Health ministry issues revised discharge guidelines for COVID-19

New Delhi: The ministry of health and family affairs has issued a revised discharge policy for coronavirus aka COVID-19, patients having severe illness will be tested before discharge from hospital.

The revised discharge policy is aligned with the guidelines into tier COVID facilities and the categorisation of the patients based on clinical severity.

Under the first category- very mild, mild, pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID care facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days.

There will be no need for testing prior to discharge. At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for further 7 days as per guidelines, the notification reads.

The guidelines also cited that at any point of time, prior to discharge from CCC, if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, the patient is moved to Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC).

“After discharge from the facility, if he/she again develops symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty he will contact the COVID Care Centre or State helpline or 1075. His/her health will again be followed up through teleconference on 14th day”, the notification reads.

Under moderate cases admitted to dedicated COVID health centre (Oxygen beds) patients whose symptoms resolve within three days and maintains saturation above 95% for the next four days.

“Cases clinically classified as “moderate cases” will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation. If the fever resolve within 3 days and the patient maintain saturation above 95% for the next 4 days (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset in case of:

Absence of fever without antipyretics

Resolution of breathlessness

No oxygen requirement

There will be no need for testing prior to discharge.

At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for 7 days as per guidelines.

Patient on Oxygenation whose fever does not resolve within 3 days and demand of oxygen therapy continues

Such patients will be discharged only after

Resolution of clinical symptoms

Ability to maintain oxygen saturation for 3 consecutive days

Severe Cases including immunocompromised (HIV patients, transplant recipients, malignancy)

Discharge criteria for severe cases will be based on

Clinical recovery

Patient tested negative once by RT-PCR (after resolution of symptoms)