ALOR SETAR: A total 90 intensive care unit (ICU) beds are occupied by Covid-19 patients at government hospitals in Kedah as of noon yesterday, out of the 96 beds available.
State Health Director, Dr Othman Warijo said of the total, 42 patients in the ICU needed breathing aids.
"We have 96 Covid-19 ICU beds in all hospitals under the health ministry in Kedah.
"A total 90 Covid-19 patients are currently being treated in the ICU. To date, the use of beds in all hospitals that treat Covid-19 patients in Kedah have reached 95 per cent capacity," he said when contacted here.
Meanwhile, Dr Othman said his office has made an application to the government to obtain two freezers to keep the bodies of deceased Covid-19 patients at the Sultanah Bahiyah Hospital (HSB) in Alor Setar and the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital (HSAH), Sungai Petani.
He said the two hospitals needed the special containers due to the increasing number of Covid-19 deaths.
Kedah yesterday recorded 12 deaths from Covid-19 while on Thursday a total 17 deaths were recorded.
Until yesterday, Kedah continued to be one of the highest states with new Covid-19 cases after Selangor and the Federal Territory with 1,281 cases.