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Home-based Covid patients roaming outside?

03 Jan 2022

  • Health Ministry expresses strong suspicions
  • Home-based care programme sees patients reduce
By Buddhika Samaraweera The Ministry of Health’s home-based care programme has pointed out that the last two weeks have seen a significant drop in the number of home-based Covid-19 patients, raising suspicions that Covid-19-infected patients may have engaged in activities such as shopping during the festive season, despite their illness. Speaking to Ada Derana yesterday (2), Ministry of Health integrated home-based care programme for asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic Covid-19 patients Head and consultant family physician Dr. Malkanthi Galhena said: “The number of home-based Covid-19 patients in the last two weeks seems to be really low, and we have strong suspicions as to whether patients ignored the illness, especially during the festive season, when there was shopping and other activities.” Noting that a significant number of people have now received the Covid-19 booster vaccine dose, she added that even if someone is infected with the Covid-19, they may remain asymptomatic. “Most people have now received the booster Covid-19 vaccine dose and they may show only the minimal symptoms. However, such patients can still be carriers. Therefore, it is very important that everyone follows the Covid-19-related health guidelines in the office, university, or school,” Dr. Galhena said. In mid-October 2021, Dr. Galhena said that a total of 3,168 Covid-19 patients were being monitored under the Health Ministry’s home treatment programme, which was approximately 30% of the patients that were part of the programme when it was initiated four months prior. She noted, at the time, that this indicates a clear reduction in the number of Covid-19 infections. “We have treated a total of 97,777 patients as part of this programme in the last four months. From them, 92,128 patients completely recovered whilst only about 1,600 patients required hospital admission. We were able to address both the physical and mental health needs of the patients, whilst spreading good health practices amongst members of the society, as we often consulted entire families and households on the necessity of vaccination and adherence to health guidelines,” said Dr. Galhena at a Health Promotion Bureau (HPB) press conference. As at 7.30 p.m. yesterday, the Epidemiology Unit recorded 15,019 Covid-19 deaths while the total number of infections stood at 587,935, of which a total of 560,949 patients have recovered. The number of patients under medical care and home-based care stood at 11,967.


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