No RTPCR Test Required During Discharge For Asymptomatic Patients: PMC

Friyana Munshi

Pune, March 30, 2021: Unable to maintain beds for Covid-19 patients due to the recent increase in the number of cases, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) has asked private hospitals to follow the discharge policy of allowing patients to be discharged on the tenth-day post-admission without any further testing. This guideline shall apply to patients that display no symptoms for 3 consecutive days prior to discharge.

The surge in the number of Covid-19 infection cases has put immense pressure on the civic management regarding the availability of beds for the patients. Pune had a mere 2 ICU beds with ventilators, 8 ICU beds without ventilators, and 163 isolation beds with oxygen available. Keeping in mind the sudden increase in the number of cases the PMC has directed private hospitals to reserve 80 percent of their operational beds for Covid patients from April 1 onwards. Work is also being done by the civic administration to increase the number of beds in the Covid hospital at CoEP ground. The PMC control room for bed management continues to receive phone calls regarding the availability of beds for Corona infected patients.

A civic officer said, “We first speak to the patient or their relatives regarding the condition of the patient to ascertain whether they require hospitalisation. If they fit into the criteria of emergency need of treatment then they are allotted beds while those with mild or no symptoms are requested to stay in home isolation. Now, institutional isolation is also recommended to patients in Covid Care Centre (CCC) being set up in various parts of the city”

On the process of discharge the officer stated, “If the patients have no fever for 3 consecutive days- from day 7 to day 9 since showing symptoms then they should be discharged on day 10 after screening. There is no need for their laboratory test for Covid-19 during discharge from the hospital.”

Reports state that several housing societies from a few parts of Pune have been demanding negative Covid reports of the cured patients before they move out freely in and out of their house in the society.

Additional Municipal Commissioner Rubal Agarwal clarified on the matter, stating, “There is no such order on cured and recovered patients that they should submit their negative report to the housing society after the isolation period.” Rubal Agarwal also took to Twitter to inform regarding the new discharge guideline, she tweeted, “No repeat RTPCR test required after 10 days…Clear instructions by the government…@PMCPune”