Month: May 2020

The coronavirus can be fought off much better at home. About 80% of persons who are corona positive, particularly those who are in the 40–45 age range and do not have co-morbidities, have very minor symptoms. They experience worry and anxiety when they are transported to hospitals. However, they believe that Covid-19 is just another illness, similar to the seasonal flu, when they are at home, according to a doctor who wished to remain anonymous.

A health team made up of ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) workers evaluates the facility before approving home isolation for a patient under the supervision of a public health institution in-charge. A 24-hour caretaker is necessary in addition to the patient’s own room, bathroom, and kitchen supplies. To prevent the caregiver from becoming infected with the coronavirus, the patient and caregiver must both wear triple-layered medical masks.

Before a person gets the nod for home isolation, a health team, comprising anganwadi and ASHA (Accredited social health activist) workers, under the supervision of a public health facility in-charge assesses the facility. Apart from a separate room, bathroom and utensils for the patient, a 24×7 caregiver is required. Both patient and caregiver are required to wear triple-layered medical masks so that the latter is not exposed to coronavirus.

A communication link is established between the caregiver and the hospital. The patient has to give an undertaking to the government that he or she will maintain strict self-isolation at all times for the prescribed period, monitor his or her own and others’ health and interact with the assigned health officials.
The government has established a surveillance mechanism for daily monitoring of the patient. Each person is called up daily and a WhatsApp group has been created with the surveillance team, doctors and patient as members.