Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (MS)
Bengaluru, Jul 5: The state government has released guidelines with regard to the isolation and treatment of asymptomatic coronavirus patients in their homes.
Home isolation is not mandatory for all coronavirus patients who are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. A team from the health department will visit the house of the patient concerned and examine. Only then will the person be isolated.
At present asymptomatic patients have been admitted to COVID treatement centres. As the number of infected people has increased considerably especially in the capital city, beds are not available in the designated Covid centres. Hence the health department has issued an order to treat such patients at home. With this, the concerns of family members and the workload of the health professionals will reduce considerably.
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Priority is given to seriously ill patients to be treated in the COVID centres. Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has given its green signal for home quarantine of asymptomatic patients.
A team consisting of district-level health officers and officials of local health centres will inspect the patient at home and decide whether he or she can be treated at home. Once the report turns positive, the patient must live in a separate room in the house.
During the inspection, information will be gathered with regard to cough, cold, throat pain, breathing problems, blood pressure and fever, and with this, the severeness of the infection will be decided. In addition, inquiry will be done about conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart related ailments, kidney ailment, cancer, HIV, TB and thyroid. If there is any serious issue among patients with these conditions, such patients will be advised to be shifted to designated COVID centres.
According to the guidelines, the patient should live in a separate room in the house. Team of district health authority and BBMP health team will visit the house and inspect the patient. Information regarding taking care of the patient should be gathered through tele consultation. The inmates of the house also should know the rules of home isolation. The room where the patient will be accomodated in the house should have proper ventilation and light. He or she should also have a separate toilet. Health update of the patient should be conveyed on a daily basis to the doctors and officials of health department. A tag will be put on the hand of the patient and also a notice will be put on the entrance door of the house.
People who are above 50 years of age and suffering from conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, HIV, Cancer and heart ailments will not be allowed to be treated at home. Such patients will be admitted to hospital. If the health condition of the patients getting treated at home gets deteriorated, they should be immediately shifted to hospital.
Instructions to patients in home isolation:
* N-95 mask to be worn for eight hours. Later the same should be washed with Sodium Hypocholoride and discarded
* Patient should live in a separate room in the house and should maintain a distance of two meters from the other members in the house. He or she should not come in contact with elderly and people suffering from age-related health complications
* The patient should drink at least two liters of boiled and cooled water. Hands should be washed frequently. Towel, plate and tumbler of the patient should be kept seprately. The things touched by the patient should be cleaned frequently
* The health condition of the patient should be assessed everyday by using Oxymeter and digital Thermameter. The medicines prescribed by the doctor should be consumed without fail. Counselling service can be obtained as and when required. Any ill-health should be brought to the notice of the doctor immediately
*Smoking, consumption of alcohol and tobacco products is prohibited. Aroya Setu app should be used
Instructions to family members:
* Maintain a minimum distance of six feet from the patient
* Outsiders should not be allowed inside the house
* Essentials should be procured with the help of neighbours
* Should not panic or get scared
* Should instill positive thoughts in the mind of the patient
* In case of confusion or for any information call helpline number 14410
Precautions to be taken:
* If the mask is wet or dirty, the same should be changed
* Food should be served to the patient in his room
* The utensils and things touched by the patient should not be used by others
During the home treatment, the body temperature of the patient should come under control. If the symptoms of infection are not visible for 17 days or if the patient has no fever for 10 days, he or she can be considered as cured. Once the patient gets completely cured the room in which he or she was kept should be cleanred with dis-infectant.
The period of home treatement will be for 17 days. If the patient has no symptoms for 10 days, then he or she is considered as cured. There is no need for further coronavirus screening test. The room and the areas touched by the patient should be cleaned with sodium hypochlorite solution once he or she is completely cured.