Shillong, Sept 23: In continuation of this Department’s Discharged Policy vide No.Health.94/2020/86, dated 27th August, 2020, the Revised Discharge Policy for patients admitted in Dedicated COVID-19 Hospitals and Corona Care Centres is hereby issued on the basis of the categorization of the patients in line with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s guidelines on the categorization of patients based on clinical severity and their management in the 3 tier COVID facilities available at the website : https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/FinalGuidanceonMangaementofCovidcasesversion2.pdf
In the nitifcation issued from the Meghalaya Health department mention that, Mild, very mild and pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a Corona Care Centre (CCC) will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge.
At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for further 7 days as per guidelines at Annexure I. At any point of time, prior to discharge from CCC, if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, patient is moved to Dedicated COVID Hospital/Health Centre.
After discharge from the facility, if he or she again develops symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty he will contact the COVID Care Centre or State helpline or 108. His/her health will again be followed up through tele-conference on 14th day.
Moderate cases admitted to Dedicated COVID Health Centre (Oxygen beds) Patients whose symptoms resolve within 3 days and maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days, Cases clinically classified as “moderate cases” will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation.
If the fever resolve within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset in case of, Absence of fever without antipyretics, Resolution of breathlessness, No oxygen requirement, There will be no need for testing prior to discharge.
At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for 7 days as per guidelines at Annexure I, Patient on Oxygenation whose fever does not resolve within 3 days and demand of oxygentherapy continues, Such patients will be discharged only after, resolution of clinical symptoms, ability to maintain oxygen saturation for 3 consecutive days.
Severe Cases including immune-compromised (HIV patients, transplant recipients, malignancy), Discharge criteria for severe cases will be based on Clinical recovery, Patient tested negative once by RT-PCR (after resolution of symptoms), the notification was issued by Mr Sampath Kumar, IAS, Commissioner and Secretary to the Government of Meghalaya, Health and Family Welfare Department.
