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

       In a statement, Selangor Health director Datuk Dr Sha’ari Ngadiman said across the state, 92% of 1,286 beds meant for non-critical Covid-19 cases are currently utilised.

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

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

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

       “Of the current figure of ICU bed usage, 42% or 86 cases are confirmed Covid-19 cases. The rest are non-Covid-19 cases,” said Dr Sha’ari.

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

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

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

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

       The high-utilisation rate at Hospital Sungai Buloh, said Dr Sha’ari, was because it also receives patients in Klang Valley, and not just Selangor.

       “Hospital Sungai Buloh is a referral hospital for all of Klang Valley. Therefore, it also receives Covid-19 patients from other hospitals so that their ICU beds can be utilised to accommodate non-Covid-19 cases,” said Dr Sha’ari.

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

       “This is to accommodate more Covid-19 cases and also help reduce the hospital’s burden. Besides that, other Klang Valley hospitals will also support Hospital Sungai Buloh if it needs to accommodate new Covid-19 hospitalisations and ICU admissions,” said Dr Sha’ari.

       He added that in the past two weeks, the average daily cases in Selangor is between 1,300 and 1,500 - where 1.5% to 2% are Category 3, 4 and 5 infections.