Delhi issues home isolation SOP; aims at 'best medical attention' to all COVID patients

Days after Delhi L-G rolled back 5-day mandatory institutional quarantine order, Delhi Health Department on Monday night has issued an SOP specifying condition for home isolation. statement said that SOP is being issued to ensure best medical attention to all COVID-19 patients in national capital. Total number of cases in Delhi on Monday reached over 62,000. 

“ new SOPs have been issued to ensure that everyone who qualifies for home isolation gets best medical attention and anyone who doesn’t have facilities to do same, gets moved to Covid care centres. Even if patients are asymptomatic, we want to ensure y get regular medical attention and all assistance y need,” said a statement.

As per new SOP, people who test COVID-19 positive by rapid antigen method will be examined by a medical officer at testing site to assess severity of illness. It also said assessment made by medical officer shall “effectively constitute as assessment made at COVID-care centre". SOP furr states that in case of those who have tested positive in RT-PCR tests, a team of district surveillance officers will contact se patients on telephone to assess category of illness.

Furrmore, it says that for cases that need to be shifted to hospitals or COVID healthcare centres, transfer will be made by ambulances, it said. For effective contact tracing, a dedicated team of callers will record details of people who were in contact with COVID-19 positive cases since onset of symptoms.

What is in order?

• According to order, all individuals who are positive will be referred to COVID care centres for assessment of clinical conditions, severity of illness and presence of co-morbidities.
• Simultaneously, physical assessment will also be done wher adequate facilities for home isolation like minimum of two rooms and a separate toilet exists so that family members and neighbours are protected, and a cluster of cases does t develop in that locality, order said.
• As per guidelines, pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic patients, unless y have co-morbid conditions, can be placed under home isolation if y have residence of two rooms with a separate toilet for patient.
• patient will also be provided with a pulse oximeter by medical officer at testing centre. use of oximeter and or protocols for home isolation will be explained by medical officer.
• It added that patients in home isolation will be discharged from treatment as per discharge policy of Union Health Ministry which mandates discharge from home isolation after 10 days.
• In case of RT-PCR test, a team of district surveillance officers will contact patients on telephone to assess category of illness, it said. patient will be provided a contact number for any consultation required by him or her along with details of CATS ambulance number for transfer to hospital in case symptoms develop.
• In case his residence is t found fit for home isolation, patient will be admitted to COVID care centre for isolation as per Ministry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines.

Delhi's COVID-19 count

Delhi recorded 2,909 fresh coronavirus cases on Monday, taking tally in city over 62,000-mark, while death toll from disease climbed to 2,233, authorities said. Fifty-eight fatalities have been recorded in last 24 hours. death toll from coronavirus infection has risen to 2,233, and total number of cases has mounted to 62,655.

Meanwhile, Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain was on Monday shifted out of ICU of Max hospital here, two days after he was administered plasma rapy, sources said. minister had tested positive for disease on June 17.

(with PTI inputs)