Asymptomatic COVID patients to be directed for home-based care

The Health Ministry has instructed all major hospitals to immediately direct asymptomatic/ mild symptomatic COVID-19 patients for home-care as COVID positive cases continue to surge and major hospitals struggle to accommodate growing numbers of patients.

A senior Health Ministry official told Timesonline that hospital directors have been instructed to inform doctors to refer patients with no symptoms to home care after notifying the patient’s area Medical Officer of Health and the regional Epidemiology Unit. 

He said almost all hospital beds in major hospitals are flooded with COVID positive patients, both with severe symptoms and mild/no symptoms.

“We need space to accommodate beds for those who require oxygen and emergency care. For those who are asymptomatic and do not require hospital care can stay at home and receive medical help from specialists via phone,” he said.

Two months ago the Ministry of Health introduced a direct hotline 1390 for home-based COVID-19 patients.

According to the senior official, the Ministry plans to renew and issue a new set of guidelines on home care. Sri Lanka recorded the highest daily death toll of 82 and close to 2,500 persons being tested positive for the virus yesterday(4).

Both Karapitiya and Ratnapura Teaching Hospitals declared emergency due to the surge of COVID patients being admitted to the hospital, over-crowded COVID wards, COVID patients reporting from other wards/units resulting in healthcare workers being exposed to the virus.