With COVID-19 cases soaring a quick look at the revised guidelines

COVID-19 cases in the country continue to soar and Thursday's data updated by the government at 8 am today says that over 5,000 cases have been reported.

The data available also said that the number of fatalities on a single day touched the 15 mark, signalling the biggest jump in the past 163 days. Four deaths were reported from Maharashtra; one death each was reported from Chhattisgarh, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Puducherry and Rajasthan; and four were reconciled by Kerala, on Wednesday, the data showed.

With the number of cases soaring, the Health Ministry has issued a revised set of guidelines. Let us take a quick look at them.

COVID-19 guidelines:

• Health minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that it is the Omicron's sub-variant which is circulating in the country.
• There is a need to remain vigilant, but there is no need to worry as it has not increased hospitalisations, the minister also said.

• Antibiotics should not be used unless there is clinical suspicion of bacterial infection.
• The possibility of coinfection of COVID-19 with other endemic infections must be considered.
• Seek immediate medical attention if difficulty breathing, High-grade fever/ severe cough, particularly if lasting for more than 5 days.
• A low threshold is to be kept for those with any of the high-risk features.
• In moderate or severe diseases at high risk of progression, the guidelines recommend, "Consider Remdesivir for up to 5 days (200 mg IV on day 1 followed by 100 mg IV OD for the next 4 days).