Health Minister Budi Gunadi Sadikin has said that self-isolation should suffice for people who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 but exhibit no symptoms or only have minor symptoms.
“We have anticipated that the current COVID-19 case surge will put greater pressure on hospitals, and as the Omicron variant has a greater recovery rate than the Delta variant, we urge asymptomatic patients to self-isolate instead of seeking treatment at hospital,” Sadikin appealed at an online press conference, accessed by ANTARA from Jakarta on Monday.
Patients who have been diagnosed with COVID-19 but have minor symptoms—such as cough, runny nose, or fever and whose oxygen saturation is above 95 percent—must also self-isolate at home, the minister said.
“Let us reserve hospitals only for those who exhibit severe symptoms, are in a critical condition, or in urgent need of oxygen support,” Sadikin added.
At present, around 85 percent of COVID-19 patients treated in hospitals have recovered, while another 8–10 percent of patients exhibiting severe symptoms have needed oxygen assistance and longer medical care at hospitals, he informed.
“Of the 90 percent of COVID-19 patients admitted to hospitals, those who are asymptomatic are around 35–40 percent, while those with minor symptoms are 50 percent,” the minister informed.
While undergoing self-isolation at home, asymptomatic patients must consume vitamins routinely, and patients with minor symptoms can also purchase antiviral medicines, and seek assistance from health experts through telemedicine applications, Sadikin said.
“Five medical professional organizations have recommended two antiviral drugs, avigan or favipiravir, and molnupiravir for COVID-19 patients, but those medicines must be obtained through a doctor’s prescription,” he added.
The government has also prepared more than 20 million COVID-19 medicines that will be sufficient to meet residents’ needs, the minister said.
Source: Antara News