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NEW DELHI: Dispelling apprehensions that are light and moderate COVID-19 patients could transmit the disease if not screened before discharge, the Union Ministry of Health Such available evidence does not indicate any increase in the risk of infection transmission in such cases.
Such patients after discharge will also continue isolation at home for another seven days, the ministry said in its Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on the revised Discharge Policy.
On May 9, the ministry issued the new discharge policy according to which coronavirus Infected patients who develop a serious illness or who have compromised immunity will need to test negative through the RT-PCR test before being discharged from a hospital.
He said that for moderate cases of COVID-19 and pre-symptomatic cases, mild and very mild, they do not need to undergo testing before being discharged after resolution of symptoms.
“The available evidence does not indicate any increase in the risk of transmission of patients discharged according to the revised discharge criteria. The revised criterion also specifies that these patients will continue isolation at home for another seven days,” the ministry said in response. to frequently asked questions.
According to the policy, mild, very mild and pre-symptomatic patients admitted to a Covid care center can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and without fever for three days.
Patients clinically classified as “moderate cases” will be discharged 10 days after the onset of symptoms in the absence of fever without antipyretics, resolution of dyspnea and lack of oxygen, he said.
But in both severe cases and moderate, mild and presymptomatic cases, the patient after discharge will have to continue isolation at home for another seven days, according to policy.
Responding to a question about why the discharge policy was changed, the ministry said that several countries have changed the discharge criteria from ‘evidence-based strategy to’ symptom-based strategy ‘or’ time-based strategy ‘.
“A review of ICMR laboratory surveillance data also indicated that after the initial positive RT-PCR results, the patients turned negative after an average duration of 10 days,” he said.
Recent studies have also suggested that viral load peaks in the pre-symptomatic period, two days before symptoms, and decreases in the next seven days.
“Being cured of a disease can have different connotations for the general public, the treatment of doctors and virologists. Unless there is a fear of the resurgence of infection and the subsequent transmissibility of an infection, resolution of the clinical manifestation it is generally taken as evidence for the cure, “the ministry said.
Responding to a question about what precautions the patient should take during home isolation, he said that home isolation of very mild and confirmed mild Covid-19 pre-symptomatic cases has been planned, “provided that such patients are assessed as eligible for the same in terms of their clinical status and the feasibility of successfully isolating in domestic settings ”
This should be done after signing a patient self-declaration form, he said.
Such patients, without comorbidities, should wear three-layer medical masks at all times, the ministry said.
The patient should stay in the identified room and away from other people in the home, especially the elderly and those with comorbid conditions like hypertension, cardiovascular disease and kidney disease, he said.
They must maintain strict personal hygiene and self-monitor their health with daily temperature control and report immediately if they develop any deterioration in symptoms, indicated in the frequently asked questions.
On the need for testing after the period of home isolation ends, the ministry said that according to the latest revised discharge policy, there is no need for pre-discharge testing of all confirmed cases of COVID-19 very symptomatic, very mild or mild. after 10 days of symptoms and without fever for three days.
“Therefore, it stands to reason that tests are not needed for patients undergoing home isolation (pre-symptomatic / very mild / confirmed cases) after the period of home isolation ends,” he said.
The previous criterion for downloading positive RT-PCR was that the chest radiograph was deleted and two consecutive negative results in RT-PCR, the ministry said.
The death toll from Covid-19 rose to 2,206 and the number of cases rose to 67,152 on Monday, according to the Health Ministry.
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