New Delhi: These days, cases of Coronavirus infection are spreading very fast in the country. Omicron, a new variant of the coronavirus (Covid 19), is also taking a large number of people in its grip. Thousands of new cases of coronavirus are coming out every day. However, at present these cases are non-symptomatic or with mild symptoms. In such a situation, it is less lethal now and its patients are getting cured with medical consultation at home. For Corona patients who are mild Covid symptomatic or non-symptomatic, the Ministry of Health issues guidelines for home isolation from time to time. So that they do not face any problem in getting medical help. Also, while staying at home, his family members also could not spread the corona through him.
In fact, non-symptomatic corona patients are those who do not have any symptoms of corona and their oxygen level is also more than 93 percent. At the same time, even in patients with mild symptoms, the oxygen level is more than 93 percent. They may or may not have a fever. They do not have any problem in breathing. Only those corona patients can stay in home isolation or quarantine, who have mild symptoms or no symptoms.
These are the rules for the corona patient living in home isolation
The patient should isolate himself from other members of the household. Must stay in a separate room. One should stay away from other people in the house, especially the elderly and people suffering from other diseases.
- The patient should stay in a well-ventilated room with cross ventilation and windows should be kept open for fresh air.
- The patient should always use a medical mask with three layers or layers. If the mask gets wet or becomes dirty in appearance then they should be removed. One mask can be used for 8 hours. Both the caregiver and the patient can use an N-95 mask when the caregiver enters the patient’s room.
- The mask should be cut into pieces and kept in a paper bag for at least 72 hours and thrown away.
- The patient should drink enough water or other beverages.
- Hands should be washed frequently with soap and water for at least 40 seconds. Hands should be cleaned with alcohol based sanitizer.
- Patients will not share personal belongings, including utensils, with other people in the household.
- Ensure cleaning of frequently touched surfaces (tabletop, door knobs, handles etc.) in the room with soap/detergent and water. Cleaning can be done either by the patient or the caregiver while following the necessary precautions like use of masks and gloves.
- Monitoring of patient’s blood oximeter with pulse oximeter is advised.
- The patient should self-monitor his/her health with daily temperature monitoring and report any worsening of symptoms immediately. The condition should be shared with the treating doctor as well as the monitoring teams/control room.
- If possible, the responsibility should be given to the person taking care of the patient, who has taken both the doses of the vaccine. They are required to wear a triple layer medical mask around the patient at all times.
- Family should take special care of these things with the patient
Avoid direct contact with patient’s body fluids like nose, saliva etc. Use disposable gloves when handling the patient. - Avoid direct contact with any of the patient’s belongings. Such as eating utensils, dishes, drinks, used towels or bedding.
- Food should be provided to the patient in his room. The utensils and utensils used by the patient should be cleaned with soap/detergent and water wearing gloves. Utensils can be used after proper cleaning.
- Clean hands after taking off gloves or touching used objects. Use a triple layer medical mask and disposable gloves when cleaning, clothing or surfaces used by the patient.
- Used masks, gloves and tissues or blood/body fluids of COVID-19 patients, used syringes, medicines etc., should be treated as biomedical waste and collected in yellow bags accordingly Must be disposed of and handed over. Waste should be given separately. So that the infection can be prevented from spreading further in the home and community.
How to treat mild or asymptomatic patients in home isolation?
- Patients should be in communication with the doctor and should report immediately in case of any problem.
- After consulting the doctor, the patient should continue the medicines for other diseases.
- Patients can use the teleconsultation platform provided by the district/state administration including the e-Sanjeevani teleconsultation platform available at www.esanjeevaniopd.in.
- Patients can gargle with warm water or inhale the steam thrice a day.
- If the fever is not reducing even after taking medicines, then take other medicines only after consulting the doctor.
- Do not rush for self-medication, blood tests or radiological imaging like chest X-ray or chest CT scan without consulting your doctor.
- Steroids are not indicated in mild disease and should not be self-administered.
- When there is such a problem, then you should definitely seek medical help.
When fever for 3 consecutive daysThe car did not fall below 100 degrees.
- Difficulty in breathing started.
- When the oxygen level starts coming down to 93 percent or less.
- Feeling of pain or pressure in the chest.
- Feeling more tired.
When to end home isolation?
According to the guidelines, patients are allowed to end it under home isolation when 7 days have passed from the day their report came positive and there is no fever for three days. But they will continue to wear masks. There is no need to get the corona test done again after the period of home isolation is over.
