46 hospitals available for online COVID consultation

A total of 46 hospitals in Shenzhen have launched online consultation services for citizens who experience symptoms related to COVID-19 or infected people who are under home quarantine, according to the municipal health commission.

The service aims to meet the needs of citizens who have COVID symptoms such as fever and cough that need a prescription for medicine or to see a doctor but worry about cross-infections in potentially crowded fever clinics. The medications can be delivered to patients’ homes.

The internet medical consultation services offered by Bao'an District People's Hospital. File photo

Residents can access hospitals online via WeChat miniprograms or accounts, where they can select doctors for video consultation, schedule appointments, have online consultations and make payments. They can also make phone calls for consultation during the hospitals’ service hours.

The city’s health authority reminded that it is not a must to go to the hospital (fever clinic) if citizens are infected with COVID. Those who are asymptomatic and have no serious chronic diseases can quarantine at home for treatment.

The Shenzhen Center for Prehospital Care on Friday suggested that citizens avoid calling 120 if it is not an actual emergency, not to overwhelm limited resources and delay the treatment of critically ill patients.

The 120 hotline is for those who are unconscious, suffer from a heart attack, have shortness of breath, acute trauma and other conditions requiring emergency treatment, the center said. In addition, residents can go to fever clinics on their own if necessary.

As of Saturday, 758 fever clinics (consulting rooms) had been opened in the city’s community health centers for people who show fever and respiratory tract symptoms, according to the city’s health commission.

Citizens can find the nearest fever clinics on the commission’s WeChat account “深圳卫健委” (szwjwwx), then select “便民服务” and “发热门诊一键查” in the menu bar to get a list of nearby fever clinics.

Meanwhile, a 24-hour medical service hotline has been opened to answer questions about COVID, offer psychological counseling and guide people with medical needs when they go for treatment.