In Hry, home isolation for patients with mild symptoms

Load on health infra prompts govt to initiate move

Sushil Manav

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 7

With the increasing number of Covid-19 positive cases putting pressure on the healthcare infrastructure, Haryana has decided to isolate patients with mild symptoms of the pre-symptomatic stage at their homes rather than admit them to hospitals.

Haryana at present has 337 active Covid cases with over 200 of them admitted to two medical colleges – PGIMS, Rohtak, and Bhagat Phool Singh Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat).

Rajeev Arora, Additional Chief Secretary, Health, confirmed the move and said that it was in accordance with the guidelines of the Central government on April 27.

“I have written to the deputy commissioners and SPs of various districts of the state listing guidelines for home isolation of very mild and pre-symptomatic Covid-19 cases. The districts will now isolate such patients at their homes,” said Arora.

The Centre’s guidelines say the patient must have 24X7 caregiver and requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and quarantining of family contacts, there should be communication link between caregiver and the hospital during isolation, hydroxychloroquine must be administered to all close contacts as prescribed by the physician, Arogya Setu app must be downloaded, etc.

“Once the patient finds difficulty in breathing, feels persistent pain or pressure on chest, mental confusion or ability to arouse, develops bluish discolouration of lips or face or is advised by the physician so, he or she must seek medical attention immediately. The home isolation will end if the symptoms are clinically resolved and the surveillance medical officer certifies him to be free from infection after laboratory testing,” the ACS added.

Dhruv Chaudhary, Nodal Officer for Covid in Haryana, said that with increase in the number of patients, it would become difficult for the government to keep patients with mild symptoms and those at pre-symptomatic stage in hospitals as there is already pressure on the health infrastructure.

The PGIMS, Rohtak, currently has over 100 patients while almost an equal number of patients are admitted to BPS Medical College for Women, Khanpur Kalan.