PETALING JAYA: Though a vast majority of the 10,972 new Covid-19 cases are not serious, the percentage of patients who need treatment in hospital can still overwhelm the public healthcare system, says Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

       According to the Health director-general, about 98.5% of the new cases reported on Monday (July 19) were mild or asymptomatic.

       There were 6,337 asymptomatic cases (57.8% of the total), while 4,464 cases (40.7%) displayed mild symptoms.

       However, Dr Noor Hisham noted that patients belonging to Categories 3, 4, and 5 had to be admitted to hospitals.

       There were 103 new Category 3 patients (0.9%) having pneumonia and requiring observation and treatment in hospital.

       Category 4 patients (42 new cases) are defined as those requiring oxygen.

       The average stay in the ICU for a Category 4 patient is 14 days.

       Category 5 patients (26 new cases) are those in critical condition and who require ventilator support.

       The average stay in the ICU for a Category 5 patient is 21 days.

       “The long period needed (for recovery) leads to limited bed capacity, and the hospitals become more crowded by the day.

       “This in turn puts a strain on the healthcare system in the ICU, hospitals, and the low-risk quarantine and treatment centres,” he said in a series of tweets on Monday.