AKP Phnom Penh, April 08, 2021 --

The Ministry of Health yesterday released the standard operating procedure (SOPs) for the at-home management, care and treatment of COVID-19 patients, at the recommendation of Prime Minister Samdech Akka Moha Sena Padei Techo Hun Sen.

H.E. Mam Bunheng, Minister of Health said this 15-page SOP mainly focuses on the requirement for the lockdown of a location or area for the implementation of at-home treatment guidelines, the identification of mechanism to apply for COVID-19 patients at home, prevention of transmission to caretakers, ... as an important initiative to prevent and control the pandemic.

The preparation for this SOP is based on the practical experience of managing COVID-19 patients in Cambodia and that of many countries where COVID-19 home hospitalisation has been adopted, he added.

According to the Ministry of Health, 80 percent of COVID-19 patients in Cambodia are asymptomatic and mild, so the patients with no risk factors can be treated at home under the regular supervision by health staff and volunteers who are properly trained for this task.

At the same time, in order to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 to family members or the community, family members, health officials and relevant authorities must strictly implement the principles of infection prevention and control, it added.

The COVID-19 cases considered to be mild are those who have a cold, runny nose, sore throat, muscle pain, fever less than 38 degrees Celsius, oxygen concentration (SpO2) above 95 percent, normal breathing rate (18-20 times per minute for adults), and who are not vulnerable group (pregnant women, children and the elderly).

For Cambodia, 5 percent of COVID-19 patients need ICU, 15 percent need emergency care, and 80 percent just under observation and health check up.

According to the SOP, home hospitalisation principle will be carried out when 70-80 percent of hospital beds are used.  

By Heng Panha