New Guidelines: COVID Patients In Home Isolation Must Wear 3-Layer Medical Mask

New Delhi: COVID-positive patients in home isolation should use triple-layer medical mask at all times, the Union Health ministry has advised in a revised guideline.

The room where a coronavirus-infected person is staying must be well-ventilated and all windows should be kept open.

“Discard mask after 8 hours of use or earlier if they become wet or visibly soiled. In the event of caregiver entering the room, both caregiver and patient may consider using N95 mask,” the guideline states, adding that masks should be discarded only after disinfecting it with 1% sodium hypochlorite.

Patients must track their temperature, heart rate, oxygen, breathing difficulties if any and overall well-being, the ministry has suggested. Patients should also drink a lot of fluids.

“Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, chronic lung/liver/ kidney disease, cerebro-vascular disease etc shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer,” it says.

Following are Health ministry’s guidelines for COVID patients at home:

* Patients may perform warm water gargles or take steam inhalation twice a day.

* If fever is not controlled with a maximum dose of Tab. Paracetamol 650mg four times a day, consult the treating doctor who may consider advising other drugs like a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) (ex: Tab. Naproxen 250 mg twice a day).

* Consider Tab Ivermectin (200 mcg/kg once a day, to be taken empty stomach) for 3 to 5 days.

* Inhalational Budesonide (given via inhalers with spacer at a dose of 800 mcg twice daily for 5 to 7 days) to be given if symptoms (fever and/or cough) are persistent beyond 5 days of disease onset.

* Oral steroids, Remdesivir are not for home administration.