Chandigarh 70% active cases in home isolation

Naina Mishra

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 5

Amid a growing infection rate of the city, nearly 70 per cent of the active Covid patients have opted for home isolation.

This has left the Covid care centres almost vacant as barely 621 patients are lodged at 10 centres in the city. Of nearly 2,100 active cases, 1,480 patients have opted for home isolation.

When to seek medical attention

• Difficulty in breathing
• Persistent pain/pressure in the chest
• Headache
• Severe body ache
• Mental confusion
• Having loose stools
• Developing bluish discoloration of lips/face

Patients in Covid care centres

• Sood Dharamshala, Sec 22: 127
• Shri Dhanwantry Ayurvedic College and Hospital: 57
• Civil Hospital, Sector 48: 63
• James Hotel: 6
• PU hostel number 9: 114
• PU hostel number 10: 71
• GMCH, Sector 32: 71
• PGI: 67 n GMSH-16: 35
• Civil hospitals in Sec 22, 45, Mani Majra: 10

A 55-year-old patient, who preferred home isolation, said, “There is no need to get oneself admitted to a hospital or Covid centre when a similar treatment is possible at home. More than anything, it is the separation from family and mental exhaustion that disturb a patient most at a centre.”

Dr G Dewan, Director, Health and Family Welfare, said, “Patients are more likely to recover in home isolation with the family around. The psychosomatic issues of a patient are resolved under home isolation. With a large number of patients opting for home isolation, the available resources are not exhausted and provided to needy patients.”

“The list of patients under home isolation is shared with Covid helpdesk officials at the Chandigarh Housing Board office. Our focus is on the patients with co-morbid conditions. Repeated health follow-ups are done by doctors via phone,” he said. Dewan said, “A rapid response team is available round the clock for patients under home isolation. If a patient develops breathlessness or any other complication, an ambulance is dispatched to his/her residence and the patient is referred to either the GMCH or the PGI.”

As per the guidelines of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, patients suffering from immune-compromised status (HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy etc) are not eligible for home isolation. However, patients aged above 60 and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc shall only be allowed home isolation after evaluation by the treating medical officer.

Wellness kits

The home isolation patients are being provided with wellness kits comprising paracetamol, Vitamin C, multivitamin with zinc, ORS and Azee tablets.

Pulse oximeters

Dr G Dewan said, “Even though our rapid response team carries oximeters for a check-up, patients are advised to purchase pulse oximeters for regular monitoring of oxygen saturation level at home. The saturation up to 95 per cent is satisfactory. In case it is below that level, a doctor should be informed immediately.”