Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, Sep 23: The Jammu and Kashmir administration recently revised the Standard Operating Procedure for asymptomatic COVID-19 positive patients. The revised SOP stated that patients can be discharged without conducting any test after completing 10-day quarantine period.
Experts are of the opinion that government’s decision to let the positive patients carry on with their normal lives is based on the scientific evidence that after 10-days virus becomes “non-infectious.”
Flu expert and president of Doctors Association Kashmir Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “There is enough scientific evidence to prove that after 10 to 12 days a patient becomes non-infectious. The virus becomes dead. If the patient tests positive even after 10-days and is asymptomatic, there is no need to panic as the virus loses its sting.”
Another expert said that after 10-days if the patient remains asymptomatic from 48 to 72 hours it indicates that the patient has recovered. “The government has taken a wise decision as it will help in creating space for the critically ill patients who need to be hospitalized and treated properly,” the expert added.
Dr Nisar-ul-Hassan said, “The COVID-19 virus can infect more and more people in coming days as winter is approaching. People need to be extra cautious. But during the past months it has been proven beyond doubt that the virus can be defeated but we cannot become complacent we have to remain prepared for any eventuality.”
It’s in place to mention here that Chief Secretary B V R Subrahmanyam earlier this week chaired a meeting to review the discharge policy for COVID-19 patients, the Chief Secretary after collecting the feedback from the concerned officials had directed to discharge the asymptomatic patients in the hospitals after 10 days without conducting any subsequent test.
The concerned officers were directed to strictly implement home isolation guidelines for asymptomatic patients and ensure that they are free of co-morbidity and provided with Government-sponsored oxymeters, before being sent to home quarantine, besides using the Arogya Setu app to monitor their status.
A medico said, “Since the day COVID-19 pandemic has broken out the virus has behaved erratically. But one thing is for sure that after 10-days this virus becomes dead and the people who turn asymptomatic after the specific period become well and become non-infectious. They don’t act as carriers after that period.”
He said, “Situation will ease out after the vaccines come into the market. Till then we have to keep on fighting the COVID-19 and have to accept the fact that we have to live with this virus till the cure is found.”
COVID-19: Virus dies after 10-days, patients become non infectious, say experts
