When and How to Discharge COVID-19 patients: Check our Health Ministry's Revised Discharge Policy

New Delhi - For sake of clarity of medical institutions dealing on coronavirus cases, the Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India has issued a "Revised Discharge Policy for COVID-19' for better management of COVID-19 pandemic.

All MSs/MDs/Directors of all hospitals of Delhi including hospitals under Government of Delhi, Government of India, Private Sector, Urban Local Bodies an Army etc have directed to adopt 'Revised Discharge Policy for COVID-19' issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India (copy enclosed) with immediate effect. 

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

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 IO 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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