Kovid cases increased 6 times in last 8 days, Center issued home isolation guidelines

“India has registered a growth of more than 6.3 times in cases in the last eight days. From 0.79% on 29 December 2021 to 5.03% on 5 January, it has seen a positive increase of cases,” said Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Govt. Ministry of Health during a briefing.

Here’s what you need to know about today’s developments:

• The central government said Maharashtra, West Bengal, Delhi, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Jharkhand and Gujarat are ‘states of concern’ as they have registered a rise in Covid-19 cases. “A total of 28 districts in the country are reporting more than 10% weekly positivity,” Agarwal said.
• India reported 58,097 fresh Covid cases and 534 deaths on Wednesday, while 37,379 new Covid cases and 124 deaths were reported in the country on Tuesday.
• Aggarwal said, “Globally 25.2 lakh cases were reported on January 4, which is the highest since the beginning of the pandemic. About 65% of the cases in the week ending January 4 came from USA, UK, France, Italy and Spain.” Returns.”
• In view of this, the central government said that COVID-19 patients under home isolation will be discharged after at least seven days after testing positive and no fever for three consecutive days. Earlier, the period of home isolation had ended 10 days after symptoms appeared.
• There is no need for re-testing after the period of home isolation is over. The government said that asymptomatic contacts of infected persons need not undergo COVID test and be under health monitoring in home quarantine. (Asymptomatic cases are laboratory-confirmed cases that are not experiencing any symptoms and have oxygen saturation greater than 93% in room air.)
• Elderly patients above 60 years of age and co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/kidney disease, cerebrovascular disease, should be subjected to home isolation only after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer. Permission will be given, as per the guidelines.
• Patients suffering from immune compromised conditions (HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy) are not recommended for home isolation and will be allowed home isolation only after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.
• It also advised people not to rush for self-medication, blood tests or radiological imaging like chest X-ray or CT scan without consulting a medical officer.
• Underlining that steroids are not indicated in mild disease and should not be self-administered, the ministry said that overuse and improper use of steroids can lead to additional complications.
• The revised guidelines by the Center state that the treatment of each patient should be individually monitored as per the specific condition of the patient concerned and hence common sharing of prescriptions should be avoided.
• It also specified that the district administration would be responsible for monitoring the patients under home isolation under the overall supervision of the State Health Authority.
• Listing out the responsibilities of the ground level surveillance teams, the ministry said that the teams (ANMs, Sanitary Inspectors, MPHWs etc.) would be responsible for the patient, initial assessment of the patient and whether the necessary facilities for home isolation are in place.
• The health worker should contact the patient daily, preferably in person or over telephone/mobile, and obtain details of temperature, pulse, oxygen saturation, overall health of the patients and worsening of signs/symptoms, the government said.
• The teams can also provide home isolation kits to the patient/caregiver as per the policy of the State Government. This may include masks, hand sanitisers, paracetamol, along with a detailed leaflet to educate patients and family members in the local language.
• Surveillance teams will also take patient education on the disease, its symptoms, warning signs, COVID-19 appropriate behavior and need for vaccination for all eligible members.
• Listing out the responsibilities of the district/sub-district control rooms, the guidelines state that they will be made operational and their telephone numbers will be well publicized so that people under home-isolation can visit patients through ambulances from home. Please contact control room for seamless transfer. Dedicated Hospital.