On the recommendations of Corona Expert Advisory Group and Technical Working Group, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has granted permission for home isolation of coronavirus patients and the Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department has issued a notification to this effect.
Usman Buzdar, while granting permission apprised that SOPs outlined by WHO have been taken into consideration for home isolation and patients carrying only minor symptoms can be kept at home isolation. The patient will be kept in equipped building under the supervision of concerned district health authority with essential facilities, he added.
CM further stated that the patient can be kept in equipped buildings with necessary facilities of hotels, school buildings, mosques, hostels and community centres. He directed that the building in which the patients will be kept in home isolation will be disinfected on daily basis and solid wastes will be disposed off according to the given guidelines.
He maintained that home isolation will not be taken into effect where there is danger of spreading virus due to cooling and heating system and isolation patients will be provided food in only disposable utensils.
He highlighted that home isolation committee nominated by Deputy Commissioner will decide about home isolation and Assistant Commissioner or his representative, DDO Health, Chief Officer will also be included in home isolation committee.
He directed that staff members of Population Welfare, Livestock, Excise & Taxation Departments will conduct monitoring and reporting of home isolation. He intimated that three committees will be constituted in every urban union council and a doctor will be included in every committee.
The CM underscored that a committee will be constituted in every rural union council and presence of a doctor will be mandatory in the committee. The committee will also review scope of keeping more than one patient according to the total number of family members, he stated. He underscored that concerned family will be informed about SOPs and procedure before granting permission for home isolation.
He emphasized that it will be mandatory for every home isolation patient to ensure implementation on the directions of Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department and restriction of testing protocol will also be compulsory for the patient being kept in home isolation. He added that the duration of home isolation will consist of 10 days and two negative corona tests of the patient will be necessary in order to end home isolation. In case of surfacing second corona test positive, new test will be conducted after five days on ending home isolation. In case of non-availability of corona test, the patient will have to remain in isolation for two more weeks despite carrying no symptom of coronavirus.
Moreover, the CM has directed to ensure strict implementation on SOPs relating to easing lockdown.
Directing administrative departments to strictly monitor lockdown SOPs, the CM warned that taking undue advantage with regard to ease in lockdown will not be permitted.