Zhang Yu

JeniZhang13@163.com

SHENZHEN’S health authority is working at full strength to cope with the possible surge of visits by patients with major symptoms related to COVID-19. According to its planning, medical institutions across the city will open 2,000 fever clinics (consulting rooms) in the near future.

So far, 187 fever clinics (consulting rooms) have been opened in community health centers, the city’s health commission said Monday.

Among the total, 800 will be set up in community health centers, while 1,200 will be located at public and private hospitals, outpatient departments and clinics.

People who test positive for COVID or manifest fever and respiratory tract symptoms can go to the fever clinics (consulting rooms) for treatment, according to the commission.

Doctors at the community health centers will evaluate the patients’ health conditions. For those who do not need to be hospitalized, they can self-quarantine and get treatment at home without taking nucleic acid tests.

If hospitalization is needed, the community health centers will recommend patients to seek treatment at higher-level hospitals based on their health conditions.

It is important to note that not all patients who seek treatment will have to take nucleic acid or antigen tests, which will be arranged if the doctors deem it necessary.

The health commission reminds citizens to take private cars rather than public transport and go to the community health centers by themselves when seeking treatment.

The city’s health authority is also working on a digital map to help citizens check the fever clinics (consulting rooms) near them.