PETALING JAYA: The low risk quarantine centre at Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (Maeps) in Serdang, Selangor will be re-opened albeit at a smaller scale, confirms the National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma).

       The agency told The Star the plan for the centre to only cater to the state instead of the central region like Maeps 2.0.

       On that note, operations will be at a much smaller scale than the Maeps 2.0 and patient count will also be less.

       “(It can accommodate) about 850 patients and we are expecting it to be ready in the near future,” the agency said.

       Nadma said there will also be changes in terms of building, functions and human resources.

       “Nadma is ready to help the Health Ministry to contain the rise in (Covid-19) cases, just like other PKRC’s in the state,” it said.

       Sources familiar with the matter said that the Selangor Health Department has also indicated plans to re-open the quarantine centre in view of the rising cases.

       The Kajang Municipal Council (MPKj) uploaded photos to its Facebook page of preparations at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park (Maeps) in Serdang on Wednesday (Feb 23).

       The post noted that the council’s special action squad along with other agencies were helping out with the preparations.

       Among the tasks included the rearrangement of facilities at Hall A of the quarantine centre.

       Photos also showed beds lined-up to accommodate patients.

       The centre was closed on Feb 8 after operating for 14 months and treating 166,072 Covid-19 patients who were in categories 1 to 4.

       National Disaster Management Agency (Nadma) director-general Datuk Dr Aminuddin Hassim reportedly said the Maeps PKRC 2.0 was closed as it was no longer economical to continue operations, taking into account operating costs and the declining number of patients.

       Malaysia reported 31,199 new Covid-19 cases on Feb 23, which is the highest daily count to date.

       The fresh cases took the cumulative total to 3,305,157.

       Meanwhile, Selangor reported 7,798 cases on Feb 23, while Kuala Lumpur saw 2,186 cases.

       According to the CovidNow portal, the hospital bed utilisation rate in the Klang Valley had reached 65.2% with 607 admissions on Wednesday.