Da Nang’s daily coronavirus caseload remains high, and the majority of the city's COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic that are being under home-based isolation and care. However, the health agency raises concerns over growing number of high-risk patients who develop severe symptoms during home isolation due to the failure to report their disease to their local authorities and lack of coordination between local people and related units.

Testing plays a key role in health agency’s efforts to contain and mitigate the COVID-19 pandemic by identifying infected individuals to help prevent further person-to-person transmission of COVID-19. IN PHOTO: Healthcare workers in Son Tra District conducting COVID-19 testing for workers at the Da Nang Industrial Park. Photo: Xuan Dung

Data published by the health agency shows that more than 93% of Da Nang’s COVID-19 cases are being monitored, isolated and cared at home, thereby putting a great pressure on the grassroots health networks as they must keep a close watch on such patients in bid to timely transfer them from home to hospital if their symptoms get worse.

Meanwhile, a combined total of more than 1,100 patients are being treated for COVID-19 at medical facilities across Da Nang, of whom, over 230 are severe patients, 31 require critical care, over 400 are over 65 years of age, and 550 are high-risk patients with underlying medical conditions.

In particular, 122 COVID-19 patients, including 69 people with severe symptoms, are under treatment at the Lung Hospital. Doctor Le Thanh Phuc, the Director of the Lung Hospital, said that only 100 Intensive Care Unit beds are available at the hospital.

Doctor Phuc pointed out the fact that the number of critically ill patients with COVID-19 and fatal patient cases in Da Nang now remains unchanged compared with previous coronavirus waves, thereby placing a great pressure on local health system. Therefore, he highlighted the need for better coordination between local relevant units and agencies to prevent high-risk patients from getting worse during home isolation.

A medical professional in Son Tra District conducting a health check of a COVID-19 patient in her own home. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

In its efforts to provide effective support for COVID-19 patients under home-based isolation and care, the municipal Department of Health has worked with the Department of Information and Communications and the Da Nang Young Physicians Association to create a network of doctors to help such patients to make a full recovery from the illness.  

Doctor Nguyen Thanh Trung, the Deputy Director of Da Nang General Hospital and Chairman of the Da Nang Young Physicians Association, said that a total of 149 volunteers who are doctors, volunteers, and medical staff has till date joined the city’s programme to support patients with asymptomatic or mild forms of COVID-19 to recover at home.

Mrs Tran Thanh Thuy, the Acting Director of the Da Nang Department of Health, raised concerns that COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms fail to report their disease to their local health authorities and perform their self-treatment. She warned that taking medication without a doctor's advice for treating COVID-19 at home may be dangerous, COVID patients will become seriously ill and even suffer from post-COVID-19 complications as they miss the opportunity to access medical interventions and treatment in a professional and timely manner. Such patients will cost local health system a lot of money, thereby putting a greater burden on the city, Mrs Thuy noted.

The health agency is urging authorities at local level to maximize available health resources to effectively manage COVID-19 patients under home-based isolation and care. Attention must be given to setting up designated isolation and care facilities for COVID-19 patients with mild symptoms who are unable to safely isolate or quarantine at home but do not require hospital admission.

Reporting by PHAN CHUNG – translating by H.L