Discharge norms for asymptomatic patients relaxed

LUCKNOW: The state government has decided to allow asymptomatic coronavirus positive patients, who are kept in isolation centres, to go home without a test if they don’t show any symptoms in 10 days.

“However, these asymptomatic patients would have to remain in home quarantine for a week,” additional chief secretary, medical, health and family welfare, Amit Mohan Prasad said at a press briefing on Saturday. He said the government decision was taken after the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) changed its discharge policy of asymptomatic positive cases, who were till now discharged only after they tested negative.

“However, symptomatic coronavirus positive cases would be discharged only after they test negative for the coronavirus,” Prasad said. “So far, 5, 42,972 samples were tested for the coronavirus infection in the state and to date 10,369 people were discharged after recovering fully,” he said.The health official also said Asha workers so far contacted 17, 75, 951 lakh migrant workers at their homes. “Of these, 1567 showed some symptoms of Covid-19,” he said.

COVID CASES IN OLD AGE, JUVENILE HOMES

Prasad also said, “So far, coronavirus infection has been found in

old age homes in Sultanpur, Kushinagar and Jalaun.” Juvenile homes in Meerut and Kanpur (city) also reported coronavirus positive cases, he said, adding that all the inmates would be mandatorily screened and the entire place sanitised.The state government has ordered testing of all inmates of old age, juvenile and shelter homes in UP.

“The chief minister has ordered that all inmates be tested and has further directed that banners and posters related to awareness and protection from the contagious disease be put up in all these places,” additional chief secretary, home and information, Awanish Kr Awasthi said.