Seven-day home isolation must for COVID-19 patients; doctors to visit houses of infected 

State Cabinet sub-committee decides on mandatory home isolation, Tele ICU monitoring & sewage surveillance to tackle COVID-19 in Bengaluru & Mangaluru.

Following the detection of 34 JN.1 cases, including three deaths, the State Cabinet sub-committee on COVID-19 has decided to impose mandatory seven-day home isolation for infected patients and monitor those in ICUs through Tele ICU. Besides, sewage surveillance will be continued in Bengaluru and Mangaluru to track the spread.

Announcing this after chairing the first Cabinet sub-committee meeting on Tuesday (Dec. 26), Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao said doctors and health staff will visit the houses of the infected to monitor their health.

“Those infected with COVID-19 should isolate themselves at home for a week, if not required to be hospitalised. All those who are under home isolation and are working in government and private should be allowed to avail casual leave for a week, while those hospitalised should be given special leave for the hospitalisation period. Guidelines will be issued on this,” the Minister said.

The meeting — attended by Social Welfare Minister HC Mahadevappa, Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil, Higher Education Minister M.C. Sudhakar, Health Commissioner Randeep D., COVID Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) Chairman K. Ravi and senior health officials — discussed measures to handle a possible surge in cases and hospitalisations, if any.

Asserting that the situation is not alarming, the Minister said the government will not impose any restrictions on New Year celebrations and gatherings as of now.

“However, wearing masks and adhering to COVID-appropriate behaviour is advisable. Children with flu symptoms (cold, cough and fever) should not be sent to school. Parents should monitor them at home and get them tested if required.  Regarding travel, there is no restriction on movement of people. Also no screening or testing of people at border areas as of now. Detailed guidelines in this regard will be issued by the government soon,” the Minister said.

Stating that the Cabinet sub-committee and TAC discussed the COVID situation based on the global trajectory of JN.1, the Minister said the department will seek help from experts at IISc and the Indian Statistical Institute to estimate the burden of the COVID-19 in the State in January-February.