No evidence for mild and moderate cases before discharge: Ministry of Health

Daily cases in India have crossed 3,000 in the past four days and deaths have hovered around 100.

In a decision that will reduce India’s need for Covid-19 test kits, the Ministry of Health on a nightly charge on Friday, said mild and moderate cases do not need to be evaluated before discharge. Under the above policy, patients had to test negative twice before discharge.

“Mild / very mild / pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a Covid care center will undergo regular monitoring of temperature and pulse oximetry. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for pre-discharge testing. At discharge, the patient will be advised to continue isolation at home for another 7 days according to guidelines … ” revised discharge policy on the website of the Ministry of Health. This occurs at a time when daily cases in India have crossed 3,000 in the last four days and deaths have hovered around 100. In the last 24 hours, 3,320 new cases and 95 brought the total number of cases to 59,662 cases and the total deaths as of 1981.

Follow Coronavirus LIVE updates

“At any time, before discharge from the CCC, if the oxygen saturation falls below 95%, the patient is transferred to the dedicated COVID Health Center (DCHC). After discharge from the center, if he / she again develops symptoms fever, cough or shortness of breath, you will contact the COVID Care Center or the state helpline or 1075. Your health will be monitored again by teleconference on the 14th, “says the policy.

Moderate cases have been categorized as those whose symptoms resolve within 3 days and maintain saturation above 95% for the next 4 days. “If the fever resolves in 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the following 4 days (without oxygen support), said patient will be discharged 10 days after the onset of symptoms in case of absence of fever without antipyretics, resolution of dyspnea, does not require oxygen. There will be no need for tests before discharge, “says the policy.

According to health minister DR Harsh Vardhan, the testing capacity in the country is currently 95,000 per day. The goal is to do 1.1.20 lakh tests in one day.

Even for severe cases, the patient would need a negative test only once instead of the previous two times.

📣 The Indian Express is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@indianexpress) and stay updated with the latest headlines

For the latest news from India, download the Indian Express app.

© The Indian Express (P) Ltd