Govt has home isolation, but no Vidarbha takers

Though the Department of Public Health has released guidelines for home isolation of asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic Covid-19 patients, Vidarbha has few takers. While all district administrations claimed to have sufficient isolation facilities to keep patients with Covid-19 after 10 days of treatment, a few cited the absence of proper facilities at home for patients.

With a total of 813 cases and 236 of them still active, Akola is the worst-hit by Covid-19 so far. “The latest recommendations make it possible for moderate and asymptomatic patients to remain sheltered at home. We have enough beds in GMCH Akola’s isolation ward and so we won’t allow any patient to stay at home (isolation), “said resident collector Sanjay Khadse.

“Many patients cited that their homes do not have any isolation facilities. So, at the COVID care center, the administration arranged their isolation. Currently, more than 100 these people are staying in the COVID treatment centre, “he said.

In Nagpur, an official at the Nagpur Municipal Corporation said no decision has yet been taken. The chances of enforcing the new guidelines are low, say sources citing infrastructure availability to hold some patients in government facilities.

Amravati Civil Surgeon Dr. Shyamsunder Nikam said the administration will not be able to enforce these guidelines as most cases come from slums where home isolation is impossible to follow due to smaller size of dwellings.

Collector Shailesh Naval was phone unavailable. “The guidelines will be discussed on Monday, and a plan will be drawn up accordingly,” a collectorate top officer said on condition of anonymity. Other Vidarbha districts like Buldhana and Washim are also hesitant to introduce home insulation too early.

“It’s an option given to those districts where there is insufficient beds in government facilities and private hospitals to handle the increasing patient load. We have ample beds, “Buldhana civil surgeon Dr Premchand Pandit said.

Gondia, Gadchiroli and Bhandara are also in isolation ward with sufficient number of beds. Gondia GMCH has already been transformed into a Covid Hospital with 250 bedding, but it has just 11 active cases so far. There are currently three isolation facilities available at Gadchiroli for 15 active patients.

“As of now, there is no proposal to separate asymptomatic or slightly symptomatic patients from home,” said Vivek Bhimanwar, a collector from Wardha. “The precinct is in the green sector. We have all the equipment to treat patients living with Covid-19. But if someone wants distance from home, the administration must focus on that, “he said.

Chandrapur health administration follows a policy of 10 days of treatment and discharge, the civil surgeon Dr ND Rathod claimed. “As the rate of infection in the district is quite low, heath department takes full care of the positive patients,” he said.