Government of India
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
l. Scope
The present guidelines are in addition to guidelines on appropriate management of suspect/confirmed case of COVID-19 issued by MoHFW on 7th April, 2020. All suspected (awaiting test results) and confirmed cases of COVID-19 disease are currently being Isolated and managed in a hospital setting with the Intent to break the chain of transmission. As per existing guidelines, during the containment phase the patients should be clinically assigned as very mild, moderate or severe and accordingly admitted to
(a) COVID Care Center (b) Dedicated COVID Health Center or (c) Dedicated COVID Hospital respectively.
However, very mild\pre-symptomatic patients having the requisite facility at residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation.
2. Eligibility for home isolation
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- The person should be clinically assigned as a very mild case/ pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer.
- Such cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and also for quarantining the family contacts.
- A care giver should be available to provide care on 24 x 7 basis. A communication link between the caregiver and hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation.
- The care giver and all close contacts of such cases should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per protocol and as prescribed by the treating medical officer.
- Download Arogya Setu App on mobile (available at: https://ww.mygov.in/aarogya-setu-app) and it should remain active at all times (through Bluetooth and Wi-Fi)
- The patient shall agree to monitor his health and regularly Inform his health status to the District Surveillance Officer for further follow up by the surveillance teams.
- The patient will fill in an undertaking on self-isolation (Annexure I) and shall follow home quarantine guidelines. Such individual shall be eligible for home isolation.
- In addition to the guidelines on home-quarantine available at: https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/guidelinesforhomequarantine.pdf, the required instructions for the care giver and the patient as in Annexure II shall be also followed.
3. When to seek medical attention
- Difficulty in breathing
- Persistent pressure in the chest
- Mental confusion or inability to arouse
- Developing bluish discolorations of lips/face
- As advised by treating medical officer
4. When to discontinue home isolation
Patients under home isolation will end home isolation if symptoms are clinically resolved and the surveillance medical officer certifies him to be free of Infection after laboratory testing