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Increasing Covid-19 cases: Health authorities considering triage

23 May 2021

  • Priority to elderly with pre-existing complications, those from high-risk areas 

  • DGHS-supervised pilot project underway in Kalutara 

  • Home quarantine asymptomatic patients: Dr. Sudarshini urges

By Aazam Ameen   Health authorities are presently considering the option of triaging Covid-19 patients, as despite the fact that numerous intermediate care centres (ICCs) have been set up across the country for the purpose of treating Covid-19 patients and more such ICCs are in the process of development, there is a possibility that Sri Lanka will not be able to cope with the overwhelming daily increase of Covid-19 cases, The Sunday Morning learnt.  Due to these concerns, State Minister of Primary Healthcare, Epidemics, and Covid-19 Disease Control Dr. Sudarshini Fernandopulle revealed to The Sunday Morning that the Ministry of Health is looking into the possibility of triaging Covid-19 patients.  “This initiative of triaging Covid-19 patients will be piloted in the Kalutara District. Director General of Health Services (DGHS) Dr. Asela Gunawardena visited the relevant facilities in the Kalutara District on 21 May in order to complete an inspection with regard to this,” she added.  As triaging patients is the process of assigning degrees of urgency to patients in order to decide the order of medical treatment, State Minister Dr. Fernandopulle mentioned that in terms of admitting Covid-19 patients to hospitals, under a system of triage, priority will be given to vulnerable patients from older age groups who have pre-existing medical conditions, and complications. According to Dr. Fernandopulle, before making an informed decision, medical staff will also consider whether the patient hails from a Covid-19 high-risk area.  She noted that medical staff are currently overwhelmed, as both symptomatic and asymptomatic Covid-19 patients are being admitted to hospitals.  “Currently, there is an excess of patients. However, if only patients with serious conditions are triaged and admitted to specialised units, then medical staff will be able to handle the situation better,” she explained.  Emphasising that asymptomatic patients should be handled and monitored at home, the State Minister mentioned that DGHS Dr. Gunawardena is currently involved in that effort.  Meanwhile, Dr. Fernandopulle added that another 32 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been ordered from different manufacturers. 


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