As Number Of COVID-19 Cases Spike, Govt Allows Patients With Mild Symptoms To Isolate At Home

As the number of COVID-19 positive cases in India nears the 30,000 mark, the Union Health Ministry has allowed people who either have very mild symptoms or are in the pre-symptomatic phase to isolate at home.

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Until now all suspected (awaiting test results) and confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease were isolated and managed at hospitals. As per existing guidelines, during the containment phase, the patients should be clinically assigned as very mild/mild, moderate or severe and accordingly admitted to (i) COVID Care Centre, (ii) Dedicated COVID Health Centre or (iii) Dedicated COVID Hospital respectively.

AP

But the MoHFW on Monday issued guidelines for home isolation of patients. According to the guidelines, a patient can stay at home but will have to be in touch constantly with the District Surveillance Officer, and a hospital and will have to sign an undertaking.

"However, very mild/presymptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation," the guidelines said.

The eligibility for home isolation is that the person should be clinically assigned as a very mild case/pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer. Such cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for quarantining the family contacts. A caregiver should be available to provide care on a 24 x7 basis.

AFP

A communication link between the caregiver and hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation. The caregiver and all close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per protocol and as prescribed by the treating medical officer. As per the guidelines, the patient shall agree to monitor his health and regularly inform his/her health status to the District Surveillance Officer for further follow up by the surveillance teams.

The patient will also fill in an undertaking on self-isolation and shall follow home quarantine guidelines. The guidelines said that the patient or caregiver will keep monitoring their health and immediate medical attention must be sought if serious signs or symptoms develop. These could include difficulty in breathing, persistent pain/pressure in the chest, mental confusion or inability to arouse, developing bluish discolorations of lips/face and as advised by treating medical officers.

AFP

On when to discontinue home isolation, the guidelines said that patients under home isolation will end home isolation if symptoms are clinically resolved and the surveillance medical officer certifies him/her to be free of infection after laboratory testing.

Instructions for care-givers are to wear a triple layer medical mask appropriately when in the same room with the ill person. Hand hygiene must be ensured following contact with an ill person or their immediate environment, as well as before and after preparing food, before eating, after using the toilet, and whenever hands look dirty. Caregivers have been asked to avoid direct contact with body fluids of the patient, particularly oral or respiratory secretions.

Disposable gloves are to be used while handling the patient, and hand hygiene done before and after removing gloves. They also must avoid exposure to potentially contaminated items in the patient's immediate environment (e.g. avoid¡¤sharing cigarettes, eating utensils, dishes, drinks, used towels or bed linen)

By allowing patients with mild symptoms India is making a clear shift in its policy in dealing with the pandemic. It also comes at a time when hospitals across the country are dealing with an increasing number of positive and suspected cases.

BCCL/Representational Image

However, this is a standard practice that has been adopted around the world, including in countries like the US, UK, Spain, Italy, and many more where the hospitals could not accommodate all the patients. Mostly young people and people with mild symptoms were asked to remain home and only contact the hospital if their symptoms worsen.