Tested positive for Covid-19? Here's where you should seek help, and the kind of treatment you would need

SINGAPORE - Depending on how old you are and whether your home is a suitable setting for you to recover in, the Health Ministry will recommend one of four recovery settings that will be available from Thursday (Sept 23).

1. Home recovery

Patient type: Those who are

- Fully vaccinated

- Aged 12 to 69 years old

- Have mild symptoms or none

- Have no severe diseases or illnesses

- Have no household members who are over 80 years old or are in one of the vulnerable groups (for example, those who are pregnant, with a weakened immune response or with multiple comorbidities)

- Able to self-isolate in a room, preferably with an attached bathroom

Medical care: Telemedicine providers

Additional notes:

- Patients will receive an SMS within 24 hours, with a link to provide their details to start the 10-day home recovery

- They will be issued an isolation order and may be tagged with an electronic monitoring device

- Household members will have to register themselves as close contacts using the same link; they will receive an electronic quarantine order via SMS

2. Community care facilities

Patient type: Individuals who are clinically well, or who have mild symptoms, and do not require much medical care

Medical care: On-site doctors and nurses

Capacity: More than 5,500 beds currently, with 1,000 to be added by the end of September

Location:

- Connect @ Changi at the Singapore Expo

- D'Resort NTUC

- Tuas South

- Former Ang Mo Kio Institute of Technical Education

- Village Hotel Sentosa

- Civil Service Club @ Loyang

- Bright Vision Hospital

Connect@Changi converted into Covid-19 community care facility

3. Stepped-up community care facilities

Patient type: Those who are generally well but have underlying health conditions that require closer monitoring, such as cardiac, neurological or respiratory diseases or weakened immune response

Medical care: More medical and nursing staff, as well as medical monitoring devices

Capacity: 300 beds by Friday, with the first facility to open on Thursday with 250 beds

Location:

- NTUC Health Nursing Home (Tampines)

- Connect @ Changi at Singapore Expo

Additional notes: Suitable Covid-19 patients from nursing homes will be prioritised for admission to mitigate potential spread within residential long-term care facilities

4. Hospitals and the National Centre for Infectious Diseases

Patient type: Those who need close and specialised medical attention, such as oxygen supplementation and intensive care.

Medical care: Oxygen supplementation, and intensive care units (ICUs)

Capacity:

- Non-ICU isolation beds in general wards: About 1,300

- ICU: 100 beds currently, with the ability to increase to about 300 beds at short notice

Additional notes: Those who have acute respiratory infection symptoms should avoid going to accident and emergency departments unless they have severe symptoms, such as chest pain or shortness of breath.

This article was first published in The Straits Times. Permission required for reproduction.