Critical care given to elderly patients

Shanghai is providing comprehensive treatment and paying extra attention to elderly COVID-19 patients, especially those with severe infections, to alleviate their underlying conditions while treating them with antiviral therapies.

The Shanghai Health Commission said on Thursday that there are 139 severely ill COVID-19 cases and 20 others in critical condition at designated hospitals as of Wednesday, adding that patients with underlying conditions and diseases, especially the elderly, have a higher risk of their infections developing into severe cases.

"Medical teams should strengthen monitoring of such patients in the early stages, and intervene as soon as possible to prevent a mild case from developing into a severe one," said Wu Qianyu, an official from the commission.