KOTA KINABALU: Medical staff from other districts have been mobilised to assist hospitals with growing Covid-19 patients in Sabah, amid a continuous increase in cases in the state.

       Sabah Health Department director Dr Rose Nani Mudin said the two hospitals that need assistance are the Tawau and Queen Elizabeth Hospital (HQE) in Kota Kinabalu.

       “For Tawau, we have roped in the help of 15 staff members from Labuan whereas for HQE, we have asked staff from other districts to assist,” she said when contacted.

       Overall, she said medical facilities and manpower to deal with Covid-19 cases are still adequate while staff mobilisation and other arrangements would be made based on scheduled analysis and requests.

       She said there is no specific time frame set for each rotation of duties and mobilisation of staff but it was the department’s priority to ensure that medical officials get enough rest to handle day-to-day cases.

       She said they will be put on rotation duty but time will be allocated for them to have a break in between to prevent fatigue, mental as well as physical health issues.

       Sabah recorded a total of 1,379 new cases and five deaths on Aug 8, with Kota Kinabalu, Tawau, Tuaran, and Penampang having the most new cases.

       Kota Kinabalu recorded 351 new cases, Tawau 160, Tuaran 152 and Penampang 113.

       A total of 26 out of 27 districts statewide are categorised as red zones.

       Only Nabawan remains in the orange zone.