Guwahati, Jan 19: COVID-19 positive patients admitted in COVID Care Centres and COVID hospitals shall be discharged after five days of hospitalisation provided the patient is asymptomatic for at least three consecutive days, the modified guidelines issued for management of COVID-19 patients in Assam said.
“No RT-PCR test is required at the time of discharge. However, in case of symptomatic patients, the decision for discharge shall be taken by the treating doctor, based on the clinical condition of the patient,” the revised norms issued by the state principal secretary (health and family welfare) stated.
After discharge from hospital the patient will have to undergo two more days, instead of 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. After seven days (five days of institutional isolation and two days’ home isolation), the patients shall be considered as cured,” the guidelines stated.
“Asymptomatic patients in home isolation shall be considered as discharged on the seventh day,” it said.
The country and state is witnessing a third wave of COVID-19, owing to the latest detected variant, Omicron.
Testing
The revised ICMR advisory for purposive testing shall be strictly followed for testing of COVID at all places, the modified guidelines stated.
No emergency procedure (including surgeries and deliveries) should be delayed for lack of a test.
“Any patient coming to casualty/emergency facilities in medical colleges/district hospitals/ other government and health institutions need not be made waiting for COVID test results unless the patient is specifically having COVID related symptoms,” it said.
The guidelines further said that symptomatic patients undergoing surgical/non-surgical invasive procedures, including pregnant women in/near labour who are hospitalised for delivery should not be tested unless warranted or symptoms develop.
“Patients should not be referred to other facilities for lack of testing facility. All arrangements should be made to collect and transfer samples to testing facilities, mapped to the health facility,” it stated.
However healthcare professionals shall strictly adhere to all COVID appropriate precautions, including personal protection equipment as per the guidelines and ensure that the health professionals are not exposed to COVID due to ignorance/negligence while on duty.
“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,” the norms said.