Govt Releases New COVID-19 Home Isolation Guidelines: Read It All Here
Amid the continues spike in the number of daily coronavirus cases in the country, the health ministry on Thursday issued the "Revised guidelines for home isolation of mild/asymptomatic COVID-19 cases", in which it advised against attempting to procure or administer Remdesivir injections at home, underlining that it should be administered only in a hospital setting. Here's what the new guidelines say:
The guidelines stated that systemic oral steroids are not indicated in mild cases and if the symptoms (persistent fever, worsening cough etc.) persist beyond seven days, the treating doctor should be consulted for treatment with low-dose oral steroids.
Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung or liver or kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease etc. shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation by the treating medical officer, it added.
In case of falling oxygen saturation levels or shortness of breath, the person should require hospital admission and seek immediate consultation with the treating physician or surveillance team.
According to the revised guidelines, the patients may perform warm-water gargles or take steam inhalation twice a day. "If fever is not controlled with a maximum dose of tab. Paracetamol 650 mg four times a day, consult the treating doctor, who may consider advising other drugs like non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (ex: tab. Naproxen 250 mg twice a day). "Tab. Ivermectin (200 mcg/kg once a day, to be taken on empty stomach) for 3 to 5 days should be considered," the guidelines stated.
Inhalational Budesonide (given via inhalers with spacer at a dose of 800 mcg twice daily for five to seven days) to be given if the symptoms (fever and/or cough) persist beyond five days, they added.
The decision to administer Remdesivir or any other investigational therapy must be taken by a medical professional and it should be administered only in a hospital setting, the ministry said. "Do not attempt to procure or administer Remdesivir at home. Systemic oral steroids are not indicated in mild disease. If symptoms persist beyond seven days (persistent fever, worsening cough etc.), consult the treating doctor for treatment with low-dose oral steroids," the guidelines said.
The revised guidelines stated that the asymptomatic cases are laboratory-confirmed cases that are not experiencing any symptoms and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94 per cent, while the mild cases are patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms (and/or fever) without shortness of breath and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94 per cent.
Those patients eligible for home isolation should be clinically assigned as mild or asymptomatic case by the treating medical officer and they should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and quarantining the family contacts.
The caregiver and all close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis in accordance with the protocol and as prescribed.
Patients suffering from an immune compromised status (HIV positive, transplant recipients, cancer therapy etc.) are not recommended for home isolation and shall only be allowed home isolation after a proper evaluation.
Any change in diet? Yes, it advised the patients to take rest and drink lot of fluids to maintain adequate hydration.
Also, an infected person should follow respiratory etiquettes at all times, not share personal items with others. "Ensure cleaning of surfaces in the room that are touched often (tabletops, doorknobs, handles etc.) with a one-per cent hypochlorite solution. Self-monitoring of blood oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter is strongly advised," the guidelines stated.
For the safety of the infected person and other family members it is advisable that:
Also, keep in mind that there is always a risk of getting re-infected with the novel coronavirus even after you are getting fully recovered from the virus attack. What should one do to keep the re-infection risk at bay? Keep waring your mask even when you are inside your home. Follow a good diet to help your immunity fight the virus attack. Make sure to not be a part of any social gathering during the pandemic.Keep your hands clean always. Make sure to wash your hands many times in a day with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitiser. Lastly, never ignore any of the symptoms of the covid-19 virus attack. Stay alert, stay healthy.
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