Parties bicker over new norms for assessment of Covid-19 patients

nNEW DELHI: The new norms for assessment of asymptomatic Covid patients has led to political bickering in Delhi with opposition parties blaming the ruling Aam Aadmi Party for mismanagement.

On Tuesday, Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia wrote to lieutenant governor Anil Baijal seeking the rollback of the new norms, saying it will only create problems for patients and pressurise the government machinery as people will have to wait longer at the Covid Care Centres (CCCS).

In an order issued by the health department after the DDMA meeting on Monday, all asymptomatic patients have to be taken to CCCS for clinical assessment.

While addressing a press conference on Tuesday, Sisodia said, “There is a lot of panic among people because of the new guidelines.”

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the chief opposition party in Delhi, said the L-G has taken the right decision. BJP MLA Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, leader of the opposition in the Delhi Assembly, said, “The L-G took this decision after consulting medical experts. After a proper examination, it will be easy to decide whether the patient should be kept in home isolation or not.”

With nearly 3,000 cases being reported daily for the past few days, the Congress blamed both the state and the central government for the mess in Delhi while not clarifying its stand on the issue at hand. Delhi Congress chief Anil Chaudhury said, “Both governments should stop fighting and focus on improving the infrastructure. Delhi government failed to properly manage patients in home isolation.”

AAP did not comment.

nnThe L-G ordered mandatory five-day institutional quarantine for all patients and cancelled Portea’s contract, causing confusion on follow-up of patients in home isolation

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) held two meetings in which the Delhi government opposed the institutional quarantine rule, saying it would lead to chaos

The L-G revised his order and allowed Portea to operate but with following riders:

All patients must be taken to Covid care centres (CCCS) for clinical assessment

nnnOnce a person tested positive, district surveillance officers (DSOS) visited the patient’s home and assessed whether he/she should be put in home isolation or needed institutional quarantine

If DSOS approved home isolation, Portea Medical, a home health care company, would make telephone calls to follow up on patients

Confusion continued as new patients did not know whether to go to a CCC or stay home

Many said going to a Covid centre meant greater risk

DDMA said DSOS will visit homes for assessment and follow up on patients but offered no clarity on taking patients to CCCS

nPortea was asked not to take any new patients registered after Friday

Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) said mild and asymptomatic patients will have to be taken to CCCS

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said taking every patient to a CCC is not possible. He writes to the L-G, seeking to restore the old process

NUMBER OF PATIENTS IN HOME ISOLATION

(As on Tuesday, as per the Delhi government’s health bulletin)