Lady Hardinge Medical College (LHMC) said issued fresh quarantine and isolation guidelines which were in line with directions of the Union Health Ministry stating that healthcare workers in central government hospitals would not quarantine after coming in contact with colleagues or other COVID positive cases, irrespective of the degree of contact.

The LHMC stated that these health workers need to continue work with a tight-fitted mask and maximum possible social distancing preferably more than 1 metre, irrespective of the degree of contact and must be vigilant about symptoms of influenza-like illness such as fever, cough, sore throat, cold and get tested if they spot any. This would be a relief as hundreds of doctors and staff members tested positive and whose contacts were also going into quarantine, leading to inadequate staff.

A senior doctor from LHMC said that the circular was as per government guidelines and if everyone goes into isolation or quarantine who will work. On being asked if it puts patients at risk, the doctor said that the doctors were working with already positive patients.

An official from AIIMS further confirmed that these quarantine and isolation guidelines were as per directions of the Union Ministry and would be followed across all central government-run hospitals. During the second wave, all close contacts of a positive case along with the positive case were being isolated for 10 days. But as the current variant was mild, so the contacts could continue to work wearing a good mask.

As, per the new home isolation guidelines, for mild and asymptomatic cases healthcare workers would also have to be in isolation for 7 days and for moderate cases and severe cases, the isolation would be for 7 days after discharge from the hospital.

Source: The Indian Express