Menteri besar Muhammad Sanusi Md Nor said the wards at the Sultan Abdul Halim Hospital were being thoroughly disinfected in stages, hence requiring the closure of several sections over the next two weeks.

He urged those seeking treatment to go to other government health clinics, Harian Metro said.

The healthcare workers who were infected included doctors, nurses and the cleaning crew of the hospital.

Kedah health and local government committee chairman Dr Mohd Hayati Othman said at present only category three and four Covid-19 patients (those suffering from pneumonia and others requiring oxygen supply) were being treated at the hospital, while the rest were being quarantined at home.

He denied the total number of healthcare workers who had tested positive was “over 100 people”, as claimed by certain quarters.

Hayati said all cases will be referred to other hospitals for the next two weeks.

The drive-through medicine-dispensing counters and the maternity wards will remain open, he added.

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