No need for testing after home isolation is over: Health ministry

New Delhi: In revised guidelines issued by Union health ministry for home isolation, asymptomatic COVID-19 cases have also been included along with very mild/pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic COVID-19 cases now.

Patients under home isolation will stand discharged after 10 days of onset of symptoms and no fever for three days, the guidelines said, adding, “Thereafter, the patient will be advised to isolate at home and self-monitor their health for further seven days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over.”

This comes after a large number of coronavirus cases in the country remain asymptomatic. However, immune compromised patients (HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy, etc) are not eligible for home isolation. Also, elderly patients above 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/ kidney disease, cerebro-vascular disease, etc, shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.

A caregiver should be available to provide 24×7 care, and a communication link between the caregiver and a hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation, added the gudilines.

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Besides, the caregiver and all close contacts of such cases should take hydroxychloroquine as per protocol and as prescribed by the treating medical officer.

Further, Arogya Setu mobile application must be downloaded and it should remain active at all times via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

In case of health condition deteriorating, like difficulty in breathing, dip in oxygen saturation/ pressure in the chest, mental confusion, slurred speech/ seizures, weakness, numbness of limbs, etc, immediate medical attention must be sought.

The health status of those under home isolation should be monitored by field staff/surveillance teams through personal visit along with a dedicated call centre to follow up the patients on daily basis, added the ministry.

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