Caregivers, families of Covid patients should take Hydroxychloroquine, says Health Ministry

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With more and more patients being treated in home-isolation due to the surge in Covid-19 infections in India, the Health Ministry has issued new guidelines for such cases which include instructions to caregivers and close family members.</p>
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The fresh guidelines endorse the use of the anti-malarial drug Hydroxychloroquine as a safeguard against Covid-19. “The caregiver and all close contacts of Covid-19 patients should take Hydroxychloroquine prophylaxis as per protocol and as prescribed by the treating medical officer,” the guidelines state. </p>
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Earlier a study carried out by Indian Council of Medical Research had underlined the benefit of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as prophylaxis (treatment taken to prevent a disease), showing that the sustained use of the anti-malaria drug along with the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) was associated with a significant decline in risk of Covid-19 infection rate by up to 80% among the health care workers.The health ministry guidelines also state that a communication link between the caregiver and hospital is a prerequisite for the entire duration of home isolation. The caregiver should be available to provide care on 24 x7 basis.</p>
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<strong>Patients eligible for home isolation</strong></p>
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According to the rules, in order to be eligible for home isolation the  patient should be clinically assigned as mild/ asymptomatic case by the treating Medical Officer.  Asymptomatic cases are laboratory confirmed cases not experiencing any symptoms and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94%. </p>
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Mild cases are patients with upper respiratory tract symptoms (&/or fever) without shortness of breath and having oxygen saturation at room air of more than 94%.</p>
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Such cases should have the requisite facility at their residence for self-isolation and for quarantining the family contacts.</p>
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Elderly patients aged more than 60 years and those with co-morbid conditions such as Hypertension, Diabetes, Heart disease, Chronic lung/liver/ kidney disease, Cerebro-vascular disease etc shall only be allowed home isolation after proper evaluation by the treating medical officer. </p>
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<strong>Instructions for family members</strong></p>
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• Masks used by patients / care givers/ close contacts during home care should be disinfected using ordinary bleach solution (5%) or sodium hypochlorite solution (1%) and then disposed of either by burning or deep burial.</p>
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• Used mask should be considered as potentially infected.</p>
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• Only an assigned family member should be tasked with taking care of such person</p>
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• Avoid shaking the soiled linen or direct contact with skin</p>
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• Use disposable gloves when cleaning the surfaces or handling soiled linen</p>
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• Wash hands after removing gloves</p>
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• Visitors should not be allowed</p>
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Clean and disinfect toilet surfaces daily with regular household bleach solution/phenolic disinfectants</p>
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Clean the clothes and other linen used by the person separately using common household detergent and dry.</p>
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