SHILLONG: The state government has issued a set of protocols/guidelines for home isolation of high-risk COVID-19 cases to ensure that they are properly taken care of in view of the pandemic.
High-risk group:
** Elderly people and people with co-morbid conditions returning from affected places.
** Pregnant Women in their third trimester.
** Children below 10 years of age accompanied by the parent/guardian.
The protocol is applicable to confirmed cases of Covid-19 who fall in the above three categories and who are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and do not require hospitalisation.
Clinical categories of COVID patients:
** Very mild/mild — admitted to COVID Care Centre
** Moderate — admitted to dedicated COVID Health Centre
** Severe — admitted to dedicated COVID Hospital
However, high-risk cases with mild/very mild symptoms having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will be given the option for home isolation.
Home isolation eligibility:
** High-risk person should not have any symptoms or only mild symptoms and not require any immediate specialised medical care.
** Such people should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for quarantining of the family contacts.
** A care-giver should be available to provide care on 24×7 basis. A communication link between the care-giver and health worker is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation.
** Download Aarogya Setu App on mobile (available at: https://www.mygov.in/aarogya-setu-app/) and it should remain active at all times (through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi)
** The care-giver shall agree to monitor the health of the high-risk person and regularly inform their health status to the Helpline/District Surveillance Officer for further follow up by the surveillance teams
** The person/guardian will fill in an undertaking on self-isolation and shall follow home quarantine guidelines. Only such individuals shall be eligible for home isolation.
** Strictly no visitors would be allowed into such houses.
Time for medical attention:
** Difficulty in breathing,
** Persistent pain/pressure in the chest,
** Mental confusion or inability to arouse,
** Developing bluish discoloration of lips/face and loss of sense of taste/smell
** Any other symptoms as advised by treating medical officer
End of home isolation:
** If symptoms are clinically resolved and the surveillance medical officer certifies them to be free of infection after laboratory testing.