Govt to allow home isolation of COVID patients if they give 2 undertakings: Himanta

July 5: At present there is no such established norm of allowing COVID-19 patients to stay at home isolation. However, they may be allowed so, subject to submission of two undertakings to the health department. Stating this, State Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma during a press briefing in Guwahati said that the government is not against the conception of home isolation. But in that case the patient will be required to provide a written undertaking wherein they are to make a declaration that they could manage private medical assistance if required. Apart from this, the minister made it clear that another declaration ought to be submitted from the society of the apartment stating that they have no objection in this regard.

Saying so, Himanta Biswa Sarma sounded a word of caution. He said that once the patient gives these two declarations then in case of emergency/ health exigency, the health department may not be in a position to extend any help. Moreover, it might become tough to shift any patient, if he/she suddenly becomes critical at midnight. The minister said that the paucity in the number of staff may not allow them to render medical assistance of this sort, especially during midnight or late night. It is on this ground that he said, “That is why we are not keen on allowing home quarantine.” He, however, also mentioned that till now, the health department have allowed around seven COVID patients who have requested for home quarantine.

The minister was candid in stating that the society ascribes too much stigma when it comes to COVID patients. Even there are cases where doctors and nurses engaged in treating coronavirus patients are harassed by the people where they live. He said, “We are not keen regarding home isolation of COVID patients on the ground that it will become difficult for the health staff to control the situation in case when the neighbours of the patients starts harassing them or their health condition deteriorates all of a sudden.