Asymptomatic Nanded returnees to be declared ‘cured’, sent on home quarantine

Ludhiana: Ludhiana District’s Covid-19 cured cases is expected to increase substantially in next few days, as majority of Nanded Sahib returnees will be discharged from government quarantine centres after more than two weeks and will be declared as cured. Health department has received guidelines from senior health authorities on discharging mild or moderate cases and putting them under home quarantine.
A revised discharge policy by the director of health and family welfare of state government, a copy of which is with TOI, read that mild/very mild/symptomatic/pre-symptomatic/asymptomatic cases can be discharged from isolation health facility without testing, provided they are asymptomatic (no fever, breathlessness) for more than three days.It added that patient with moderate symptoms are symptom free and maintain oxygen saturation of more than 95% for four days without oxygen support after 10 days of onset of symptoms.
“They are further advised home quarantine for seven days,” it added.
Health department officials said between April 26 and April 29, 250 persons, including those from Ludhiana and other districts, had come to Ludhiana. They added that of those 226 persons were from Ludhiana district.
Health department officials further said of these 81 Nanded returnees had tested positive for Covid-19 and were housed in isolation facilities in Ludhiana. They added that of these one Covid-19 positive patient from a village in Jagraon area had died of heart attack but most were asymptomatic.
“Majority of them have tested negative and still have not showed any symptoms,” said health department official.
Civil surgeon Dr Rajesh Bagga indicated that since majority of the 81 from Ludhiana district have spent more than 15 days, they will be sent to home quarantine at their respective places. He added that according to the new guidelines patients these persons will be discharged from facility in next few days after receiving the government directions.
Civil suregon further said there will be no second test after they are discharged from the health facility. He added that even as the number of Covid-19 cases will remain the same in Ludhiana district, but when people are discharged and put under home quarantine, the cured cases number will increase.
“They will be asked to give an undertaking that they will maintain home quarantine,” said the officer.
However, according to the quarantine/discharge policy for returnees from other states, “Persons returning from other states should be screened for symptoms. Asymptomatic persons may be sent for home quarantine for 14 days. Symptomatic persons should be taken to isolation centres and tested for Covid-19 with RT-PCR. If test negative, can be discharged after symptoms subside. If positive, the revised discharge policy to be followed. Those already in quarantine and are asymptomatic and tested negative for Covid-19 can be sent home with instructions for home quarantine for 14 days (facility quarantine already completed and home quarantine). Other returnees, who are asymptomatic, and yet to be tested may be sent for home quarantine for 14 days (facility quarantine already completed and home quarantine). For those who test positive for Covid-19, revised discharge policy to be followed.”