Asymptomatic +ves can opt for home care in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Reeling from huge caseload for past three weeks, Thiruvananthapuram district administration has issued an advisory allowing home isolation for Covid-19 positive asymptomatic patients.
The collector issued the advisory based on recommendations of a committee chaired by chief secretary relating to lockdown in the state capital. In the meeting held on July 28, the panel decided that FLTCs would be provided for those who need isolation space.
People who are asymptomatic but Covid-19 positive may be allowed to stay in isolation at a suitable residential facility, if they have at least one independent room with toilet facilities. But it would be permitted only after verification, the minutes of the meeting noted. The collector had issued the proceedings for home care the same day. It is learned that the health department has been dragging its feet over implementing home care for positive asymptomatic patients. It had issued an advisory based on a decision of state medical board. The chief minister has been broaching home care for asymptomatic positive patients during review meetings and the state-level expert committee had also recommended the same. However, health department has not issued an advisory.
The department, however, issued a six-point advisory for home isolation of asymptomatic Covid-19 positive health care workers on July 29. Health secretary Rajan Khobragade who issued this order was present in the meeting chaired by chief secretary on July 28.
Khobragade had also issued an advisory saying category B patients may be treated at FLTCs. Many FLTCs in the district were occupied with asymptomatic patients since the first week of July, when cases started surging. While apprehensions over monitoring patients under home care have been cited as one reason for indecision of health department, authorities said there were more than three weeks’ time for the health department to put in place a system.