The COVID-19 pandemic has the potential to cause high morbidity and mortality in crisis-affected populations. Providing case management for COVID-19 cases in crisis settings will likely entail complex trade-offs between offering services of clinical benefit and minimising risks of nosocomial infection, while allocating resources appropriately and safeguarding other essential services.

This new paper from Centre members outlines considerations for humanitarian actors who may be planning COVID-19 case management services, exploring case management options at the patient level (diagnosis, management, location and level of treatment) and measures to reduce nosocomial transmission (cohorting patients, protecting healthcare workers). It also suggests key decision-making considerations: allocation of resources to COVID-19 case management and the design of any clinical services should be based on community preferences, likely opportunity costs, and a clearly articulated package of care across different health system levels. Moreover, appropriate service planning requires information on the expected COVID-19 burden and the resilience of the health system. Lastly, key indicators are proposed for monitoring case management services.

Read the full paper here. 
(Not yet peer reviewed)