Clinical care and discharge policy of COVID19 patients had been issued a month back on 8 May 2020 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.  These norms are being followed by all hospitals that are taking in COVID 19 patients across India.  The revised norms were based on recommendations of ICMR and implemented thereon.  

The revised discharge policy is aligned with the guidelines on the 3 tier COVID facilities and the categorization of the patients based on clinical severity. These guidelines are available in detail on MOHFW site.

LIST OF DISTRICT INCHARGE FOR COVID19 monitoring and care in Rajasthan:

REVISED GUIDELINES for Discharge of COVID19 patients ARE AS FOLLOWS:

Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases

Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID 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. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge. At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for further 7 days. Guidelines for home isolation.

At any point of time, prior to discharge from CCC, if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, patient is moved to Dedicated COVID 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. His/her health will again be followed up through tele-conference on 14th day.

Moderate cases admitted to Dedicated COVID Health Centre (Oxygen beds)

Patients whose symptoms resolve within 3 days and maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days

Cases clinically classified as “moderate cases” 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 (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset in case of:

• Absence of fever without antipyretics
• Resolution of breathlessness
• No oxygen requirement.

There will be no need for testing prior to discharge.

At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for 7 days as per guidelines.

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 (after resolution of symptoms)

Information has been sourced from the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of Rajasthan