572 Covid patients undergoing home treatment in dist

Coimbatore: At least 572 of the 2,622 active Covid-19 patients in the district are currently undergoing treatment at their houses, according to data available with the district administration.
Asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic patients in the non-risk age group were allowed to remain in home care in the district following the surge in Covid-19 cases. Officers say the option was made available some 10 days ago.
Dr G Ramesh Kumar, deputy director of public health, says, “More than 450 of the 572 have completed five to seven days stay in either Covid care centre or hospital. They have been asked to stay in home quarantine and take vitamin and zinc tablets for one more week. There are 69 patients who are completely under home treatment in rural areas. There are a few in city corporation limits also. Complete home care is allowed only in rare cases.”
Home treatment is allowed only for patents who don’t have children below five, pregnant women and senior citizens at their houses. Patients could be aged between 10 and 60 years, with no comorbidities, including wheezing and asthma.
“There should be a separate room for patients to remain in isolation and an attender to take care of them. They should be able to manage without domestic help,” says Dr Ramesh Kumar.
Home medical care services have, meanwhile, come up with 14-day remote medical package for patients. The package, which is priced anywhere between Rs12,000 and Rs14,000, include a pulse oximeter, 30 3-ply masks, thermometer, gloves, doctor consultation every few days and diet and psychological counselling.
Public health experts and epidemiologists say this is a long overdue move. Dr P Kulandaisamy, former director of public health, says, “The district could have allowed patients to undergo home treatment much earlier, as the population is more spread out. It will ensure doctors and hospitals are not getting choked during the surge.”
Dr Jayaprakash Muliyil, National Institute of Epidemiology, says the move will encourage more people with early symptoms or contact history to come forward and get tested. “Because they will not fear getting hospitalized or admitted to the Covid care centre forcefully.”