PETALING JAYA: The re-opening of the Covid-19 Quarantine and Treatment Centre (PKRC) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) is a pre-emptive move in view of rising Covid-19 cases, especially from the Omicron variant.

       Health Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said it was necessary as high-risk Covid-19 patients under categories 1 and 2 were also being admitted to hospitals.

       "This decision was taken as the number of cases were high, and if necessary, such high risk patients can be treated through early intervention," said Khairy in a tweet on Friday (Feb 25).

       Hospitals, he added, could focus on category 3-5 Covid-19 patients and also not disrupt the treatment of non-Covid-19 cases.

       On Thursday (Feb 24), Khairy said the move would give a buffer to the hospitals, which had started giving non-Covid services and treatment, especially elective procedures which were delayed for the past two years.

       The centre which was the largest quarantine centre in the country reopened on Friday with 100 beds and a buffer of 850 beds.

       It was closed on Feb 8, with the government citing operating costs and decline in number of patients.