News Analysis India

Tag: new Covid guidelines

  • Centre revises guidelines for home isolation of Covid patients. Check new rules here

    By Online Desk

    The Centre on Wednesday issued revised guidelines for home isolation of mild and asymptomatic patients amid the surge in Covid-19 cases nationwide.

    Here are the new guidelines:

    The patient under home isolation will stand discharged and end isolation after at least 7 days have passed from testing positive and no fever for 3 successive days 
    There is no need for re-testing after the home isolation period is over.
    Asymptomatic contacts of infected individuals need not undergo Covid test and monitor health in home quarantine as per the new guidelines.
    Patient should at all times use a triple-layer medical mask. They should discard the mask after 8 hours of use or earlier if the mask becomes wet or is visibly soiled. 
    In the event of the caregiver entering the room, both Caregiver and patient may preferably consider using the N-95 mask
    The mask should be discarded after cutting them to pieces and putting them in a paper bag for a minimum of 72 hours.
    Isolating himself from others and especially with elderly people with comorbidities, the patient should stay in a well-ventilated room 
    The patients will self-monitor the blood oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter. 
    The patient may self-monitor respiratory rate in sitting position, breathe normally and count the number of breaths taken in 1 minute and report if any deterioration of symptom is noticed
    Elderly patients(60+) with co-morbid conditions will only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer.
    ALSO READ | Vaccinated citizens detected with Omicron variant advised home isolation: Tamil Nadu minister

    The patients suffering from immune-compromised status (HIV, transplant recipients, cancer therapy etc) are not recommended for home isolation and shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer
    Patients may utilize the teleconsultation platform. If fever is not controlled with a maximum dose of Paracetamol 650 mg four times a day, consult the treating doctor
    The patients have been advised to perform warm water gargles or take steam inhalation thrice a day. 
    The guidelines prohibit rush for self-medication, blood investigation or radiological imaging like chest X-ray or chest CT scan without consultation from the treating Medical Officer. 
    Steroids are not indicated in mild disease and shall not be self-administered. Overuse and inappropriate use of steroids may lead to additional complications, the new guidelines said.
    Immediate medical attention must be sought if serious signs or symptoms develop which may include unresolved high-grade fever of more than 100 degrees F for more than 3 days. 
    Difficulty in breathing and dip in oxygen saturation (SpO2 93% on room air at least 3 readings within 1 hour) or respiratory rate @24/minute. 
    If the patient feels persistent pain or pressure in the chest or any mental confusion or inability to arouse along with severe fatigue and myalgia, immediate medical advice should be sought as per the new home isolation guidelines.
    The concerned district administration under the overall supervision of the State Health Authority shall be responsible for monitoring the patient under home isolation.
    (With agency inputs)

  • Centre issues fresh recommendations for pregnant, lactating women battling Covid. Check here

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: In a fresh advisory issued on Monday, the Union Health Ministry said that Covid positive mothers can continue to breastfeed their babies but should keep them at least six feet away when not breastfeeding.

    It also said that in pregnant women, overall health check-ups post-Covid recovery should be carried out to ensure that the mother and the foetus are doing fine. 

    An interview with Manju Puri, head of the department, obstetrics and gynaecology at the Lady Hardinge Medical College in New Delhi released by the ministry said that during the second wave, many women contracted Covid during pregnancy compared to the first wave.

    Covid, if severe, can lead to serious complications during pregnancy, especially during the last trimester as the uterus is enlarged and presses on the diaphragm, compromising a woman’s ability to cope with a fall in oxygen saturation.

    “This may lead to a sudden fall in blood oxygen saturation and risk the lives of both the mother and the child,” said the doctor, adding that the vaccines will help prevent severe disease in pregnant women.

    ALSO READ | COVID-19 linked to substantial impact on intelligence, finds UK study

    Also, vaccinating a mother is likely to give some degree of protection to the newborn as the antibodies developed in the mother’s body post-vaccination will pass on to the developing foetus through her blood.

    In the case of lactating mothers, an infant gets these antibodies through the mother’s breast milk, she explained.

    The advisory said that while during an active infection, a mother should continue to breastfeed the baby but is advised to keep the baby at a distance of 6 feet from her when she is not breastfeeding.

    A caregiver who is tested negative can also help in taking care of the newborn and the mother can take necessary precautions such as wearing protective gear like a mask, face shield while breastfeeding.

    “If there is no one else to take care of the child, a mother should wear a mask all the time, and maintain physical distance from the child as much as possible,” Puri suggested.

    “The mother and the child should stay in a well-ventilated room. And she should regularly wash her hands and sanitise the surroundings.”

  • New Covid strains: India makes tests on arrival must for flyers from UK, Europe, Middle East

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI: The Centre has issued fresh guidelines for international arrivals as cases of mutant variants of Covid-19 from South Africa and Brazil were detected in India. The new guidelines have made Covid tests mandatory on arrival for those travelling from the UK, Europe, and the Middle East.            

    The new standard operating procedure will come into effect from February 22.

    As the spread of mutant variants of SARS-CoV-2 has been reported from many countries, the Union ministry of health and family welfare late on Wednesday evening released the new guidelines for international arrivals which formalises the testing procedure.

    Three variants- B.1.1.7 which was first identified in the UK, B.1.135 which originated in South African and the P.1 variant which originated in Brazil- have so far been detected in 86, 44 and 15 countries respectively.

    These variants have demonstrated increased transmissibility, raising concerns of another spike in cases. Even more worryingly, the Covid-19 vaccines developed so far have been found to be less effective in case of some of these mutations.

    So far, 4 cases of the South African variant of the coronavirus have been detected in four people who came to the country from Africa in January while one case of infection with the Brazilian variant has also been found apart from 187 cases of the UK variant.

    ALSO READ | COVID-19 vaccine could be available in open market by 2021 end: AIIMS Director

    The latest guidelines cover all international travellers coming or transiting through flights originating in the UK, Europe and the Middle East.

    Though no new strain has been detected in the Middle East, travellers from Brazil and South Africa transit through the region to reach India as the country does not have direct flights with Brazil and South Africa.

    The government has suspended international scheduled flights until February 28 and overseas flights to and from India are currently operated as per air bubble agreements with various countries.

    “All international travellers arriving in India will have to present a negative RT-PCR test, conducted not more than 72 hours before undertaking the journey,” said the guidelines accompanied by an algorithm for all international arrivals.

    For travellers coming from destinations other than the UK, Europe and the Middle East, this condition will be waived if they are travelling due to exigent circumstances, such as the death of a family member, it said.

    All the airlines have also been asked to segregate passengers originating from the UK, Europe and the Middle East to facilitate authorities in following due protocol. Those arriving from these countries will mandatorily be subjected to a self-paid confirmatory molecular test.

    The government advisory also said that in case any person arriving from these countries tests positive for Covid-19, their samples will be taken for genome sequencing of the strain.