In a major sigh of relief for the city residents, the Health department, in consonance with the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) prescribed by Government of India today discharged 79 patients who were found positive of Corona Virus but were asymptomatic and fit.These patients were discharged from the local Civil Hospital after a team of Doctors led by Senior Medical Officer Dr. Kashmiri Lal thoroughly examined them. Divulging more details, the Civil Surgeon Dr. Gurinder Chawla and Medical Superintendent Dr. Harinder Singh said that as per new SOP Patients who were mild/ moderate symptomatic at the time of admission at isolation facility and become symptom-Free would be considered tor discharge from facility and would be advised home isolation. They said that the patient would be eligible for discharge after the 10 days of onset of symptoms and no fever for 3 days with oxygen saturation (SpO, >93%) without oxygen support. They said that as per the directions, the patient should be clinically assessed for the resolution of symptoms by the treating Medical Officer.
The Civil Surgeon and Medical Superintendent said that the patient should be carefully monitored by the treating medical officer and record of temperature, Oxygenation level (With Pulse Oxymeter) or any other relevant signs/symptoms. They said that the patient, who was being discharged, should have the requisite facilities at their residence for self-isolation and also tor quarantining the family contacts, i.e. clean, well-ventilated rooms with attached wash rooms for the patient/home contacts. They said that the treating medical officer would certify that the patient was symptom Free as per guidelines and fit for home isolation. They said that the patient would give the undertaking for self-isolation to ensure the availability of adequate facilities for isolation.The Civil Surgeon and Medical Superintendent said that a care giver would be available to provide service on 24X7 basis adding that a communication link between the caregiver and hospital would be established for entire duration of home isolation. They said that care giver and all close contacts of such cases should take hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per the protocol and as prescribed by the treating Medical Officer. They said that the patient should be instructed to follow strict social distancing measures and respiratory etiquette. They further said that patient under Home isolation would end after seven days of discharge without testing.