Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government has revised discharge police for COVID-19 patients with an am to ease the pressure on hospital and COVID care facilities. According to the revised policy, patients with severe illness will be discharged only after clinical recovery and when the patient is tested negative once by RT-PCR (after the resolution of symptoms).
The revised discharge policy is aligned with the guidelines on the 3 tier COVID facilities and the categorization of the patients based on clinical severity:
1. Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases
Mild/very 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 isolate himself at home and self-monitor their health for a further 7 days.
At any point of time, prior to discharge from CCC, if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, 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 tele-conference on 14th day.
2. Moderate cases admitted to Dedicated COVID Health Centre (Oxygen beds)
2.1- Patients whose symptoms resolve within 3 days and maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days
Cases clinically classified as “moderate cases” will undergo monitoring of body temperature and 1 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 isolate himself at home and self-monitor their health for further 7 days.
2.2. 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
3. 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)
