Punjab allows home isolation with SOPs

CM says SOPs outlined by the WHO taken into consideration

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has granted permission for home isolation of patients having minor symptoms of novel coronavirus.

The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department issued a notification in this regard on the recommendations of the Corona Expert Advisory Group and Technical Working Group.

While granting the permission, the chief minister said the standard operating procedures (SOPs) outlined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) have been taken into consideration for isolation at home of patients having only minor symptoms of the disease. The patients will also be kept in equipped buildings with essential facilities under the supervision of the district health authority, he added. The CM said the patients can be kept in equipped buildings with necessary facilities of hotels, schools, mosques, hostels and community centres.

Covid-19 patients urged to go to isolation facilities

He said the building in which a patient will be kept in home isolation will be disinfected daily and solid waste from it will be disposed of in accordance with the given guidelines.

Home isolation will not be allowed in cases where there is danger of the virus spreading due to cooling and heating system. Isolated patients will be provided food in disposable utensils only.

The CM highlighted that home isolation committees comprising officials nominated by the deputy commissioners will decide about home isolation. Staff members of population welfare, livestock and excise and taxation departments will conduct monitoring and reporting of home isolation.



Three committees will be constituted in every urban union council for the purpose and a doctor will be included in every committee. One committee will be constituted in every rural union council.

The family will be informed about the SOPs and related procedure before granting permission for home isolation.

A patient kept in home isolation will be bound to inform the authorities about his condition on a daily basis.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 11^th, 2020.