Over 42k medical kits distributed to Covid patients in home isolation during 2nd wave in UP's Prayagraj

PRAYAGRAJ: During the second Covid wave in Sangam city between April 1 and June 3, the home isolation (HI) facility was approved for a total of 42,771 Covid patients. Moreover, as many as 42,656 medical kits were also distributed among those infected by the novel coronavirus.
Statistics of the health department revealed that home isolation had been approved for 68,469 Covid patients from the time of the outbreak of coronavirus last year till June 3 this year.Out of the 68,469 Covid patients, 68,219 have already completed the home isolation period.
In the past 10 days, home isolation was approved for 245 patients, while 250 patients were also given medical kits in the same period.
Officials of the health department claimed that during the re-emergence of the Covid-19 crisis in April this year, the department had deployed over 80 rapid response teams (RRTs) for inspection of requisite facilities and adequate care at the homes of patients.
The permission for home isolation was granted only after the RRTs inspected the home of a patient and approved the facilities and living conditions and ensured the presence of a caregiver.
Senior medical officer and deputy nodal officer (RRT) Dr Anupam Dwivedi told TOI that only asymptomatic patients below 60 years of age were granted home isolation if they had the requisite facilities at home and could avoid contact with other family members.
For home isolation, he said, patients must have a home quarantine kit comprising of a pulse oximeter, thermometer, masks, sterile gloves, sodium hypochlorite and tablets of ashwagandha, Giloy and vitamin C.
During the second Covid wave, most of the patients were allowed home isolation. Once a patient applies for home isolation, an RRT is assigned to visit the home for inspection. The team compiles details including the patient’s name, age, sex, address, ward number (number of monitoring committee), mobile number and the date when they tested positive. The RRT also notes if they have a cough, cold, breathlessness, high/low blood pressure, high/low blood sugar and low oxygen saturation, besides including details of any other ailment,” added Dr Dwivedi.
He also added, “Patients suffering from any other ailments apart from Covid are not eligible for home isolation facility.”