s update on the situation in the country’s hospitals.

“It is therefore crucial that all Sarawakians take precautionary measures by wearing face mask, maintaining social distancing, practising good hand hygiene as well as strictly complying with the standard operating procedures (SOPs) that are enforced.

“Please do not gather in large numbers especially during this coming festive season and also at other social events,” he said.

Dr Chin urged those who feel unwell or have been in contact with Covid-19 cases to seek treatment and get immediately tested for Covid-19.

“Without cooperation and compliance to SOPs by the public, Covid-19 cases in Sarawak will continue to increase and the capacity of ICUs at hospitals cannot meet the intensive care needs of patients.

“As such, the mortality rate of Covid-19 cases will increase,” he warned.

Earlier yesterday, Dr Noor Hisham told the press that the ICU of hospitals around the country had exceeded 70 per cent of their capacity.