Health Ministry has issued a revised discharge policy for COVID-19 patients. As per the new policy, very mild, mild, and moderate patients can be discharged without the COVID-19 test, subject to clinical conditions. Very mild, mild, and pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID Care Facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring.

 The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge. The patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for a further 7 days. If they develop symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty again, they must contact the COVID Care Centre or State helpline or 1075.

 As per the revised policy, the moderate cases will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation. If the fever resolves within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95 percent for the next 4 days, the patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset provided there is no fever or breathlessness.

Patients on oxygenation whose fever does not resolve within 3 days and demand of oxygen therapy continues will be discharged only after the resolution of clinical symptoms and the ability to maintain oxygen saturation for 3 consecutive days. The discharge criteria for severe cases will be based on clinical recovery and testing of the patient by RT-PCR.

Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri has said the preparations to restart domestic flight operations are in place and as soon as a decision is taken in this regard the industry will be able to take off immediately.

Talking to a private TV channel, Mr Puri said, the Ministry also foresees changes in the way people would travel with strict adherence to the social distancing norms. He said there will be changes in SOPs related to flight operation.

Mr. Puri informed that once the airports would reopen long queues would not be allowed, people shall be asked to reach the airport well before the normal time, whereas baggage entitlement might be reduced and meal services may be stopped.

He said all these things will be finalized after consultation with the airlines. Mr Puri added that a calibrated reopening can happen after the lockdown. The Minister said, during the lockdown, hundreds of flights of Lifeline Udan have carried essential supplies to various parts of the country so far.