Home care for COVID-19 patients to be introduced in Western Province

Home care will soon be introduced for COVID-19 patients in the Western Province. The service will be linked with the emergency hotline 1390, the Health Ministry said yesterday.

According to a statement released by the Ministry, a trial run of home care for COVID-19 patients had been carried out in Kalutara District and will be extended countrywide after it is introduced in the Western Province.

Over 400 medical professionals will be part of the program with patients monitored through daily phone calls.

Under the initiative, patients linked via the 1390 hotline will be assessed and categorised under the supervision of regional medical officers of health. Factors like patients who can be treated at home, the risk factor of asymptomatic patients or those with mild symptoms, ability to remain at home, and the surrounding area, will be taken into consideration.

This would allow priority to be given to persons over the age of 60 with various complications, as well as persons likely to develop complications when being hospitalised for treatment.