As per the revised guidelines for home isolation of very mild/pre-symptomatic cases, infected persons can end home isolation after 17 days of onset of symptoms or date of sampling. The revised guidelines, issued by the health ministry also allow persons to end home isolation if they have no fever for 10 days without getting tested again for COVID-19.
Patients, who are pre-symptomatic or have very mild symptoms, can opt for home isolation if they have the requisite self-isolation facility at their residence.
The patient should be clinically assigned as a very mild case or pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer and should regularly inform his health status to the district surveillance officer for further follow up by surveillance teams.
“Patient under home isolation will end home isolation after 17 days of onset of symptoms (or date of sampling, for pre-symptomatic cases) and no fever for 10 days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over,” the revised guidelines stated.
The revised guidelines is in line with the new discharge policy for COVID-19 cases released on May 9.
Moderate cases of COVID-19 and pre-symptomatic, mild and very mild cases have been exempted from undergoing tests before being discharged after the resolution of symptoms.
Caregivers and all close contacts of such cases have been advised to take Hydroxychloroquine as a preventive medication.
Also, a caregiver should be available to provide care on a 24×7 basis.
A communication link between the caregiver and hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation.
Besides, the guidelines call for downloading the Arogya Setu App on mobile and it should remain active at all times (through bluetooth and Wi-Fi).
Immediate medical attention must be sought if serious signs or symptoms including difficulty in breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, mental confusion, developing bluish discolorations of lips/face develop.
The patient also has to give an undertaking stating being diagnosed as a confirmed/suspect case of COVID-19, he/she has voluntarily undertaken to maintain strict self-isolation at all times for the prescribed period.