The Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health, Tang Chi Thuong, has just signed a document sent to hospitals, local authorities, and the Health Centers of Thu Duc City and various districts regarding the implementation of guidelines for home care and health monitoring for individuals infected with Covid-19.
Accordingly, there will be 2 cases of F0 being cared for and monitored at home.
- Case 1 involves asymptomatic F0 individuals who are being treated at healthcare facilities and are eligible for discharge on the 7th day; they will continue to be monitored and supervised at home or their place of residence for the next 14 days.
- Case 2 involves newly detected asymptomatic F0 individuals in the community, without risk factors (no underlying diseases or stable underlying diseases, and not obese), who will be isolated at home for 14 days.
The Covid-19 Prevention and Control Steering Committee in each district will establish a group of doctors to provide health consultations via phone for F0 individuals, including doctors from Health Centers, Communal Health Stations, private healthcare facilities, and retired doctors residing in the area.
The Health Center will organize a hotline to receive calls from F0 individuals (when needed) operating 24/7 to guide patients on how to care for themselves at home, arrange home visits, or direct patients to Health Stations, Health Centers, district hospitals, or private medical facilities for examination.
Image: HCDC
The city’s emergency center 115 is responsible for receiving emergency calls from F0 individuals with severe symptoms at home. Emergency Center 115 uses an ambulance system, patient transport vehicles, and taxis (distributed across 5 clusters: Binh Tan, Binh Chanh, District 10, District 12, Thu Duc City) to transfer patients to the nearest hospitals.
Additionally, the document also provides guidance on what needs to be done for F0 cases and their caregivers, as well as those living with F0. It also specifies the conditions for isolation facilities for F0 individuals isolating at home. Notably, F0 individuals or their caregivers and family members should remember to call healthcare workers immediately if they exhibit any of the following symptoms: fever above 38 degrees Celsius, cough, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of smell/taste, chest pain, heavy chest, or difficulty breathing (when unable to take a deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds), or if the breathing rate exceeds 20 breaths per minute for appropriate guidance.
In cases of worsening symptoms such as difficulty breathing manifested by shortness of breath, rapid breathing over 30 breaths per minute, lethargy, cyanosis of lips, extremities, SpO2
