Govt ayes home isolation, but no takers in Vidarbha

Though public health department has issued guidelines for home isolation of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic Covid-19 patients, there are few takers in Vidarbha. While all district administrations have claimed to have sufficient isolation facilities to keep Covid-19 patients after 10-day treatment, a few cited absence of proper facilities at patients’ home.
Akola is worst-hit by Covid-19 so far with total 813 cases and 236 of them still active. “The new guidelines allow mild and asymptomatic patients to stay in home isolation. We have enough beds in isolation ward of GMCH Akola and so we are not going to allow any patient to stay at home (isolation),” said resident deputy collector Sanjay Khadse.
“Many patients have cited having no isolation facilities at their homes. So, the administration has arranged their isolation at Covid care centre. More than 100 such persons are presently staying in the Covid care centre,” he said.
In Nagpur, a Nagpur Municipal Corporation official told TOI that no decision has been taken yet. The chances of implementing the new guidelines are remote, say sources citing availability of infrastructure to keep such patients in government facilities.
Amravati civil surgeon Dr Shyamsunder Nikam said it will not be possible for the administration to enforce these guidelines as most of the cases are coming from slums where home isolation will be impossible to follow because of smaller dwelling size.
Collector Shailesh Naval was unreachable on phone. “The guidelines will be discussed on Monday and a plan will be worked out accordingly,” said a top officer in the collectorate on condition of anonymity.
Other districts in Vidarbha like Buldhana and Washim are also reluctant to implement the home isolation so early.
“It’s an option given to those districts where beds in government facilities and private hospitals are insufficient to handle the increasing patient load. We have enough beds,” said Dr Premchand Pandit, civil surgeon of Buldhana.
Gondia, Gadchiroli and Bhandara also have enough number of beds in isolation ward. Gondia GMCH has already been converted into 250-bedded Covid Hospital, but it has only 11 active cases, so far. In Gadchiroli, three isolation facilities are available for 15 active patients at present.
“As of now, there is no plan for home isolation of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients,” said Wardha collector Vivek Bhimanwar. “The district is in the green zone. We have all facilities to treat Covid-19 patients. Yet, if someone demands for home isolation, the administration will work on that,” he said.
Yavatmal health department is yet to take a decision, said resident district collector Lalitkumar Warhade on Sunday. Yavatmal collector did not respond to TOI’s calls and messages.
Chandrapur health administration is following 10-day treatment and discharge policy, claimed civil surgeon Dr ND Rathod. “As the infection rate is quite low in district, heath department is taking full care of positive patients,” he told TOI.