Covid patients to be discharged after 5 days following 2 days of home isolation: New guidelines

Jan. 19: Assam Government on Tuesday issued ‘Modified Guidelines for Managment of Covid-19 Patients.’ As per the revised guidelines, Covid patients shall be discharged in Assam after 5 days. The guidelines further specified 2 days of home isolation after discharge. No RAT/RTPCR TEST shall be required during discharge.  The guidelines shall come in to force with immediate effect and may be modified on the basis of evolving nature of COVID pandemic.

The following Instructions are put in place for smooth management of COVID positive persons in Assam:

Testing: 

1. In view of the revised ICMR advisory for purposive testing, in supersession of previous protocols, the ICMR guidelines shall be strictly followed for testing of COVID at at places.
2. No emergency procedure (including surgeries and deliveries) should be delayed for lack of a test.
3. Any patient coming to Casually/ emergency facilities in Medical Colleges/ District Hospitals/ other government and private health institutions, need not be made waiting for COVID test results unless the patient is specifically having COVID related symptoms.
4. Asymptomatic patients undergoing surgical / non-surgical invasive procedures including pregnant women in/near labour who are hospitalized for delivery should not be tested unless warranted or symptoms develop.
5. Patients should not be referred to other facilities for lack of a testing facility. All arrangements should be made to collect and transfer samples to testing facilities, mapped to the health facility.
6. However, the health care professionals shall strictly adhere to all COVID appropriate precautions including personal protection equipment as per guidelines and ensure that the health professionals are not exposed to COVID due to ignorance/ negligence while on duty.
7. Patients who stand discharged as per home isolation guidelines and Patients being discharged from a COVID-19 facility as per revised discharge policy need not get tested at the time of discharge.
   

Discharge of COVID Positive patients:

1. COVID positive patients admitted in Covid Care Centres and Covid Hospitals shall be discharged after 5 (five) days of Hospitalisation provided the patient is asymptomatic (afebrile) for at least 3 (three) consecutive days. NO RAT/ RTPCR TEST is required at the time of discharge. However, in case of symptomatic patients, decision for discharge shall be taken by the treating doctor based on the clinical condition of the patient.
2. After discharge from the hospital, the patient will have to undergo 2 (two) more days [instead of 7 (seven) days] of strict HOME ISOLATION with self-health monitoring. In case of appearance of any COVID related symptoms, the patient shall call 104 services or attend the nearest health facility.
3. After a total period of 7 (seven) days i.e., 5 (five) days institutional isolation + 2 (two) days home isolation, the patient shall be considered as cured.
4. Asymptomatic patients in Home Isolation shall be considered as discharged on the day. These guidelines shall come in to force with immediate effect and may be modified on the basis of evolving nature of COVID pandemic. Other instructions given in the Government communication No. HLA 274/2020/178 dated 08/01/2022 shall remain unchanged until further orders.