The Health Bureau (SSM) organised a media tour yesterday to brief reporters about its ongoing work in preparation for the possible setting-up and operation of an indoor makeshift hospital in the Macau East Asian Games Dome in Cotai, where 50 beds have now been set up for a drill to be carried out at the end of this month to simulate the activation of the hospital’s operation in case of a COVID-19 outbreak.
Speaking during yesterday’s media briefing, Lei Wai Seng, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, said that in case the operation of a makeshift hospital is needed, it could be set up in one or two days, and 350 to 400 beds would initially be set up in the East Asian Games Dome’s Zone A, i.e., the Arena.
After a cross-departmental drill at the end of this month, the 50 beds and all other temporary facilities, the setting-up of which has cost the government 200,000 patacas, will be removed.
The Macau government published last week the first draft version of its contingency plan for a massive COVID-19 outbreak, which includes the possible setting-up of an indoor and an outdoor makeshift hospital in and outside the East Asian Games Dome.
According to the plan, the indoor makeshift hospital would have up to 1,670 beds, comprising 500 beds at the East Asian Games Dome’s Arena and 1,170 beds at the dome’s adjacent Athletes Training and Development Centre, while the outdoor makeshift hospital would be set up in four areas outside the East Asian Games Dome and the Athletes Training and Development Centre, providing up to 2,760 beds. Consequently, the two makeshift hospitals could provide up to 4,430 beds.
Lei underlined yesterday that the Health Bureau has set up the temporary facilities at the East Asian Games Dome’s Arena at the lowest possible cost to enable the simulation of the real operation of the makeshift hospital. Health workers will start working there later this month to make use of the temporary facilities to help them design and draw up the work and service procedures for the makeshift hospital’s operation, before a drill involving various public entities is held there, according to Lei.
Run by 20 doctors initially
Lei said that the makeshift hospital at the East Asian Games Dome would be operated by 20 doctors and 40 to 50 nurses initially. Lei also said that members from the local branch of the China International Emergency Medical Team have completed training in operating a makeshift hospital, because of which they would be the first to work in the makeshift hospital at the East Asian Games Dome in case its operation is needed.
In addition to ward areas, according to Lei, the makeshift hospital will also have other facilities, such as observation rooms, treatment rooms and first aid rooms.
Lei also noted that based on COVID-19 experiences in neighbouring regions, which are being hard hit by Omicron transmissions, and Macau’s latest COVID-19 vaccination rate – which stood at 86.46 percent yesterday, the vast majority of patients could be expected to be asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms in case of a COVID-19 outbreak in Macau.
In case the makeshift hospital comes into use, Lei said, the Health Bureau would “dynamically” adjust the number of health workers and the amount of medical resources and equipment used for the hospital’s operation in line with the latest changes in the number and groups of COVID-19 patients. If many of the patients are senior citizens and those with chronic diseases, Lei said, a higher number of health workers would be deployed to work at the makeshift hospital.
If need be, Lei said, the Health Bureau would possibly ask private medical institutions, such as Kiang Wu Hospital, to send their health workers to join the makeshift hospital’s operation. If necessary, the local government would also ask the central government to send health workers to support Macau’s battle against COVID-19, Lei said.
In addition, Lei said, the Health Bureau has trained a large number of doctors and nurses to collect swabs for COVID-19 nucleic acid tests (NATs) in collaboration with non-governmental organisations. In the next stage, Lei said, the Health Bureau will provide them with training in working at a makeshift hospital, with the aim of preparing them to provide services in case they are needed to support the hospital’s operation.
Lei also said that the East Asian Games Dome’s Arena is a good choice for a makeshift hospital as it has a sufficient number of existing toilets and shower facilities.
According to Lei, the Health Bureau’s patient management IT system would also be used at the makeshift hospital. The system will enable health workers to closely monitor discharged patients’ state of health during their self-health management period, until their full recovery when their Macau Health Code colour will return to green, Lei said.
Lei Wai Seng, a clinical director of the public Conde de São Januário Hospital Centre, yesterday shows reporters medicines used for COVID-19 treatment, including MSD’s molnupiravir antiviral pills and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) drugs, in a temporary first aid room at the Macau East Asian Games Dome while briefing them about the possible operation of a makeshift hospital there. Photo: Tony Wong
The two photos taken yesterday shows ward areas and other facilities that have been set up on a temporary basis for a drill to be carried out at the end of this month to simulate the operation of a COVID-19 makeshift hospital at the Macau East Asian Games Dome. Photos: Xinhua
