Nearly 50% Covid-19 patients in Bengaluru chose home isolation to hospital

BENGALURU: Almost one out of every two Covid-19 patients in Bengaluru Urban chose to stay in home isolation rather than get admitted to designated hospitals or Covid Care Centres (CCC), suggesting panic and fear over contracting the virus appears to have decreased drastically.
From July 1, data accessed shows just under 44% (43.9%) patients opted to stay in home isolation. The capital city currently has approximately 36,000 active cases. However, as on Thursday, of 16,348 beds available in designated hospitals and CCCs, only 7,481 were filled while 3,679 patients were being treated in private hospitals.

As many as 15,480 patients were in home isolation as per data shared by BBMP’s War Room, a pointer to the fact that many Covid-19 patients preferred the option. War Room officials attribute this to a number of reasons some of which are that they are mostly asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, have facilities to isolate at home, were not scared of the virus and feared hefty hospitals bills.
Shyamsundar S, a home isolation volunteer in Kumaraswamy Layout, claimed citizens have come to understand that the virus is not lethal provided it is identified in the early stages of infections. Patients prefer home isolation as they are wary of pathetic conditions in government facilities and hefty bills in private facilities, he added.
“Earlier, neighbours would stigmatize Covid patients and treat them as if they have committed a heinous crime, but now we find many of them helping out positive people. The awareness is much higher than before,” Shyamsundar said.
Aishwarya K, an employee of a private firm who traveled from Delhi two months ago, tested positive on arrival. She said she was given a choice to isolate at home or could go to the CCC at GKVK. “I chose to stay at home as my mother was there to help me and I was not in a position to afford private hospital bills,” said Aishwarya. “I think the stigma over contracting the disease was still there at that time as my house was barricaded and some of the residents around refused to even interact with us even after my isolation period ended. But now, in the lane I live, another person has tested positive and is in home isolation. But people’s perception has changed.”
Speaking to TOI, Randeep D, special commissioner, BBMP, said in the first few months when the pandemic hit, many people panicked over contracting the infection, but now they are more aware of the disease and what they need to do once are infected.
“Some people who do not want to infect other members of their family — especially if there are children or aged people at home — opt to go to a private or government hospital or a Covid Care Centre,” Randeep said. “Others prefer to choose home isolation especially if they have someone to assist them during the isolation period. Most patients who choose to recover at home, are all asymptomatic,” he added.
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