RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government has issued new guidelines for home isolation of Covid-19 patients and asked district administrations across the province to form a committee to separate confirmed patients from the public and examine asymptomatic cases.

Talking to Dawn, Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq said: “Thecommittee, titled ‘Home-Isolation Committee’ will examine patients who had no symptoms of Covid-19 but tested positive and also keep them isolated in their houses. Under the new guidelines, the government has directed that confirmed patients, showing no symptoms, be isolated in their houses on recommendations of the committee.”

Confirmed patients with symptoms will be shifted to hospitals and will be monitored by health professionals, while serious patients will be shifted to high dependency units, he said, adding that home isolation will be allowed on recommendation of the committee comprising the assistant commissioner, deputy district officer (health) and chief officer of tehsil or town municipal administrations.

“It will give due consideration to the level of family education, general understanding of Covid-19, self-isolation requirements and maturity to comply with health department instructions.

The health department has asked not to set up isolation centres in places where central air-conditioning systems are installed, as the virus may spread through this to other areas. It will be mandatory for a home-isolated person to monitor his or her health and report to public health department on daily basis and follow all instructions given by health authorities,” he said.

After 10 days of home isolation, patients will be tested and if the result is negative only then they will be allowed to end their isolation period.

“The government also issued new guidelines for quarantine facilities and buildings of schools, mosques, hotels, hostels or any other suitable area will be monitored by a health officer,” he added.

Published in Dawn, May 13th, 2020