Covid patient discharge policy revised, no test for mild, moderate cases

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, May 9

Anticipating a Covid-19 peak in the near future, the government today said very mild, mild and moderate cases of the disease could be discharged without having to undergo the RT-PCR test for negative confirmation.

The Health Ministry today issued a revised discharge policy for patients as total cases touched 59,662 with 17,846 recoveries and 1,981 deaths. Single-day addition in new infections was 3,320 cases with 95 deaths in 24 hours.

For three days, 24-hour increase in new cases has been over 3,300 and for five days prior to that, the corresponding rise has been over 2,400 cases indicating a peaking disease graph. Recovery rate improved further to 29.9 per cent, while the mortality rate remained stable at 3.3 per cent. Before today’s guidelines, confirmed cases could only be discharged after testing negative on the 14th day and again after 24 hours.

But the ministry said the revised policy was aligned with guidelines on the three tier Covid facilities — hospitals for severe patients; health centres for moderately ill and care centres for the mild and pre-symptomatic persons.

Central teams for 10 states, including Pb

The Health Ministry on Saturday said central teams would be deployed in 10 high-burden states, including Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Telangana and MP. In these states, 15 districts account for 64 per cent of Covid cases in the country. Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad and Pune account for 45 per cent of the national case count.

New rules say “mild, very mild and pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a care facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring and the patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for three days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge, but at the time of discharge, the patient will be advised seven-day home isolation. If prior to discharge patient’s oxygen saturation dips below 95 per cent, he will be moved to a dedicated Covid health centre”.

After discharge, if a mild case again develops fever, cough or breathing difficulty, he would need to contact Covid care centre of dial 1075 and his health follow-up will happen through teleconference on the 14th day.

“Cases clinically classified as ‘moderate’ will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation. If the fever resolves in three days and the patient maintains oxygen saturation above 95 per cent for the next four days (without oxygen support), they can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset.

There will be no need for testing prior to discharge,” the new guidelines say, adding moderate patients on oxygenation whose fever does not resolve in three days and demand of oxygen therapy continues, they will be discharged only after resolution of clinical symptoms and ability to maintain oxygen saturation for three consecutive days.

ICMR, firm tie up for indigenous vaccine

New Delhi: The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and Bharat Biotech International Limited on Saturday announced to jointly develop indigenous vaccine for Covid-19 using virus strain isolated at ICMR’s National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune. “Will seek fast-track approvals to expedite vaccine development and animal studies,” ICMR said in a statement. TNS

13 more CISF personnel test positive

New Delhi: The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) on Saturday reported 13 fresh cases of Covid-19 among its personnel with maximum coming from its Delhi Metro protection unit. Among 48 active cases in the force, 31 are from the unit that guards the Delhi Metro, followed by 13 from the Mumbai international airport unit. Two personnel have succumbed to the disease in two days.

Amit Shah dispels rumours on health

This rumour about my health was brought to my attention… I did not respond earlier… I want to make it clear today that I am totally healthy and I am not suffering from any disease. — Amit Shah, Home Minister

‘Testing capacity scaled up to 95K daily’

With 332 govt and 121 pvt laboratories, the Covid-19 testing capacity is now 95,000 tests per day. Cumulatively, 15,25,631 tests have been done in the country so far. — Harsh Vardhan, Health Minister