The Central Government today revised its policy on discharge of COVID-19 patients from care facilities, and only “severe” cases will now be tested before they are discharged.
The new rules come into effect as Corona cases witnessed jump countrywide. The guidelines have been framed by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
As per the new policy, very mild or mild and moderate patients can be discharged without COVID-19 test, subject to clinical conditions.
Until now, patients were discharged only if two of their specimens tested negative for Coronavirus in RT-PCR swab tests after a gap of 24 hours.
According to the revised policy, mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID care facility will undergo temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring.
“The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for three days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge. At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow home isolation for seven days,” as per the revised guidelines issued today.
However, after discharge, if the person develops symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty, he/she has been advised to contact the COVID care centre on state helpline.
The revised policy further said that patients admitted to COVID-19 health centres, whose symptoms resolve within three days and who maintain oxygen saturation above 95 per cent for the next four days, will be clinically classified as “moderate cases”.
They will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation. If the fever resolves within three days and the patient maintains “saturation above 95% for the next four days, without oxygen support”, they will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset in case of – absence of “fever without antipyretics, resolution of breathlessness and no oxygen requirement,” the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare guidelines said.
The MoHFW added that there will be no need for testing prior to discharge in such cases as well.
Meanwhile, no fresh Corona positive case was reported from any part of the Jammu region today.
Rajouri district was declared Corona-free yesterday as its lone active patient was discharged.
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