Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) technical guidance by WHO COVID-19: preparedness, readiness and actions | Page 3

Critical preparedness, readiness and response actions for COVID-19: interim guidance
Case management strategy
Case management
recommendations by case
severity and risk factors
IPC
Societal response
Set up screening and triage
protocols at all points of access to
the health system;
Prepare to treat COVID-19 affected
patients;
Set up COVID-19 hotline and
referral system;
Ready hospitals for potential surge.
Screen and triage patients at all points of Screen and triage patients at all
Screen and triage patients at all points of
access to the health system;
points of access to the health
access to the health system;
Care for all suspected and confirmed
system;
Care for all suspected and confirmed
patients according to disease severity
Care for all suspected and confirmed
patients according to disease severity and
and acute care needs;
patients according to disease
acute care needs;
Ready hospitals for surge;
severity and acute care needs;
Scale up surge plans for health
Ready communities for surge, including
Activate surge plans for health facilities. facilities and ad-hoc community
by setting up community facilities for
facilities, including enhancement of
isolation of mild/moderate cases.
COVID-19 referral system.
Test suspect COVID-19 cases according to diagnostic strategy.
Mild cases and moderate cases with no risk factors:
Isolation/cohorting in:
•
Health facilities, if resources allow;
•
Community facilities (i.e. stadiums, gymnasiums, hotels) with access to rapid health advice (i.e. adjacent COVID-19 designated health post, telemedicine);
•
Self-isolation at home according to WHO guidance
For moderate cases with risk factors, and all severe/critical cases: Hospitalization (in-patient treatment), with appropriate isolation and cohorting.
Train staff in IPC and clinical
Train staff in IPC and clinical
Train staff in IPC and clinical
Retrain staff in IPC and clinical management
management specifically for COVID-19. management specifically for COVID-19.
management specifically for COVID-19. specifically for COVID-19.
Prepare for surge in health care facility
needs, including respiratory support
and PPE. Prepare for surge in health care facility
needs, including respiratory support and
PPE.
Develop all-of-society and business
continuity plans. Implement all-of-society resilience,
repurpose government and ready
business continuity plans.
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Advocate for home care for mild cases,
if health care systems are
overwhelmed, and identify referral
systems for high risk groups.
Implement all-of-society resilience,
repurpose government, business
continuity, and community services
plans.
Implement health facilities surge plans.
Implement all-of-society resilience, repurpose
government, business continuity, and
community services plans.