PETALING JAYA: With a capacity to treat 150 Covid-19 patients, the disaster management zone (DMZ) located in the underground parking lot of the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital will begin admitting patients starting today.

       Health director-general Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the DMZ was capable of accommodating 100 Category 3 patients as well as 50 Category 4 patients, and should they need respiratory assistance, they could be transferred to the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital’s intensive care unit ward.

       Category 3 Covid-19 patients are those with symptoms of pneumonia while patients in Category 4 are those who are symptomatic, have pneumonia and need oxygen assistance.

       “The DMZ of Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital is an existing facility specially designed by the armed forces since the construction of the hospital 20 years ago.

       “The DMZ is equipped with a centralised oxygen supply, vacuum ports and a special electrical wiring system for the purpose of biological and chemical disaster preparedness,” said Dr Noor Hisham in a social media post yesterday, after his visit to the DMZ.

       Dr Noor Hisham said his visit was aimed at refining the strategic planning of the management of Covid-19 patients in the Klang Valley following the increase of cases especially in categories 3, 4 and 5, which has caused congestion in healthcare facilities.

       “On behalf of the Health Ministry, I would like to express my appreciation and thanks to the Chief of Defence Forces and all members of the Tuanku Mizan Armed Forces Hospital for their strategic cooperation in combating the Covid-19 pandemic in the country,” he added.