Hospitalizing COVID-19 patients not essential - state minister

COLOMBO (News1st): Individuals identified with COVID-19 will be admitted to facilities other than hospitals if infections continue to surge, a state minister has said. "...hospitalizing a patient is not essential," Prof. Channa Jayasumana, the state minister of production, supply and regulation of pharmaceuticals insisted. He pointed out that COVID-19 patients who test positive for the virus are given basic treatment at hospitals until they test negative for the infection. "If a person tests positive for COVID-19, we consider them as an infected person and not as a patient," Jayasumana added. He explained that authorities have identified facilities other than hospitals to admit COVID-19 patients until they recover from the virus.