PETALING JAYA: Selangor is gearing up for a possible surge in Covid-19 cases as its hospitals have recorded an increase in admissions.

       State health director Datuk Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman said 92% of the 1,286 beds meant for non-critical Covid-19 cases are currently utilised.

       The usage rate for intensive care unit (ICU) beds have also reached 80% of the 203-bed capacity.

       Dr Sha’ari said ICU beds statewide are used up by both Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 patients.

       “The ICU at hybrid hospitals and non-Covid-19 hospitals are also utilised by non-Covid patients.

       “On the current ICU bed usage, 42% or 86 cases are confirmed Covid-19. The rest are non-Covid-19 cases,” he said in a statement yesterday.

       In Selangor, Hospital Sungai Buloh is the only health facility that is used fully for Covid-19.

       Hospital Tengku Ampuan Rahimah in Klang, Hospital Selayang, Hospital Serdang and Hospital Ampang are hybrid hospitals, where non-Covid-19 patients are also treated.

       Hospital Shah Alam and other district-level hospitals are non-Covid-19 hospitals.

       Dr Sha’ari said at present, 54 ICU beds or 96% in Hospital Sungai Buloh are utilised.

       He said there was a high utilisation rate there because it is a referral hospital for the entire Klang Valley and also receives patients from other hospitals.

       To prepare for a possible increase in Covid-19 admissions in Hospital Sungai Buloh, Dr Sha’ari said the medical gas system at the National Leprosy Control Centre has been enhanced.

       “This is to accommodate more Covid-19 cases and also help to reduce the hospital’s burden.

       “Other Klang Valley hospitals will also support Hospital Sungai Buloh if it needs to accommodate new Covid-19 hospitalisations and ICU admissions,” he added.

       Over the past two weeks, the average Covid-19 daily cases in Selangor have been between 1,300 and 1,500 with 1.5% to 2% under Categories 3, 4 and 5.