Reorganization and Progressive Expansion of Health Services for the Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Technical Working Document, 27 March 2020

Abstract

Recent experience with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus has shown that the case-fatality rate is decisively impacted by the response capacity of the health care network, especially in terms of early detection of cases and availability/access to critical care provided by sufficient numbers of competent health workers. It is important to consider the heavy impact on people over 60 years of age and those living with chronic diseases, and the fact the young people can also present severe and critical infections and can even die. The experience gained, expert criteria, and current literature all recommend nonpharmacological interventions in the community aimed at flattening the curve of COVID-19 cases.