GEORGE TOWN, September 28 – From 1 October 2021, Hotel Mei located at Lorong Abu Siti, George Town will operate as a Private Low Risk Quarantine and Treatment Center (PKRCS) for COVID-19 Category 1 and 2 patients by offering free temporary placement to residents of Penang in among the lowest 40 per cent income households (B40) who met the set criteria. I express my appreciation and welcome the State Government’s collaboration with non-governmental organizations (NGOs), Crisis Relief Services and Training Berhad (CREST) which offered funding of about RM1.7 million for the operation of PKRCS here for a period of three months.
On 18 September, I had a visit with a briefing session from CREST, the management of Hotel Mei and the Penang State Health Department (JKNPP). It is informed that all approaches have been taken to ensure the safety of the local community is maintained. All patients will be taken through the back door of the hotel and the front (opposite the main road) is a tightly controlled green zone. I am confident that all operations will be closely monitored for the benefit of all parties, especially the community and local residents. This PKRCS is important and a necessity to them especially the B40 group whose existing residence is not suitable for the quarantine process at home.
In fact, JKNPP in an official letter dated 14 September 2021 has also informed that Hotel Mei meets the criteria and operation of PKRCS as stated in the Guidelines Annex 32b of the Ministry of Health Malaysia (MOH) dated 24 February. PKRCS Hotel Mei provides 70 rooms for COVID-19 Category 1 and 2 patients aged between two and 60 years who undergo self-quarantine. At one time, all PKRCS facilities at the relevant hotels were able to accommodate the maximum capacity of 147 COVID-19 patients. All patients to the relevant PKRCS are determined by the District Health Officer (PKD) and no walk-in policy is allowed.
