– Patients eligible for home isolation
- The person should be clinically assigned as a very mild/pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic case by the treating medical officer.
- Such cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for quarantining the family contacts.
- Patients suffering from immunocompromised status (HIV, Transplant recipients, Cancer therapy etc) are not eligible for home isolation.
- Elderly patients aged more than 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 care on a 24 x7 basis. A communication link between the caregiver and hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation.
- Download Arogya Setu App on mobile (available at: https://www.mygov.in/aarogya-setuapp/) and it should remain active at all times (through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi)
- The patient shall agree to monitor his health and regularly inform his health status to the District Surveillance Officer, who will facilitate further follow up by the surveillance teams.
- The patient will fill in an undertaking on self-isolation (Annexure I) and shall follow home quarantine guidelines. The treating doctor should satisfy himself before allowing home isolation
- In addition to the guidelines on home-quarantine available at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/Guidelinesforhomequarantine.pdf, the required instructions for the caregiver and the patient as in Annexure II shall be also followed.
– When to seek medical attention
Patient / Caregiver will keep monitoring their health. Immediate medical attention must be sought if serious signs or symptoms develop. These could include
- Difficulty in breathing
- Dip in oxygen saturation (SpO2 < 95%)
- Persistent pain/pressure in the chest,
- Mental confusion or inability to arouse
- Slurred speech/seizures
- Weakness or numbness in any limb or face
- Developing bluish discolorations of lips/face.
– When to discontinue home isolation
Patients under home isolation will stand discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. Thereafter, the patient will be advised to isolate at home and self-monitor their health for further 7 days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over.
Source: Ministry of health & family welfare.
