Centre validates state govt's stand, pitches for home isolation of mild cases
Kolkata: The Union Health ministry on Tuesday validated the Bengal government's concept of home quarantine, issuing fresh guidelines for home isolation of those who either have very mild COVID-19 symptoms or are in the pre-symptomatic phase.
Such patients with requisite self-isolation facility at their residence will now have the option for home isolation.
This comes in the wake of a section of people who had questioned the viability of home-isolation for primary and secondary contacts of COVID-19 positive patients if they have "reasonable living space at their homes" without being taken to institutional quarantine facilities, an idea floated by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday.
"As per existing guidelines, during the containment phase, the patients should be clinically assigned as very mild/mild, moderate or severe and accordingly admitted to COVID Care Centre, Dedicated COVID Health Centre or Dedicated COVID Hospital, respectively. However, very mild/pre-symptomatic patients having the requisite facility at his/her residence for self-isolation will have the option for home isolation," the ministry stated.
As per the eligibility for home isolation, the person should be clinically assigned as a very mild case/pre-symptomatic case by the treating medical officer.
BJP leaders in the state allegedly started politicising the issue, even trying to show the administration in a bad light and stating that the state government-run hospitals are running out of beds and hence it is keen on home quarantine. The state Health department in its order on Monday evening clarified that the COVID-19 affected ones must be admitted to hospitals and the suspected ones may remain in home quarantine.
Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee on Tuesday tweeted: "While BJP mouthpieces were busy 'questioning' our Hon'ble CM on the viability of home quarantine and its perils, @MoHFW_INDIA released similar guidelines for all of India. Everyone crying wolf yesterday, at least side with your party lines instead of misrepresenting honest efforts."
Principal Secretary Vivek Kumar on Monday evening issued a notification clearly stating that COVID-19 patients must be brought to the designated hospitals. It was also mentioned that the primary or secondary contacts of COVID positive cases and who have reasonable living/physical spaces in their houses, maybe put under home quarantine instead of institutional quarantine.
According to the state government order, people in home quarantine must maintain social-distancing and should use masks, and other dos and don'ts issued by the Health department. Even in home quarantine, the persons concerned will be under close surveillance of the local health authorities and their status will be monitored closely by the health authorities.
Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha on Tuesday, while addressing the media, said the Centre has issued similar guidelines to that of the state government. Those who will be under home quarantine will be kept under surveillance for 24 hours. Those who have enough space in their households can remain under isolation. People are often attaching a stigma to those undertaking institutional quarantine. It would be better if the suspected ones remain in isolation in their own houses.
Meanwhile, in another important development, the Chief Minister allowed home delivery of non-essential items in the state.
Announcing her decision, she said: "By and large the people of the state have so far not faced any problems in getting essential commodities. There are many non-essential goods that people need but have not been able to get for the last one month. We are allowing home delivery of non-essential goods as well. One can get whatever one needs by ordering on the phone, buying online, or using whatever mechanisms one uses."
A notification on the matter said: "It must be ensured that delivery personnel must wear masks. Norms of social distancing and health and hygiene protocol must be ensured."
