Covid self-isolation rule change explained: What does the new rules mean for me?

New Delhi, Jan 05: The Union Health Ministry on Wednesday (January 5, 2022) issued revised guidelines for home isolation of the COVID-19 patients. Here is an explanation of what it means.

What does self-isolation mean?
The self-isolation period for people who have tested positive for coronavirus has been cut to a week in most cases.

The home quarantined person should:

• Stay in a well-ventilated single-room preferably with an attached/separate toilet. If another family member needs to stay in the same room, it's advisable to maintain a distance of at least 1 meter between the two.
• Needs to stay away from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co-morbidities within the household.
• Restrict his/her movement within the house.
• Under no circumstances attend any social/religious gathering e.g. wedding, condolences, etc.

He should also follow the under mentioned public health measures at all times:

• Wash hand as often thoroughly with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand
sanitizer
• Avoid sharing household items e.g. dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils,
towels, bedding, or other items with other people at home.
• Wear a surgical mask at all the time. The mask should be changed every 6-8 hours
and disposedoff.Disposable masks are never to be reused.
• Masks used by patients / care givers/ close contacts during home care should be
disinfected using ordinary bleach solution (5%) or sodium hypochlorite solution (1%)
and then disposed of either by burning or deep burial.
• Used mask should be considered as potentially infected.
• If symptoms appear (cough/fever/difficulty in breathing), he/she should immediately
inform the nearest health centre or call 011-23978046.

What has changed?

Patients under home isolation will stand discharged and end isolation after at least 7 days have passed from testing positive and no fever for three successive days. "There is no need for re-testing after the home isolation period is over," the guidelines stated.