In a latest development to the nation’s ongoing fight against the coronavirus, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has issued a series of guidelines for people with very mild symptoms of COVID-19. The ministry came up with a series of guidelines that ought to be practiced by people who show very mild symptoms of COVID-19 or find themselves in the pre-symptomatic phase.
Patients who fall in this category will be required to create a self-isolation option for themselves within their own residences. But only patients who can practice self-isolation within their homes will be allowed to refrain from going to the hospital.
The ministry stated, “ As per the existing guidelines, during the containment phase, the patients should be clinically assigned a mild/very mild, moderate or severe and accordingly admitted to COVID Care Centre, Dedicated COVID Health Centre or Dedicated COVID Hospital, respectively.
However, very mild/pre-symptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation.”
To become eligible for isolation at home, the person should be assigned as a very mild/pre-symptomatic case by a treating medical officer. The orders by the ministry said that such patients who want to engage in home isolation should have the required facility at their residence and also have adequate scope for quarantining the family members.
The notice of the ministry stated, “A caregiver should be available to provide care on a 24/7 basis. 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.”
The health ministry also went ahead and appealed to all the citizens to download the Aarogya Setu App on their mobile phones and keep it active at all times. Another important condition for home quarantine is that the patient should agree to monitor his health and regularly stay in touch with the District Surveillance Officer for further follow up on surveillance teams. The patient will be required to take an undertaking that he will follow all the rules of home quarantine.
Moreover, it has been emphasised that medical attention be sought if serious signs or symptoms develop, these could include breathing difficulties, persistent pain and pressure in chest, mental confusion or inability to arouse, developing bluish discolouration of lips/face and as advised by treating medical officer.
Patients practicing home isolation will have the permission to end home isolation of their symptoms are clinically resolved and if the surveillance officer certifies him or her to be free of infection after laboratory testing.
