57% Covid-19 patients opt for home isolation in Patna

PATNA: Home isolation appears to be the preferred choice of a majority of those who have tested positive for the Covid-19 virus in Patna with around 57% patients so far opting for this mode to recover from this contagious disease.
The crisis management group of the state government in a notification issued on July 7 had empowered the DMs to take a call on allowing people, including doctors and health workers, to go for home quarantine.
According to Patna DM Kumar Ravi, as of Thursday, altogether 1,760 people tested positive in the district of whom 1,008 have given self- declaration form for home isolation. “People opting for home isolation will reduce the burden on hospitals and isolation centres in Patna with high number of positive cases coming forth,” Ravi said.
He added, “Home isolation for Covid-19 infected people would be for 14 days after the sample collection of swabs, provided she/he turns asymptomatic.”
According to the health department data, 378 people tested positive in Patna on Thursday of whom 373 have availed the home isolation option by filing the self-attested form to the district administration.
The order issued by principal secretary of health department Uday Singh Kumawat, stated that home isolation facility would be available only to those patients who would have enough space and facilities at home.
When asked how the district authorities are ensuring that people who selected home isolation have enough facilities, Ravi said the district officials contacted the Covid patients from time- to- time to check up on their health and they asked whether they are following the norms of home isolation.
“In some cases, the district officials also made a surprise visit to their homes, only to check whether they are true to their words and have enough space and facilities. If a person is suffering from any symptoms of Covid -19, he or she also advised to contact the nearby health centres for the treatment,” the DM said.
A patient at Khajpura area, who was under home isolation for last five-days, said he tested positive on July 11. “I am only suffering from sore throat. So I am advised by the doctor to drink kadha four times a day, gargled two times (day and night) and eat vegetable and fruit with high nutrition,” the patient said.
Another at Budha Colony said, “I’m more comfortable at home than at any quarantine centre or hospital. I cook myself, exercise and eat healthy. My wife and kids are living on the first floor while I moved with stove and few utensils on ground floor,” he said.
Dr Sanjeev Kumar, nodal officer for Covid-19 at AIIMS- Patna, on the other hand, said there was no fall in patients getting admitted at the hospital. “Patients are referred from other districts as well,” he said.
Health minister Mangal Pandey on Wednesday instructed officials to further improve isolation facility and keep a stock of the health of those are under home isolation.
Pandey informed that so far 1,450 people across the state are under home isolation. He added that there are 441 Covid care centres, 74 dedicated Covid centres and four dedicated Covid hospitals in Bihar with 39,000 beds.