COVID-19: Seniors, lactating patients with no symptoms can stay at home, says BMC

Antigen test being carried out at CSMT. Pic/Suresh Karkera

Amid the massive surge in COVID cases, the civic body on Thursday allowed home quarantine for senior citizens, comorbid elderly persons and breastfeeding mothers with no symptoms. The new rules are in addition to the home isolation applicable to asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic positive patients without comorbidities.

The new category of people will be allowed home quarantine after being evaluated by a medical officer in consultation with the patient's family doctor. As per the BMC data, nearly 80-85 per cent of cases in the city are asymptomatic and only require home isolation.

Considering the possibility that the patients, especially those above 60 years, can develop symptoms after a week of diagnosis, civic health officials have been directed to regularly visit patients' homes during the quarantine period. "At least 10 per cent of the total patients in home isolation should be visited by a dedicated medical team at their homes daily to check all the details," read a circular issued by the BMC.

Reiterating old norms the circular asks BMC's health staff to telephonically contact all the patients on the fifth and seventh day of their home isolation for updates. "Patients in home isolation should be admitted to the hospital immediately if their symptoms increase. The decision will be made by the treating medical officer, medical expert," it said.

The Ward War Rooms have been asked to engage officials to monitor oxygen levels and temperatures of home-quarantined patients.