Bengaluru: With the second wave of COVID-19 causing havoc, the State Government has decided to form Decentralised Triage Centres (DTCs) in urban areas to effectively manage existing cases. 

The State Government has issued a directive to manage the spread of the virus at the Ward- level. Likewise, measures are being taken to curb the virus in line with Mumbai and Chennai.

These DTCs will come up in Mysuru, Belagavi, Ballari, Kalaburagi, Hubballi-Dharwad, Mangaluru, Davanagere, Vijayapura, Shivamogga and Tumakuru Corporation limits, where cases are surging. It has been noticed that many patients who do not require immediate hospitalisation get admitted to hospital, due to which those who need hospitalisation find it difficult to get a bed.

In order to avoid this, a triaging process is required. Physical triage can either be done in Primary Health Centres, Government Hospitals, Medical College Hospitals, or at the doorstep of the patient. The number of Triaging Centres depends on the number of cases getting added each day. Three or four DTCs may be needed in a city or town, in addition to triage centres functioning in District Hospitals, Medical College Hospitals and COVID Care Centres.

In the Corporation Ward level, officials in each Ward must work with Residents Welfare Association (RWAs), organisations, students, and volunteers and set up a Ward Control Room, Triage Centre and micro COVID Care Centre to respond quickly to the concerns of COVID-19 patients. 

Based on triaging, patients are categorised into: require hospitalisation, need to be sent to CCC, need home isolation, already hospitalised or unresponsive. If the patient is recommended home isolation, then a health worker pays a visit on the first, fifth and tenth day from the onset of symptoms. If the health worker feels the patient’s condition is not suitable for home isolation and medical care is necessary, he or she will speak to the doctor at the War Room and take guidance.

Decentralisation of Zonal War Rooms can help address every need of the patients. This will also help bring down the rising cases. The discharge of a patient under home isolation can only be done after the visit of the health worker on the tenth day, by following the discharge protocol laid down by the Health Department.