Police check a vehicle at Kallikadu in Thiruvananthapuram that has been turned into a containment zone

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After dilly dallying for weeks, the state health department has finally come out with an advisory on home care of asymptomatic Covid-19 patients.
As per the advisory, ‘when to initiate an SOP for home-based management of asymptomatic Covid-19 patients shall be decided by the district administration’. It will depend on the epidemic situation prevailing in the district. If there is 70% occupancy at FLTCs, then the district administration can go for home care of all asymptomatic patients-.“Daily telephonic monitoring, selfmonitoring and reporting of symptoms and checking the oxygen saturation with finger pulse oximetre are the three levels of monitoring mechanism planned for patients at home care,” said the advisory issued by principal secretary (health) Rajan N Khobragade.
Even though the Thiruvananthapuram district administration had issued order for home care treatment a week ago, the facility was not implemented as health department didn’t put in place a protocol for the same. Now each district administration can take a call on the home care. As per the advisory only those with mild sore throat, cough, rhinitis or diarrhea can be allowed for home care provided there is room isolation facility.
However, if a patient has lung, heart, liver, kidney or neurological disease, hypertension, haematological disorder, uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, HIV, cardiovascular disease or is under long-term steroids, immunosuppressive drugs, or pregnant or above the age group of 60 years, he/she will be put only under institutional care. The clinical eligibility for home care should be assessed by a physician from local health authorities. If the patient is under 12, then a parent, guardian or a care giver will be allowed into room isolation.
All the vulnerable individuals are to be moved to a separate house. Patient with symptoms or complications should be shifted to nearby FLTCs. The JPHNS, Asha workers or volunteers will visit the households every third day to monitor the patient and people staying at home.