Health Ministry has revised the criteria of discharging Covid-19 patients from isolation based on growing evidence and global recommendations.

Covid-19 infected patients can be discharged from isolation facilities/intermediate Care Centres or Hospital without subsequent testing including the PCR if all of the criteria recommended are fulfilled, the Health Ministry has instructed all hospitals in the country.

A patient can be discharged from the isolation facility/intermediate Care Centre after at least a period of 14 days following diagnostic PCR tests and the patient has remained asymptomatic throughout the period without developing symptoms, a circular issued by the Health Ministry Secretary Dr. S.H Munasinghe stated.

Also mild symptomatic patients can be discharged, after at least a period of 14 days from the onset of illness/point of positive PCR test and absence of fever and respiratory symptoms (Cough, sore throat, SOB) for at least 3 days. At present discharge of Covid-19 patients from hospital requires a combinations of SAARS-CoV-2 PCR+ antibody testing.”

“The current practice of discharging of Covid-19 patients from hospital “may lead to practical difficulties in the future if the current trend in Covid-19 caseload continues, overwhelming laboratory and hospital capacities”.

“Furthermore, most individuals, despite being non-infectious, continue to test positive for Covid-19 by PCR and also take longer to develop antibodies, resulting in prolonged hospital stay which can negatively influence the patient as well as the healthcare delivery system,” it said.

Therefore, based on growing evidence and global recommendations, criteria for discharge of Covid-19 confirmed patients are revised as below.

A; Discharge of asymptomatic individuals-from isolation facility/intermediate Care Centres.

Both of the following should be present

i) At least a period of 14 days has passed from diagnostic PCR test and

ii) Patient has remained asymptomatic throughout the period.

B; Discharge of mildly symptomatic patients-from isolation facility/hospital.

All of the following should be present

i) At least a period of 14 days from onset of illness/point of positive PCR test

ii) Absence of fever AND respiratory symptoms (Cough, sore throat, SOB) for at least 3 days. In both the above categories, patient can be discharged from isolation facility/intermediate Care Centres or Hospital without subsequent testing if all of the criteria recommended above are fulfilled.