The Union health ministry on Saturday revised the national policy for admission of COVID patients to various categories of COVID facilities.
1. Requirement of a positive test for COVID-19 virus is not mandatory for admission to a COVID health facility. A suspect case shall be admitted to the suspect ward of CCC, DCHC or DHC as the case may be.
2. No patient will be refused services on any count even if he belongs to a different city.
3. No patient shall be refused admission on the ground that he/she is not able to produce a valid identity card that does not belong to the city.
4. Beds are not occupied by persons who do not need hospitalization.
5. Discharge should be strictly in accordance with the revised discharge policy available.
6. COVID Care Center (CCC) which shall offer care for mild cases. These have been set up in hostels, hotels, schools, stadiums, lodges etc., both public and private
7. Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC) that shall offer care for all cases that have been clinically assigned as moderate. These should either be a full hospital or a separate block in a hospital with preferably separate entry/exit/zoning.
8. Dedicated COVID Hospital (DCH) that shall offer comprehensive care primarily for those who have been clinically assigned as severe. These hospitals should either be a full hospital or a separate block in a hospital with preferably separate entry/exit.
Revised Discharge Policy for COVID-19
The revised discharge policy is aligned with the guidelines on the 3 tier COVID facilities and the categorization of the patients based on clinical severity (Available at:
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/FinalGuidanceonMangaementofCovidcasesversion2.pdf)
1. Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases
Mild/very mild/pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID Care Facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge.
At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to isolate himself at home and self-monitor their health for further 7 days.
At any point of time, prior to discharge from CCC, if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, patient is moved to Dedicated COVID Health Centre (DCHC).
After discharge from the facility, if he/she again develops symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty he will contact the COVID Care Centre or State helpline or 1075. His/her health will again be followed up through tele-conference on 14th day.
2. Moderate cases admitted to Dedicated COVID Health Centre (Oxygen beds)
2.1.Patients whose symptoms resolve within 3 days and maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days
Cases clinically classified as “moderate cases” will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation. If the fever resolve within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset in case of:
- Absence of fever without antipyretics
- Resolution of breathlessness
- No oxygen requirement
There will be no need for testing prior to discharge.
At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to isolate himself at home and self-monitor their health for further 7 days.
2.2.Patient on Oxygenation whose fever does not resolve within 3 days and demand of oxygen therapy continues
Such patients will be discharged only after
- resolution of clinical symptoms
- ability to maintain oxygen saturation for 3 consecutive days
3. Severe Cases including immunocompromised (HIV patients, transplant recipients, malignancy)
Discharge criteria for severe cases will be based on
- Clinical recovery
- Patient tested negative once by RT-PCR (after resolution of symptoms)
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