The Ministry of Health told all state hospitals and maternity facilities to be extra vigilant for Covid-19 symptoms among patients.

In a letter dated May 8 and addressed to directors of all state hospitals, minister Mam Bun Heng said doctors could use Rapid Antigen Covid-19 testing devices on patients if necessary, and those who test positive must be placed in separate rooms.

Hospitals “have to prepare separate rooms in order to provide treatment, surgical procedures and maternity services, according to the technical standards for patients who also have Covid-19”, he said.

He stressed that patients infected with the novel coronavirus can only be transferred to Covid-19 treatment facilities once they have been discharged from hospital after receiving treatment for the illness or injury for which they were admitted.

Hospitals have to maintain sustainable healthcare services for the public, he said.