Ministry Of Health Considers Using Hotels As COVID-19 Quarantine Centres In Malaysia
Many COVID-19 hit countries have been practising this to ensure hospital beds are reserved for patients experiencing severer symptoms.
By Yap Wan Xiang — 01 Apr 2020, 07:17 PM
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the nation, Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the government is currently considering using hotels and resorts as quarantine centres
During a Q&A session with the media today, 1 April, Dr Noor Hisham said the Ministry of Health (MOH) will announce in the coming days which hotels and resorts will be converted into temporary quarantine centres.
He added that the move will require police officers, Malaysian Armed Forces (MAF) personnel, and MOH workforce to be deployed to the premises.
Dr Noor Hisham's response came after reporters asked how many quarantine centres does the country have in case of a surge in suspected COVID-19 patients
"We have many quarantine centres nationwide. Every state has its own quarantine centres," Dr Noor Hisham answered.
"We have confirmed that we currently have 334 quarantine centres in Malaysia. Even as of today, many individuals who tested negative for the coronavirus but reported to have come into close contact with COVID-19 patients are ordered to be put at these quarantine centres."
He revealed that there are currently about 4,000 individuals quarantined in such centres
Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin visiting a temporary quarantine centre at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (MAEPS), Serdang.
Image via Bernama via Free Malaysia TodayDr Noor Hisham said these centres were previously MOH training facilities and public training centres, such as National Institute of Public Administration (INTAN).
He said these premises have been marked by the ministry to be temporarily converted into quarantine centres.
The ministry will soon release a list of quarantine centres for the public to refer to, Dr Noor Hisham added.
The move to convert hotels into makeshift quarantine centres is widely practised by many COVID-19 hard-hit nations
A Jordanian radio personality quarantined in a five-star hotel in Amman, Jordan.
Image via Middle East EyeCountries like Spain, China, Italy, and the United States, have turned their hotels into temporary quarantine quarters.
For example in Jordan, suspected COVID-19 patients are quarantined in luxury hotels across the nation, reported Middle East Eye.
A patient named Mohammad Sakkijha was quarantined in a four-star hotel for 11 days, where he enjoyed meals on his balcony overlooking a pool, palm trees, and a stunning view of the Dead Sea.
