COVID-19: Health Ministry issues revised guidelines for home isolation

The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Monday issued revised guidelines for home isolation of very mild/pre-symptomatic COVID-19 cases. As per the revised guidelines, the person should be clinically assigned as a very mild case/pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer. Meanwhile, such cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for the quarantining the family contacts. Similarly, a care giver and all the close contacts of such cases should tale Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per the protocol and as prescribed by the treating medical officer. The patient shall agree to monitor his health and regularly inform his health status to the District Surveillance Officer for further follow up by the surveillance teams. Meanwhile, the patient will fill in an undertaking on self-isolation and shall follow the home quarantine guidelines.

When to seek medical attention

The patient or care giver must seek medical attention if there is difficulty in breathing, persistent pain/pressure in the chest, mental confusion, or inability to arouse or develops bluish discolorations of lips/face. Also read | National Technology Day: PM Modi hails those at forefront of research to defeat coronavirus

When to discontinue home isolation

The patient opting for home isolation will end the quarantine process after 17 days of onset of symptoms and no fever for 10 days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over. -PTC News