New guidelines on isolation, discharge

Given the sudden surge in COVID-19, the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine on Wednesday issued guidelines on home isolation and discharge to control the spread of the infection. In addition, instructions were given to set up Interim COVID Care Centres for Omicron variant across the State for the government officials.

“COVID patients are eligible for home isolation if they are fully vaccinated, asymptomatic with the non-comorbid condition, and below 45 years with mild symptoms. The laboratory-confirmed cases not experiencing any symptoms and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94 per cent can be isolated at home. Also, the patient should be clinically assigned as a mild or asymptomatic case by treating medical officer,” said Dr TS Selvavinayagam, Director of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

A caregiver should be available to provide care round the clock, and communication between the caregiver and the hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation. If home isolation is not possible for pregnant women, elderly persons above 65 years, people with medical conditions should be sent to COVID Care Centres. Patients under home isolation can discontinue home isolation if they don’t have a fever for consecutive three days. There is no need for another test.

If the patient or caregiver develops any COVID symptoms such as breathing difficulty, drop in oxygen saturation, persistent pain pressure in the chest, and mental confusion or inability to arouse, they need immediate medical attention.

“Those who have been admitted to COVID Care facilities with mild or very mild or pre-symptomatic cases will undergo regular monitoring. They will be discharged if there is no fever for three consecutive days after RT-PCR confirmation, and maintain saturation above 95 per cent. There is no need to test before discharge. They must isolate at home for a week,” said Dr Selvavinayagam.

In addition, instructions were given to set up Interim COVID Care Centre (ICCC) for Omicron variant for government officials.