Some cutting-edge technology is being deployed to help health professionals care for people in their own homes during the coronavirus outbreak.
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The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has received an order of 300 wearable devices, which have been dubbed "virtual home hospitals".
The wearable technology was developed by a Swiss company and enables health professionals to remotely measure a patient's vital signs including heart rate, blood oxygen, skin temperature and heart rate.
"We can monitor over 300 people in this way... it is cutting edge technology," MLHD's executive director of medical services Len Bruce said.
"Essentially, we've created a 300-bed virtual hospital-in-the-home to be able to look after people who have tested positive for COVID-19, but also to look after people who have a vulnerability to the disease," said Dr Bruce.
"This use of innovative technology will help people in self-isolation stay connected, while we monitor their condition using smart phones and devices," Dr Bruce said
"It also keeps our staff safe as they can monitor people remotely."
MLHD chief executive Jill Ludford told a press conference on Wednesday that 81 per cent of people with COVID-19 could be cared for in their own homes, while being monitored by health professionals.
Ms Ludford said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson - who has been hospitalised is in intensive care - was an example of how the coronavirus could spread and grow over time.
"On day 10, Boris Johnson's symptoms became worse and now he's in intensive care," she said.
"So, it's not only old people who can become severely ill. It can also be young people, so for people we deem as having a higher risk, and for people who've got moderate symptoms, we're going to look after them with a specialist respiratory physician and multi-disciplinary team.
"These wearable devices and a simple iPhone, which we will provide to people if they don't have one, can save lives.
"It can also mean that we can look after far more people without them being in our hospitals. The specialist care that people will receive virtually in our rural areas is going to be second to none."