A COVID-19 patient receives home-based care. VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health has released new guidance for home-based care of patients with mild or moderate COVID-19 symptoms amid a surge in new COVID-19 cases, hospitalisations and deaths in the past week.

The number of new cases in the city steadily increased over the past weeks, reaching 1,666 cases on Wednesday.

The city recorded four consecutive days with an increase in deaths, with 50 on Sunday, 55 on Monday, 59 on Tuesday, and 62 on Wednesday. Last week, the city recorded fewer than 30 deaths a day.

Seventy per cent of the recently recorded cases are asymptomatic or patients with mild symptoms, according to the department.

The latest guideline published on Tuesday has been updated with advice on appropriate home care for patients with COVID-19, including clinical evaluation of the patient, isolation and caring for an infected person in the home, and monitoring the clinical evolution of a person with COVID-19 at home.

The decision to isolate and monitor a COVID-19 patient at home is based on two factors. They include patients aged one through 50 without underlying health conditions, and those who are not pregnant or obese, and patients who are asymptomatic or have mild or moderate symptoms.

Patients with managed underlying health conditions are allowed to receive home-based care if they are vaccinated against COVID-19.

Dr. Đỗ Cao Vân Anh from Phạm Ngọc Thạch Medical University in HCM City, said that clinical evaluation of COVID-19 patients with underlying health conditions and intensive care for patients with severe symptoms were vital to mitigate deaths related to COVID-19.

The mobilisation of medical officials to provide remote consultancy and medicine supply for COVID-19 patient at home also helps amid the rising community infections.

Nguyễn Văn Chức, director of Thủ Đức Medical Centre, said that 32 medical stations, newly-established mobile medical stations and mobile medical teams are offering home-based care of patients who show worsening symptoms in an effort to reduce the number of deaths. — VNS