MoHFW issues revised guidelines for home isolation during Covid-19

NEW DELHI: Amid the Covid-19 pandemic spreading wildly in India, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Government of India, has issued a revised set of guidelines for ‘home isolation’ for Covid-19 patients. People with mild and pre-symptomatic COVID-19 can opt for home treatment provided they are isolated in a separate room, individual toilet and an adult attendant/caregiver, said the advisory.

The patient in home isolation also has to give regular health updates to the District Surveillance Officer for further follow up by the surveillance teams. As a new and important addition to the guidelines, the doctor in-charge of the patient has to be satisfied before he/she is advised/approved to remain in home isolation, based on medical assessment of his/her residential accommodation. The patient, on the other hand, also has to sign n undertaking to remain in home isolation and follow all the rules of home quarantine.

A team of well-trained doctors will also keep the patients under surveillance regularly, both the doctor and the patient will have to follow the required guidelines during discharge and report updates as per norms. MoHFW has asked states to keep an eye on the medical establishment and those asked to remain in home quarantine and to make sure that the norms mentioned in the revised guidelines are followed strictly. The statement from MOHFW on the guidelines considered this to be of utmost importance in the battle against Covid-19.