Guidance document on appropriate management of suspect/confirmed cases of COVID-19 (India)
Since its first detection in China, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has now spread to over 210 countries/territories, with reports of local transmission happening across the world. As per WHO (as of 7th April, 2020), there has been a total of 12,14,466 confirmed cases and 67,767 deaths due to COVID-19 worldwide. In India, as on 7th April, 2020, 4421 confirmed cases and 114 deaths reported from 31 States/UTs. A series of measures have been taken by both the Central and State Governments to break the chain of transmission. One among these is to isolate all suspect and confirmed cases of COVID-19. However, as the number of cases increases, it would be important to appropriately prepare the health systems and use the existing resources judicially. Available data in India suggests that nearly 70% of cases affected with COVID-19 either exhibit mild or very mild symptoms. Such cases may not require admission to COVID-19 blocks/ dedicated COVID-19 hospitals.