The Union Health Ministry on Sunday issued a post Covid-19 management protocol for recovered patients. Among the long list of suggestions, the Health Ministry advised mild exercise like yoga, consuming a healthy diet and seeking social support or counseling. The ministry also suggested a number of home remedies and immunity boosting Ayush medicine.

Here's the complete post-Covid follow up protocol:

1. At individual level

• Continue COVID appropriate behaviour (use of mask, hand and respiratory hygiene, physical distancing)
• Drink adequate amount of warm water (if not contra-indicated)
• Take immunity promoting AYUSH medicine - To be practied and prescribed by a qualified practitioner of AYUSH.
• If health permits, regular household work to be done. Professional work to be resumed in graded manner.
• Mild/moderate exercise
  - Daily practice of Yogasana, Pranayama and meditation, as much as health permits or as prescribed.
  - Breathing exercises as prescribed by treating physician.
  - Daily morning or evening walk at a comfortable pace as tolerated.
• Balanced nutritious diet, preferably easy to digest freshly cooked soft diet.
• Have adequate sleep and rest.
• Avoid smoking and consumption of alcohol.
• Take regular medications as advised for COVID and also for managing comorbidites, if any. Doctor to be always informed about all medicines that the individual is taking (allopathic/AYUSH) so as to avoid prescription interaction.
• Self-health monitoring at home - temperature, blood pressure, blood sugar (especially, if diabetic), pulse oximetry etc (if medically advised).
• If there is persistent dry cough/sore throat, do saline gargles and take steam inhalation. The addition of herbs/spices for gargling steam inhalation. Cought medications should be taken on advice of medical doctor or qualified practitioner of Ayush.
• Look for early warning signs like high grade fever, breathlessness, Sp02

2. At community level

• Recovered individuals to share their positive experiences with their friends and relatives using social media, community leaders, opinion leaders, religious leaders for creating awareness, dispelling myths and stigma.
• Take support of community based self-help groups, civil society organizations, and qualified professionals for recovery and rehabilitation process (medical, social, occupational, livelihood)
• Seek psycho-social support from peers, community health workers, counsellor. If required seek mental health support service.
• Participate in group sessions of Yoga, Meditation etc. while taking all due precautions like physical distancing.

3. In healthcare facility setting

• The first follow-up visit (physical/telephonic) should be within 7 days after discharge, preferably at the hospital where he/she underwent treatment.
• Subsequent treatment/follow up visits may be with the nearest qualified allopathic/AYUSH practitioner/medical facility of other systems of medicine.
• Poly-therapy is to be avoided due to potential for unknown drug-drug interaction, which may lead to Serious Adverse Events (SAE) or Adverse Effects (AE).
• The patients who had undergone home isolation, if they complain of persisting symptoms, will visit the nearest health facility.
• Severe cases requiring critical care support will require more stringent follow up.

AYUSH medicine: Details of medicines and their dosage

• Immunity promoting AYUSH medicine (to be prescribed only by practioners permitted under law for prescribing the medicine/therapy under specific stream)
• Ayush Kwath (150 ml; 1 cup) daily, Samshamani vati twice a day 500 mg (1 gm per day) or Giloy powder 1 -3 grams with luke warm water for 15 days, Ashwagandha 500 mg twice a day (1 gm per day) or Ashwagandha powder 1-3 grams twice daily for 15 days and Amla fruit one daily/Amla powder 1-3 grams once daily.
• Mulethi powder (in case of dry cough) 1- 3 gram with luke warm water twice daily
• Warm milk with ½ teaspoonful Haldi in (morning/evening)
• Gargling with turmeric and salt
• Chyawanprash 1 teaspoonful (5 mg) once daily in morning (as per directions from Vaidya)
• It is also suggested by the Ministry of AYUSH that the use of Chyawanprash in the morning (1 teaspoonful) with luke warm water/milk is highly recommended (under the direction of Registered Ayurveda physician) as in the clinical practice Chyawanprash is believed to be effective in post-recovery period.