Health DG: ICU Covid-19 numbers hit record high

There are 506 individuals in intensive care due to Covid-19 related reasons, revealed health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah.

Another 295 need ventilators to breathe, he said today.

These are both record numbers.

The figures shared by Noor Hisham includes "confirmed", "probable" and "suspected" Covid-19 patients in intensive care. [Editor's note: view WHO definition here.]

This data is slightly different from the daily briefings by the Health Ministry which only deals with "confirmed" Covid-19 cases.

Patients classified as "probably" or "suspected" have to be treated with the same Covid-19 protocols.

"Throughout the country, critical case admissions to intensive care units have increased by 44 percent compared to the previous two weeks. Some states such as Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Kelantan and Sarawak have a higher rate.

"There are 22 Covid-19 hospitals where their Covid-19 ICU bed use is more than 70 percent. Some are experiencing more than 90 percent," he said.

Some non-Covid-19 hospitals are now treating Covid-19 patients in need of ventilators because Covid-19 dedicated hospitals are already full.

"Some patients have to be ventilated in normal wards," he revealed.

Noor Hisham warned that the festive season coupled with the slow vaccination roll out and densely populated areas would likely contribute to hospitals having to deal with more Covid-19 patients who have reached the critical stage.

In view of this, Noor Hisham urged all Malaysians to abide by Covid-19 health protocols and register for vaccination.