GUWAHATI, Sept 5 - In a disturbing trend that could potentially jeopardize the fight against COVID-19 pandemic, a sizeable number of people who had opted for home quarantined after being tested positive have been found to be not adhering to the set protocol, thereby aiding the viral load of the State considerably.
Apart from aiding the spread of virus, experts believe that such an insensible and uncalled for attitude on the part of the COVID-19 patients is putting their lives at high risk besides endangering the lives of their acquaintances.
Of late, ever since the government has adopted a relatively flexible approach, the percentage of infected persons opting for home isolation is growing, and therefore the level of adherence to home quarantine protocol could well be the determining factor as to where the State stands when it comes to gaining control over the pandemic.
To the dismay of the health authorities, there has been a growing tendency to stop medication mid-way during home isolation, while many refrain from regularly monitoring their health parameters, which has invariably worsened their health condition.
So far over 14,000 infected patients have opted for home quarantine in as many as 16 districts where the cumulative count of infected patients till now has surpassed 70,000 mark.
�But the worrying part is that 30 per cent of those who had opted for home quarantine in Kamrup (Metro), which has reported the highest number of infections in the State, had to be shifted to the hospital after their health condition deteriorated due to non-adherence to home isolation protocol,� Principal Secretary of the Health and Family Welfare Department Samir Sinha said, adding, �Those opting for home quarantine should not stop medication arbitrarily and must keep a constant track of their health parameters. Of course, the 104 facility can be availed for on-call doctor advice�. �Besides, they also end up infecting their family members and acquaintances, which is a matter of grave concern,� Sinha said.
As per available statistics, more than 5,000 persons have already opted for home quarantine after being tested positive in Kamrup (Metro) where the total count of infection is nearly 40,000.
Sources in the health department said that the government is for providing home quarantine option and all we want is the protocol to be followed strictly.
�We have been receiving increasing number of calls from such patients who makes life difficult for themselves by not adhering to the protocol. Sometimes, it becomes too late. We therefore urge everyone to follow the home quarantine protocol,� State nodal officer of 104 helpdesk Pomi Baruah said, adding that many infected patients tend to provide wrong and misleading information related to the qualifying criteria and even conceal facts.
