What is government’s revised discharge policy for Covid-19 patients?

The Union Health Ministry has revised discharge rules for patients suffering from coronavirus infection. The revised discharge policy is in sync with the guidelines on 3 tier Covid-19 facilities in India.

Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases

These cases admitted to a Covid-19 care facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days.

At any point of time, prior to discharge from Covid-19 Care Centre (CCC), if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, the patient is moved to dedicated Covid-19 Health Centre (DCHC).

After discharge from the facility, if he/she again develops symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty he will contact the Covid Care Centre or State helpline or 1075.

Moderate cases admitted to Dedicated Covid Health Centre

They will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation. If the fever resolve within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days, such patients will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset in case of:

1.Absence of fever without antipyretics

2.Resolution of breathlessness

3.No oxygen requirement

Patient on Oxygenation whose fever does not resolve within 3 days and demand of oxygen therapy continues

Such patients will be discharged only after resolution of clinical symptoms  ability to maintain oxygen saturation for 3 consecutive days

Severe Cases including immunocompromised (HIV patients, transplant recipients,malignancy)

Discharge criteria for severe cases will be based on

Clinical recovery

Patient tested negative once by RT-PCR