Himanta Biswa states 5-point prerequisites for home treatment of COVID-19 patients

July 11: There has been recent pressure mounting upon the state government regarding home isolation and treatment of COVID-19 asymptomatic patients. Airing his views in this context, State Health Minister, Himanta Biswa Sharma during a press briefing at Janata Bhawan in Guwahati on Saturday said that as per policy of the state health department, all COVID positive patients shall be treated in COVID wards of hospitals or kept in COVID Care Centres. “I cannot allow to risk the lives of senior citizens in the houses of any COVID-19 patient by allowing them home isolation,” stated the health minister.

However, Himanta Biswa Sharma mentioned 5-point prerequisites based on which, the health department might consider allowing home isolation of COVID-19 asymptomatic patients. In this regard, the concerned patient is required to give a declaration/ undertaking based on 5-points, which are:

• No-objection from the society/ flat committee/ neighbours where the COVID-19 asymptomatic patient resides. Also, the patient himself should be in a co-morbid condition.
• There should not be any senior citizen(s) or pregnant woman in the house of the COVID-19 positive patient.
• A medical device, called a pulse oximeter should be purchased by the Patient at home.
• A private doctor should be engaged by the COVID-19 positive patient. The doctor shall have to take the pulse oximeter reading of the patient every three hours either in person or through tele/video link.
• If the pulse oximeter reading is below 95, means that 5 per cent of the blood cells have been depleted of oxygen and that means the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. In such cases, the COVID-19 patient shall have his own vehicle and driver and should reach hospital immediately.

The health minister further said that, all these criteria can be fulfilled by any COVID-19 positive patient, then he/she should give a written undertaking to the health department. In turn, the health officials will verify the truth of the declaration made by the patient and only then permission may be granted regarding home isolation and treatment of COVID-19 asymptomatic patients.