Self Isolation- Health department okays Covid "home treatment"- Eight undergo such treatment in Siliguri Sub-div

Sankha Ghosh, SNS, 12 June 2020, SILIGURI: Along with dedicated institutional treatment, the health department has introduced 'home treatment' for asymptomatic Covid- 19 patients.

In Darjeeling district, around eight such persons in the Siliguri Sub-Division are presently undergoing such treatment at their homes with active surveillance and supervision of the Darjeeling district health department, officials said here today.

"In tune with the guidelines, persons clinically categorised as having very mild or pre-symptomatic coronavirus disease will have the option of home isolation, provided they have the requisite facility at their residence," a senior health department official said.

The officials, however, said that the patients have to be without co-morbidities.

"We have taken this initiative and implemented as a pilot plan this month. Around eight such persons are undergoing treatment so far in Siliguri. Associations in some apartments said they had no objection if the treatment is carried out in home isolation. We have clinically examined them as asymptomatic. We are closely monitoring their health, and health teams are regularly examining them," the health official said.

The development comes when two dedicated hospitals for the treatment of Covid-19 patients are grappling with the rising number of patients, prompting the administration and the health department to develop Covid treatment infrastructure in other private hospitals too.

"Patients for home Isolation treatment must be asymptomatic, without co-morbidities and young in age with a good immune response. They have to follow the rules, and should have the facilities at his/her residence needed for self-isolation.They should stay in a separate room with separate washrooms and away from other persons at home, especially the elderly and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, cardiovascular diseases and renal disease. They cannot share their personal items with others," the official added.

"If neighbours of a positive patient do not raise any objection and accept home isolation treatment, we will go ahead with mom such treatment in number" said a senior

official of the district administration.

However, all houses, especially in rural areas and urban slums, do not have such facilities where distancing norms can be maintained, as they lack space and separate rooms and washrooms.

Explaining the process, health department sources said they were asking family members to decide on who will be the caregivers or the patients attendants.

"The caregiver will be one from the family, and he/she should be available to provide 24x7 care, with communication link with health department officials. They will check the daily temperature of the patients and provide medicines on time. The patient may be taken to the dedicated hospital for Covid-19 in case he or she experiences severe symptoms such as difficulty in breathing, pressure in chest and mental confusion." the official said.

The home isolation will come to an end once the symptoms are clinically resolved and a medical officer certifies the patient to be free of infection after laboratory testing.