COLOMBO – Sri Lanka on Wednesday (11) launched a home treatment program for Covid-infected children with mild symptoms, with Consultant Paediatrician Dr. Deepal Perera saying the decision had been taken due to a significant increase in the number of children contracting the novel coronavirus.
He said, effective Wednesday, children between the ages of 2-14 who exhibit mild symptoms of the virus will be treated at their homes but stressed that treatment of COVID-19 at children’s hospitals has been prioritized, and that any child who shows severe symptoms must be brought to the hospital for treatment.
Dr. Perera however emphasized that if a child is being treated at home, a guardian must be present at home at all times, and they should also be prepared to engage with online consultations as part of the treatment.
He also advised parents and guardians of children with long-term illnesses diagnosed with the infection to get them to a hospital immediately.
Nearly 150 Covid-infected children had been admitted to the Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo as of last week. However, Dr. Perera said many had been transferred to intermediate Covid-care centres freeing bed space for the more serious cases.
Meanwhile, Health Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi informed Parliament last week that over 45,000 children had contracted the coronavirus in Sri Lanka. She said 19,688 of those infected were below the age of 10 and 26,143 were between the age of 10-18. She also said 4 under 18 fatalities had been recorded.
Dr. Perera urged the public to contact the hotline 1390 for further information on the program to treat Covid infected children at their homes.
-ENCL