What you should know now?
Amid rising COVID-19 cases, taking preventive measures, following official guidelines and monitoring one's condition is of utmost importance. Furthermore, with a new variant, called the Omicron, running rampant in and around the world, we must work collectively towards curbing the spread. Besides taking precautions, we must also be mindful of our actions. Health officials continue to urge people with mild symptoms to not dismiss it as a regular cold, rather to take it seriously and isolate whenever necessary!
Home isolation guidelines for COVID-19 patients in India
The Centre recently revised the guidelines pertaining to home isolation of mild and asymptomatic COVID-19 cases. In a statement, the health ministry said, "Over the past two years, it has been seen globally as well as in India that the majority of cases of COVID-19 are either asymptomatic or have very mild symptoms. Such cases usually recover with minimal interventions and accordingly may be managed at home under proper medical guidance and monitoring."
That said, the government has reduced the self-isolation period to 7 days from 10 days for patients who have mild symptoms or are asymptomatic, including those who have an oxygen saturation of more than 93% without breathing issues.
Also read: Coronavirus: COVID-19 tests you can get; find out which one is the most accurate
“Patients under home isolation will stand discharged and end isolation after at least seven days have passed from them testing positive and they have had no fever for three successive days. They shall continue wearing masks,” the statement further read.
Additionally, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) Director-General Dr Balram Bhargava said that people should avoid taking a COVID test on the first day as the chances of getting a false negative is higher, irrespective of which test you take.
"It takes time for the virus to grow in your system and that is known as the latent period. From day three it will be detectable in the Lateral Flow Tests and up to day eight which is the infectious period," he explains. This is why the self-isolation and discharge policy have been revised, he explains further.
UK's self-isolation period cut to 5 days; how does it work?
In the United Kingdom the home isolation period is shorter than that in India. As per UK's new guidelines, the self-isolation period for anyone who develops symptoms or tests positive for COVID is 5 days. Day zero is considered to be the day when you either test positive or have symptoms for the first time. The next day is then counted as day 1 of self-isolation.
As per the revised policies, one can conduct home testing on day 5. Following two negative tests, one can discontinue isolating.
What does the US CDC say?
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests isolating for at least 5 days from the date of a positive test. "If you do develop COVID-19 symptoms, isolate for at least 5 days from the date your symptoms began (the date the symptoms started is day," the health agency adds.
For those in the US, who are unable to get a COVID-19 test following a close contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient, they can leave their homes after day 5 if they have been without COVID-19 symptoms throughout the 5-day period.
The health body also recommends staying away from people who are immunocompromised or at high risk for severe disease, until after at least 10 days.
Europe's stand on home-isolation
Amid rising COVID cases, many European countries, including France and Ireland, have implemented shorter isolation periods for vaccinated people. This pertains to fully vaccinated individuals who test positive, develop symptoms and/or come in contact with COVID patients. Some countries have even eased COVID restrictions, while also relaxing quarantine rules. As per reports, European governments are doing so due to the rising fears of a possible economic halt due to the Omicron variant.
In France, vaccinated individuals who test positive for the virus can now isolate for seven days, rather than 10, and can discontinue their isolation after five days if they test negative and have had no symptoms for 48 hours.
China's zero COVID policy
According to reports and videos circulating on social media, it has come to everyone's knowledge that China has imposed several restrictions on its citizens under the "zero Covid" policy. It has come to light that people including adults, kids, pregnant women and older adults are being quarantined in crammed metal boxes, for as long as two weeks.
Reports suggest almost 20 million people are now quarantined in their homes in China and are restricted from leaving their homes even to buy food.
How to self isolate properly?
Self-isolation means to stay home and isolated. It means to have no contact with the outside world or any person whatsoever. Due to the highly transmissible SARs-COV-2 virus, home-quarantine and isolation have become necessary ways to curb the spread of the disease.
Given that you develop COVID-19 symptoms or come in contact with a confirmed coronavirus patient, you must go into isolation immediately. The best way to confirm your condition is by getting yourself tested. Continue isolating until you get a negative test result.
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