Singapore — The Home Recovery programme, which started on Sept 15 for younger and fully vaccinated Covid patients to recover in their own homes, has been challenging for some due to a lack of communication from the Ministry of Health (MOH).
The Home Recovery Buddy, which the ministry announced would walk home recovery patients through the process, has so far not reached out to call some patients in home recovery. Some patients seem to also be unclear as to when they can end their quarantine, and if a PCR test is needed to do so.
One man even created a Telegram support group of Home Recovery patients. A man named Jing Feng spoke to CNA earlier this week, saying that while he understands that MOH is “badly overwhelmed” given the rising number of Covid cases at present, he also understands people’s frustrations at the lack of communication, which is why he started the group.
On Friday, Singapore saw its largest number of new cases to date, with 1,504 people testing positive for Covid.
The MOH said that as many as 40 per cent of new daily cases are placed under Home Recovery as opposed to community care facilities or warded in hospitals.
“Medically stable and suitable” Covid patients between the ages of 12 and 69, who have no or mild symptoms, no severe co-morbidities or illnesses, and are able to isolate in their own rooms and bathroom are eligible for Home Recovery.
Also, according to MOH, “unvaccinated patients who have been assessed by medical practitioners to be clinically fit may be placed on home recovery if suitable e.g. young children between 2 and 11 years old.”
“With home recovery now the default mode for care management of cases, and growing in number of cases each day, our ground operations are much strained,” TODAY quotes MOH as saying on Thursday (Sept 23).
Perhaps to answer many questions that people may have about Home Recovery, the ministry updated its FAQ page about it.
The page starts with a reassurance that people in Home Recovery will be receiving the same care at home.
“There is no difference in the level of care whether you are recovering at home or in a dedicated isolation facility,” MOH said.
“Patients on Home Recovery would be assessed by a medical provider to be medically well and stable for Home Recovery. This may be done remotely through a telemedicine provider for those starting Home Recovery immediately. For those from care facilities, a review will be done prior to their discharge to Home Recovery.”
MOH added that patients in Home Recovery must submit health readings (temperature, pulse rate and oxygen saturation) at least once a day, and will be given access to telemedicine services for medical consultations when needed, “24/7.”
Furthermore, patients will also be called to ascertain their wellbeing. The MOH monitoring team will also call to verify patients’ location to ensure that they are following the Isolation Order.
The updated FAQ provides useful information concerning why patients are being isolated, when they can be discharged, PCR swab testing, Home Recovery for children under 12, what symptoms to look out for, and how to manage daily life while recovering at home. /TISG
Read also: Some Covid patients finding home recovery stressful due to lack of communication from MOH
Some Covid patients finding home recovery stressful due to lack of communication from MOH