Dimapur, May 17 (EMN): The department of Health and Family Welfare has issued guidelines for home isolation of mild/asymptomatic Covid-19 cases.
Patients eligible for home isolation
- The patient should be clinically assigned as a mild/asymptomatic case by the treating medical officer.
- Such cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and for quarantining the family contacts.
- A caregiver should be available to provide care on a 24x7 basis. A communication link between the caregiver and hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of 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 be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.
- Patients suffering from immuno compromised status (HIV, Transplant recipients, Cancer therapy etc.) are not recommended for home isolation and shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.
- The caregiver and all close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per protocol and as prescribed by the treating medical officer.
Instructions for the patient
- Patient must isolate himself from other household members, especially elderly and those with co-morbid conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease, renal disease etc.
- Patients should be kept in a separate well-ventilated room with cross ventilation and windows should be kept open to allow fresh air to come in.
- Patients should at all times use triple layered medical masks. Discard masks after 8hours of use or earlier if they become wet or visibly soiled. Both caregiver and patient may consider using N95 masks.
- Patients must take rest and drink lots of fluids. Frequently wash hands with soap and water
- Don’t share personal items with other people. Follow respiratory etiquettes all the time.
- Ensure cleaning of surfaces in the room that are frequently touched (tabletops, doorknobs, handles etc.)
Self- monitoring of blood oxygen saturation with an oximeter is strongly advised, it said.
If pulse oximeters are not available, a single breath holding test may be done. (Patient has to take a full but not too deep breath and hold it as long as possible). Based on duration of breath holding patients are categorised into:
- 25 seconds – Normal cardiopulmonary reserve.
- 15 to 25 seconds – limited cardiopulmonary reserve (Review with the medical officer)
