Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Aug 28: As the COVID-19 cases continue to mount the administration has decided to keep asymptomatic positive patients in J&K in home quarantine.
Earlier the administration had ordered home quarantine for the asymptomatic patients in Kashmir region only but now the guidelines have been modified and the same will be applicable in Jammu also.
A heath expert while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “The increase in number of COVID-19 cases in Jammu region has left administration with only few options. Asymptomatic patients can be treated at home as they have to remain in isolation and have to keep on monitoring themselves.”
He said, “When number of cases had started increasing in Kashmir the administration had changed the protocol for the COVID-19 patients as the hospitals were unable to cope up with the rush. It seems rush in the Jammu hospitals has also started to increase.”
President of Doctors Association Kashmir and flue expert Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan, who recently tested negative for COVID-19 after staying in home quarantine, told this newspaper that “the hospitals should be kept reserved for critical patients only. Patients who are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms can get well at home but they have to take precautions and keep on monitoring themselves regularly.”
Dr Nisar said that this virus is “dangerous” and people should not take it lightly. “Anyone can catch COVID till some concrete treatment comes,” he added.
Another medico said, “The virus becomes deadly when it enters the lungs as it prevents the patient from breathing. At that point of time the patient requires oxygen support or a ventilator. Patients whose oxygen saturation level doesn’t fall fight the infection within 14-days and the last six months have shown it. The recovery rate showing an increase is an encouraging sign. People are getting infected but they are recovering also. The government deciding to keep asymptomatic patients in home quarantine is a message that the worst is about to get over as vaccines are on way.”
According to the revised COVID protocol all such patients shall be permitted for home quarantine provided they have separate room available in their home; have downloaded Aarogya Setu application on their phones; besides such patients will be provided with Oximeter to monitor their oxygen saturation and in the event of drop of the Oxygen level below 90% they shall immediately be hospitalized; a poster shall be pasted outside their home displaying therein that the resident has been quarantined and reach out teams shall be constituted by the Directorate of Health Services, Jammu / Kashmir to monitor health status of the patient.
An official said, “Since the day pandemic has broken out the COVID protocol has changed according to the need. The decisions being taken by the administration are based on the observations.”
