Precautionary Measures in view of COVID-19

 

Dear clients,

As many of you have known by now, there is a global pneumonia outbreak, caused by a novel coronavirus COVID-19 which originated in Wuhan, China. The virus has since been transmitted beyond Mainland China, and is spreading rapidly in countries such as South Korea, northern Italy, Iran, and parts of North America.  Singapore has also confirmed its first imported case of COVID-19 on 23 January 2020.

In addition, the Singapore Government has put in place a 14-day Stay Home Notice for all travelers who enter Singapore, with effect from 2359hrs on 20th March 2020. 

Jaga-Me is remaining vigilant to ensure that the safety of our patients, clients and staff are protected with our utmost efforts. These are summarized below:

 

PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES IN VIEW OF COVID-19

  1. Clients registering with us will be required to complete a travel declaration, stating if anyone in their household has had any recent travel overseas.  Jaga-Me reserves the right to evaluate admission of clients with such travel history on a case-by-case basis, as long as the patient and his/her household does not exhibit any respiratory symptoms (e.g. fever, cough, breathing difficulties, sore throat and runny nose).
    Clients, please submit your travel declaration here
  2. Jaga-Me is required by MOH to contact their clients to check whether they have returned from any countries cited to be at-risk by the Singapore MOH within the last 14 days
    1. If client has been to any countries cited to be at-risk by the Singapore MOH within the last 14 days, they are encouraged to stay at home and to monitor their health for the next 14 days from the date of return to Singapore.
    2. If client feels unwell, they should seek medical attention at a GP clinic or Polyclinic promptly and inform their doctor of their travel history.
    3. If they have a fever or respiratory syndrome (e.g. cough, shortness of breath), they should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.
    4. Record the date of return to Singapore.
    5. Clients who have returned from any countries cited to be at-risk by the Singapore MOH and require home care, may only be seen on a case-by-case basis. If the care required is not urgent, clients will be advised to postpone home visit after 14 days of return to Singapore and have not shown any symptoms.
  3. In the event that patients/household members have both travel history to any countries cited to be at-risk by the Singapore MOH AND exhibit any respiratory symptoms, Jaga-Me nurses have been instructed to escalate such cases for review in the hospital via dedicated ambulance service in accordance to MOH guidelines.
  4. Notification of suspect cases
    • The common signs of Coronaviral infection are as follows: fever, cough, breathing difficulties, and gastrointestinal symptoms.
    • The suspect case criteria to be reported to the following:
      • Persons with pneumonia or severe respiratory infection with breathlessness who had been to any countries cited to be at-risk by the Singapore MOH within 14 days before onset of symptoms.
      • A person with an acute respiratory illness of any degree of severity who, within 14 days before onset of illness, had close contact (defined as anyone who provided care for patient or stayed with someone) with a confirmed case of COVID-19
    • Suspected cases whose conditions are medically stable should be sent to the following hospital via dedicated ambulance service at 6220-5298:
      • Persons aged 16 years and above (including pregnant woman) to TTSH Emergency Department
      • Children below the age of 16 to KKH Children’s Emergency Department
      • Please call SCDF (995) ambulance if the patient is medically unstable (i.e. hypotensive, severe breathlessness) and inform ambulance operator that you are referring a suspect case of COVID-19.
  5. Jaga-Me’s care staff (JagaPros) shall also complete a travel declaration, stating if they have had any recent travel overseas. Such staff shall serve  deployed to patient care activities for 14 days upon their return.
    1. In addition, they should monitor their health closely, and see a doctor promptly if they are unwell and inform their doctor of their travel history.
    2. If they have a fever or respiratory symptoms (e.g. cough, shortness of breath), they should wear a mask and call the clinic ahead of the visit.
    3. JagaPros may be deployed to clients after they have cleared the 14 day Stay-Home Notice and they have not developed any symptoms.
    4. JagaPros who are caring for clients who had returned from any countries cited to be at-risk by the Singapore MOH within the last 14 days but have not shown any symptoms, appropriate Personal Protection Equipment (e.g. surgical masks, gowns) will be provided.
    5. As an added precaution, we will do our utmost to replace JagaPros who may exhibit flu-like symptoms.
    6. We have also mandated that all JagaPros to do a temperature check and submit their measurement to us before each assignment.
      JagaPros, please submit your travel declaration here as well as your temperature recording here

Should you require clarifications, feel free to contact us at 6717 3737.

 

Team Jaga-Me Clinical Operations