COVID-19: Patients above 60, and those with HIV, and Cancer ailments non-eligible for home isolation

The Union health ministry on Thursday revised the home isolation guidelines in the country on the wake of the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. In the latest development, the patients who are suffering from immune diseases (such as HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy) will not be eligible for home isolation. Additionally, elderly patients who are aged above 60 years and those with comorbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/kidney diseases and cerebro-vascular diseases (the primary concerns for coronavirus) shall be allowed home isolation only after proper evaluation is done by a medical officer.

The patients who go into home isolation will be discharged after a period of 10 days since the onset of symptoms, with no fever for three consecutive days, the guidelines stressed. “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,” as per the revised guidelines for home isolation of very mild/pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic Covid-19 cases. According to the new directive, asymptomatic patients such as the ones who are pre-symptomatic and/or have very mild symptoms can choose home isolation if they have the required self-isolation facility at their residence so that they can avoid contact with their family members. Furthermore, patients also have to give an undertaking stating that after being diagnosed as a confirmed/suspected case of Covid-19, s(he) shall voluntarily undertake strict self-isolation at all times for the prescribed period.
 

Ministry of Health & Family Welfare releases revised guidelines for home isolation of very mild/pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic #COVID-19 cases. pic.twitter.com/Jy6FowEouM

— ANI (@ANI) July 2, 2020