As part of its gradual shift towards living with the disease, Da Nang has launched a pilot programme for COVID-19 patients with mild illness to recover at home from December in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health. Authorities at local level has taken proactive steps to treat patients who have mild or no symptoms in their homes in safe and effective practices. The pilot program aims to help mildly ill COVID-19 patients to feel comfortable while in quarantine to recover at home as well as reduce the burden on local healthcare systems.

A healthcare professional performing the health check for a COVID-19 patient in her home in Tho Quang Ward, Son Tra District. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Monitoring of COVID-19 patients on a daily basis

Tho Quang Ward in Son Tra District is the first in the city to activate its mobile medical station to treat COVID-19 patients at home. Till date, 10 patients have been monitored and provided with treatment in their homes.

Nurse Nguyen Thi Thuy Linh, the Head of the Tho Quang Ward Medical Station, said that healthcare workers are tasked to monitor the health of the patients on a daily basis. The patients will report daily body temperature measurements with their healthcare workers, and consult with them to seek medical advice or seek a higher level of care in hospital if their symptoms deteriorate. 

Tho Quang Ward has seen the highest number of confirmed cases in Son Tra District with 196 reported cases after the city has faced COVID-19 resurgence since October 16.

Doctor Pham Hong Nam, the Director of the Son Tra District Medical Center, remarked that more than 70 healthcare workers have been trained to be able to provide mobile medical care for mildly ill Covid-19 patients at home.

Based on the current COVID-19 situation in Son Tra District, Tho Quang Ward that has recorded more new coronavirus infections in recent days has been selected to implement the city’s pilot scheme. The program will be then expanded into other parts of the district following its successful implementation in Tho Quang Ward.  

Stringent monitoring on compliance with home quarantine rules over COVID-19 patients play a critical role in the success of the city’s pilot scheme. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Proactive measures taken to prevent the spread of the virus

Under the city’s plan, the pilot programme for COVID-19 patients with mild illness to recover at home is being implemented across the city from December. Citywide localities are taking proactive action to deploy the city’s pilot scheme based on the current situation in their local areas with high priority given to places with highest number of COVID-19 cases.

Lien Chieu District is currently unable to treat COVID-19 patients at home as it emerged as a new hotspot in Da Nang for coronavirus cases. Hence, the district is focusing on maximizing available resources, including healthcare workers, to tackle rising infections. The heed is given to ramping up contact tracing, isolating and testing efforts to suppress the resurgence of local outbreaks.  

Doctor Le Van Sy, the Director of Lien Chieu District Medical Center said that the district plans to set up 10 mobile medical stations in 5 wards to treat the patients with mild illness at home, and human resources and medical supplies are now available to the patients.

The pilot programme is expected to be implemented in Hoa Hiep Bac Ward in the next few days, said Doctor Le Van Sy.

Doctor Tran Thien Hung, the Director of the Cam Le District Medical Center, said that a mobile medical station will be set up in each ward of the district, and the pilot programme is expected to be carried out across the district within this week.

According to Doctor Ton That Thanh, the Director of the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the Da Nang government has issued specific guidance for eligible COVID-19 patients to recover at home. The patients are required to be able to care for themselves. Such patients and their household members must meet certain stringent conditions.

Mr Thanh highlighted the importance of stringent monitoring on compliance with home quarantine rules over COVID-19 patients in the success of the city’s pilot scheme. The voluntary compliance behavior of the patients plays a critical role in protecting the safety of their family members and their wider community. Patients’ homes are considered as quarantine facilities, as a result preventing cross-infection at home is very essential to them in a bid to curb the spread of the virus.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – Translating by H.L