In a major development, the public health department has released a new protocol with a shortened isolation period for coronavirus infected healthcare staffers.
The district authorities have said that the isolation period of healthcare workers, who tested positive COVID-19, can be reduced from seven days to five. However, this will take place only if there is a severe shortage of manpower.
Moreover, Dr Pradeep Vyas, additional chief secretary (health) of Maharashtra, wrote to all divisional commissioners, district collectors, municipal commissioners and CEOs of zilla parishads stating that the need of trained staff and reducing isolation period for trained human resource from 7 days to 5 days as per need in consultation with public health department.
The new protocol for isolation of healthcare workers state that if the medical staffer is asymptomatic and fully vaccinated, he/she can resume work after 5 days. If the person is asymptomatic but unvaccinated or partially vaccinated, a repeat RT-PCR test will be carried out before they are allowed back. If they test positive, RT-PCR will be repeated after three days and, if negative, they will return to work. Symptomatic healthcare workers will be admitted to hospital, depending on the severity of the disease.
As per current guidelines, there is not much uniformity in the isolation norms. Since a majority of healthcare workers are fully vaccinated and have negligible symptoms, they may be called to work early, an official stated.
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