Home isolation guidelines issued in Himachal

Shimla, January 14

Patients, who have been clinically assigned as mild/ asymptomatic by the treating doctor, are eligible for home isolation. As per the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare for home isolation, mild/ asymptomatic are those who have tested positive for Covid but have mild symptoms with or without fever, without shortness of breath and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 93 per cent.

A government spokesperson said persons above 60 years of age and those with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung /liver/ kidney disease, cerebro-vascular disease, etc. shall be allowed home isolation only after proper evaluation by a doctor.

“Patients suffering from immune compromised status (HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy, etc.) are not recommended for home isolation and shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating doctor,” he said.

He said that a patient must isolate himself from other household members in a separate room. “The patient should stay in a well-ventilated room with cross ventilation. He should at all times use triple layer medical mask and discard mask after eight hours of use. The mask should be discarded after cutting into pieces and putting in a paper bag for a minimum of 72 hours,” he said.

The spokesperson said that home isolation would be over once at least seven days have passed from testing positive and no fever is present for three successive days. There is no need for re-testing after the home isolation period is over. — TNS 

Medical attention

• Immediate medical attention is needed if fever does not subside for more than three days, or if there is difficulty in breathing, oxygen saturation is less than 93 per cent on room air.
• If persistent pain/pressure is felt in the chest, mental confusion occurs or severe fatigue and myalgia is present, then doctor’s advice must be taken immediately.