The Ministry of Health (MOH) has extended home recovery to Covid patients who are less than 26 weeks into their pregnancy or their second trimester.
"Home recovery is now the safe, default option for the majority of COVID-19 patients," said MOH in a press release on Saturday (23 October). This was in line with the extension of the Home Recovery Programme to more demographic groups.
The expansion of the programme was announced on the same day by Trade and Industry Minister, Gan Kim Yong, at a press conference by the Multi-Ministry Task Force.
Covid And Pregnancy By The Second Trimester: Home Recovery Extended To Expecting Mums Less Than 26 Into Their Term
The programme will be extended to fully vaccinated Covid-19 patients who are younger than 35 and less than 26 weeks pregnant.
According to MOH, this decision was made "as more of us become familiar and comfortable with [the] Home Recovery Programme, and our onboarding processes and medical support structures become more established."
The ministry adds that these patients will be allowed to recover at home after they are clinically assessed at selected hospitals.
Children below one year of age along with those aged one to four years may also need care at a hospital or a treatment facility if they have been assessed to be clinically unsuitable for home recovery.
Meanwhile, more general practitioners will be recruited "to provide telemonitoring support" for those on the Home Recovery Programme.
Private sector hospitals will continue to expand overall hospital bed capacity to manage Covid-19 and non-Covid patients. Stand up Covid-19 Treatment Facilities are to also "augment the capacity" of public hospitals.
Update On Covid-19 Vaccination Booster Programme
As of October 21, a total of 655,0129 individuals have reportedly received their booster dose.
The Vaccination Booster Programme started on October 3, for persons aged between 50 and 39 years. This was in addition to those aged 60 and above who received their booster shots earlier in September.
In addition, 82 per cent of individuals aged 50 to 59 years olds who are eligible for their booster dose have either booked an appointment or already received their jab. Plus, 79 per cent of seniors aged 60 years old and above.
MOH has already begun booster vaccinations of healthcare workers since October 9, 2021. This is along with "frontline workers who completed their primary series vaccination regimen around six months ago".
"We have also started inviting persons aged 30 years and above who completed their primary series vaccination regimen around six months ago to make an appointment for their booster dose," says the ministry.
It was also noted that as of October 21, they have invited about 190,000 persons aged 30 to 49 years old to book an appointment for their booster dose. About 138,000 or 72 per cent of those invited have booked an appointment so far.
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