Home based care for patients who have recovered from COVID-19

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the total time taken for the recovery of mild cases is approximately two weeks, whereas, for patients with severe or critical diseases, recovery can take three to six weeks. A person infected by COVID-19 can be discharged from the hospital if they meet the following criteria:  

• If their two consecutive RT-PCR tests (taken 24 hours apart) results show a negative viral load.
• If the patient does not show in any respiratory symptoms (coughing or difficulty breathing).
• If the patient does not have a fever (> 37.8°C) for 48 hours.
• If the patient is feeling fine and does not have any underlying severe immunosuppression.

The patient who has just been discharged from the hospital should receive all the necessary care at home. Following measures can be taken to take care of a person affected with COVID-19 infection:

• Even after the discharge, the patient should self-isolate themselves at home or in a safe place for the next 14 days to make sure that they do not develop the symptoms of COVID-19 again. 
• The people in the house should make sure that the patient is able to adhere to isolation recommendations. If possible give them separate room and bathroom to use. 
• Minimal contact should be made with the patient. A designated person should take care of the patient at home. 
• The caretaker should note down the temperature of the discharged patient for the next 14 days. There should be separate thermometers, blood pressure cuff and pulse oximeter for the discharged patient.
• The person taking care of the discharged patient should have proper protection measures. Use of gloves and mask is recommended to them, while meeting the patient or while taking care of their soiled dishes and laundry.
• The patient should have access to food and other basic necessities within reach. They should have access to natural air and sunlight. 
• Both the patient and the caretaker should maintain proper hand hygiene (washing hands frequently with soap and water). The patient should maintain respiratory hygiene to reduce the possibility of spreading the disease.
• Exercise is restricted for weeks to months, especially to those who were admitted to the intensive care unit. This is done so that the muscles and lungs could recover from the damage caused by COVID-19. 
• If there are household members who are old aged or have an underlying medical condition such as high blood pressure (hypertension), diabetes, heart disease, chronic kidney disease, lung disease and cancer, they should stay away from the discharged patient.
• Follow-up visits to these patients should usually be done with the help of telemedicine. They should be able to contact the doctor via telephone or camera aided electronic devices.
• Psychological support should be provided to the patients who have been traumatized due to the intense course of treatment. A professional psychologist can be provided to these patients via telemedicine.
• If these patients require testing again, the doctors and the medical staff should prioritise them.