Karnataka Issues New Guidelines For Home Isolation Of COVID-19 Patients

The Karnataka government has issued detailed guidelines for the COVID-19 patients isolating at their homes. As of now, COVID-19 patients are being isolated at the COVID Care Centres or in hospitals. However, with the rising cases in Karnataka, health officials have released new guidelines to allow asymptomatic or patients with mild symptoms to practice self-isolation at home. It follows the guidelines laid down by the center on Thursday.

Patients suffering from mild or no symptoms of COVID-19 can only self-isolate after the home has been assessed by the government health officials. In addition, the neighbors will be informed about the patient’s condition.

“The patient shall have a pulse oximeter, digital thermometer and personal protective equipment (facemasks, gloves) to be used during home isolation,” the guidelines stated.

Health officials will check the conditions of the patient and their house once a patient has been tested COVID-19 positive. If the patient is asymptomatic or showing mild symptoms then they will have the option to self-isolate at home. However, the patients should be younger than 50 years with an oxygen saturation level greater than or equal to 95%.

“If the patient has the following comorbidities – Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease; they shall be well managed and under good clinical control as assessed by medical officer/physician,” the guidelines stated.

However, patients with serious that have pre-existing comorbid conditions like kidney diseases including patients on dialysis, heart diseases, stroke, tuberculosis, cancer, people living with HIV, immune-compromised, on steroids, and immune-suppressants, etc. will not be allowed to isolate themselves at home.

Additionally, the Karnataka government has also advised that the patients exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms should seek the advice of the monitoring health department staff. The patients will have to maintain distance from other members of the house, disinfect the surfaces, and wear an N95 mask at all times. The patients will be released from isolation once they recover from the symptoms.

“There is no need for the RT-PCR/CBNAAT/True-NAT test after the home isolation period is over,” the guidelines added.