The Union Health Ministry has revised its discharge guidelines for COVID-19, stating that only severe cases will now be tested before being allowed to leave the hospital or a care centre.
As per latest guideline – the categories of patients, including very mild, mild, pre-symptomatic and moderate cases, need not be tested before discharge.
According to health ministry, “Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID Care Facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge. At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for further 7 days.”
If further clarifies, after discharge from the facility, if patients again develop symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty, they will contact the COVID Care Centre or State helpline or 1075. Their health will again be followed up through tele-conference on 14thday.
Moderate cases will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation.
If fever resolve within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset in case of:
- Absence of fever without antipyretics
- Resolution of breathlessness
- No oxygen requirement.
There will be no need for testing prior to discharge and the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for 7 days.
Patient on Oxygenation whose fever does not resolve within 3 days and demand of oxygen therapy continues Such patients will be discharged only after
- Resolution of clinical symptoms
- Ability to maintain oxygen saturation for 3 consecutive days.
Severe Cases including immuno compromised (HIV patients, transplant recipients, malignancy) Discharge criteria for severe cases will be based on
- Clinical recovery
- Patient tested negative once by RT-PCR (after resolution of symptoms)
