Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Jul 4: Dakshina Kannada district has been witnessing an increasing trend in coronavirus positive cases with each passing day. The number of infected persons in the district breached the 1,000 mark on Friday. Shortly, the system of treating asymptomatic patients at their homes will be introduced soon.

Speaking to Daijiworld, senior doctor of Wenlock Hospital, Dr Tajuddin, said that steps have been undertaken to make sure that there is no shortage of beds in hospitals with the increase in the number of infected persons. "Preparations at the government level are being made. The system of treating infected persons at their homes will come into practice in a few days," he said.

He hastened to clarify that the system of treating people who are in need of hospitalisation at the hospital will continue. Hospitals will provide treatment for other ailments along with coronavirus infection. If people suffer from symptoms like cold, fever, cough etc they will be treated in the hospitals. In case where there is no proper system or arrangement at home, the health department will arrange for treat such people in hospitals, he added.

At home treatment

“People who are corona positive and do not display symptoms of the disease, they will be treated at home. It is mandatory to earmark separate rooms for the patients and it should be bathroom-attached. Other family members cannot use their toilets or other things which the infected persons use.

“Others cannot have contact with this separate room. The government and department will issue instructions about the supply of food and medicines backed with precautions. These instructions have to be followed. Temperature and blood type have to be checked. These have to be done by the infected persons themselves. Medicines for treating the infection are provided by the government. Area-wise people will be taking care of the needs of families," he stated.

Home isolation option is available only for those patients who are asymptomatic and have no symptoms of other disease. Home isolation can be done only in the cases of people who have tested positive for COVID and who are less than 50 years old. Those in home isolation have to compulsorily follow the government guidelines.

Health officers will check and decide on prescribing home isolation. Concerned health officials will perform daily checks. The persons undergoing home isolation need to be in possession of pulse oximeter, digital thermometer, personal protection equipment etc. To get discharged from home isolation, they have to follow the current discharge protocols that are in vogue through the current hospitals. Family members, neighbours, and local administration should be compulsorily provided with information about home isolation, he explained.

The residence of the infected person will be sealed down. The family members will not be allowed to go out for any reason whatsoever. Health department and local administration will make arrangements for essential services.