Dispur may allow home isolation for Treating asymptomatic COVID-19 patients

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: The State Health department may allow home isolation for the asymptomatic COVID-19 patients only on the condition that their family members and neighbourhoods take the responsibility of facing health risks associated with the infected persons.

"There are several risk factors associated with home isolation of asymptomatic COVID patients in Assam. First, the neighbours will oppose the stay of such patients at home due to the fear of spreading the virus. There are many homes in the State which do not have adequate facilities such as multiple bathrooms and toilets to completely isolate positive patients. Most importantly, we do not have adequate doctors at this hour of crisis to see a COVID patient at home if he or she becomes critical," Health Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma told reporters here on Sunday.

He further said that his department may allow home isolation of asymptomatic patients only if their family members and neighbours give a written undertaking to the Health department to face the health risks associated with the infected persons concerned. He, however, said that the hospitals and facilities created by the State Government are the best and safest places to keep COVID positive patients.

It may be mentioned that the Union Health Ministry has revised home isolation guidelines to include asymptomatic positive patients in the list of mild or pre-symptomatic coronavirus infection cases.

However, immune-compromised patients (included HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy) are not eligible for home isolation, the revised guidelines released on Thursday, said.

Elderly patients above 60 years of age and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/kidney disease and cerebro-vascular disease among others shall only be allowed to go for home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.

Patients under home isolation will stand discharged after 10 days of onset of symptoms and no fever for three days, the guidelines stated.

"Thereafter, the patient will be advised to isolate at home and self-monitor their health for further seven days. There is no need for testing after the home isolation period is over," the 'Revised Guidelines for Home Isolation of Very mild/pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic COVID-19 cases' stated.

According to the document, asymptomatic patients like the ones who are pre-symptomatic and have very mild symptoms can opt for home isolation if they have the requisite self-isolation facility at their residence so as to avoid contact with other family members.

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