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KUCHING: The Sarawak government has approved RM4.85mil to assist the Health Department's preparations in coping with the rising trend of Covid-19 cases.
Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah said the allocation included RM2.1mil to replenish stocks of the antiviral drug Paxlovid, especially for high-risk groups with comorbidities and the elderly.
He said the funds would be used to buy 800 packs of the drug.
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"We want to make sure that we have enough stock of Paxlovid, because we notice that the number of cases seems to rise before any festive season.
"After Christmas, we have to prepare for Chinese New Year and Hari Raya later on," he told a press conference on the current Covid-19 situation in Sarawak here on Thursday (Dec 21).
Uggah said the state government also allocated an additional RM2mil to construct a field hospital here to accommodate Covid-19 patients and to be used as infectious disease wards.
He said construction of the 88-bed field hospital would start in January.
Sarawak currently has a field hospital in Sibu with 100 beds, while another one is under construction in Miri, also with a 100-bed capacity.
In addition, Uggah said RM300,000 was approved to replenish the stock of Covid-19 rapid test kits and RM450,000 to set up canopies at hospital and clinic triage areas to cater for the rising number of patients.
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"We will buy 150 canopies to be distributed to clinics throughout Sarawak.
"These canopies will provide shelter to patients and medical personnel," he said.
Uggah said Sarawak recorded 631 Covid-19 cases in epidemiological week 50 (ME50) from Dec 10-16, more than double the previous week's total of 310 cases.
He said no new deaths were reported in ME50, with the total deaths remaining at nine this year.
Uggah also said there was an increasing trend of Covid-19 patients admitted to hospital since early November.
He said 45 patients were admitted in ME50 compared to 25 the previous week.
"However, inpatient management is still within our capacity and manageable for now.
"The hospitals are strengthening their preparedness to handle severe Covid-19 patients in view of increasing cases and admissions reported in the past few weeks," he said.
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