Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar on Sunday approved home isolation/quarantine for COVID-19 patients only showing minor disease symptoms, a news source reported. To this effect, the Primary and Secondary Health Departments also issued a notification that includes various recommendations and suggestions from the Corona Expert Advisory Group and Technical Working Group.
Buzdar, while granting the permission, stated that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) provided by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for home isolation of patients with minor symptoms have been taken into account. He said that the said patients would also be kept in equipped buildings with essential facilities under the district health authority’s supervision such as schools, hotels, hostels, mosques, and community centres that have the necessary facilities.
The CM revealed that these buildings would be disinfected daily and all solid wares would be disposed of as per the WHO suggested guidelines. He further went on to say that home isolation would not be allowed if there were risks of virus spreading – for which patients should receive food in disposable utensils only.
The chief minister highlighted that committees comprising officers nominated by the deputy commissioners (DCs) would decide the provision of home isolation. Meanwhile, staff from the livestock, excise and taxation, and population welfare departments would monitor the process, he added.
As per the publication, every urban union council would have three committees – with each committee having a doctor. Also, each rural union council would have one committee. The officials concerned would inform the patient’s family about the process before granting the permission for home isolation.
Additionally, each patient under home isolation would be bound to inform the authorities about his condition daily.
