MHA Guidelines: Government Reviews Discharge Policy for Covid-19 Patients: Everything You Need to Know | India News

NEW DELHI: Coronavirus infected patients Developing severe illness or having compromised immunity will have to be tested negative by RT-PCR before being discharged by a hospital, the Union health ministry said in its revised discharge policy for COVID-19 cases.
Moderate cases of COVID-19 and mild and very mild pre-symptomatic cases do not need to be tested before being discharged after resolution of symptoms.
Under the rules so far, a patient was considered to be discharged if negative on day 14 and then again within 24 hours.
“The revised discharge policy is aligned with the guidelines at COVID 3-level facilities and the categorization of patients according to clinical severity,” the ministry said.
The number of COVID-19 deaths rose to 1,981 and the number of cases rose to 59,662 on Saturday, registering an increase of 95 deaths and 3,320 cases in the past 24 hours, according to the Union health ministry.
Discharge criteria for severe cases, including immunocompromised patients, such as HIV patients, transplant recipients, and those with malignancy, will be based on clinical recovery and negative patient outcome once by RT-PCR. (after resolution of symptoms), stated revised policy.

Cases clinically classified as “moderate” will undergo control of body temperature and oxygen saturation.
If the fever resolves in three days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next four days (without oxygen support), the patient will be discharged 10 days after the onset of symptoms in the absence of fever without antipyretics, resolution of dyspnea and without oxygen requirement
“There will be no need for tests before discharge,” the ministry said.
At discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the isolation at home for seven days according to the guidelines.
Patients receiving oxygenation also fall into the moderate category, whose fever does not resolve in three days and the demand for oxygen therapy continues, will be discharged only after resolution of clinical symptoms and when they can maintain oxygen saturation for three consecutive days.
Mild, very mild and pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID care The facility will undergo regular temperature monitoring and pulse oximetry.
“The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and fever-free for three days. There will be no need for pre-discharge testing,” the revised discharge policy stated.
At discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the isolation at home for longer days according to prescribed guidelines.
At any time, before discharge from the COVID Care Center, if the oxygen saturation falls below 95 percent, the patient will be transferred to Dedicated COVID Health Center.
After discharge from the center, if he / she again develops symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath, he / she will contact the COVID Care Center or the state helpline or 1075.
Her health will be monitored again via teleconferences on the 14th, she said.