Guidelines for Home Management of Covid-19

1. Upon testing positive for Covid :

a. Don't panic, contact a doctor. There are many doctors giving consultation
for home quarantined Covid patients. (see last section)
b. Follow the advice and treatment recommended by your doctor
c. Your contacts should also quarantine themselves, and can get tested if they
have symptoms
d. Home quarantine means you need to quarantine yourself in a separate
room, preferably with an attached restroom. If that isn't possible, then the
infected individual is advised to wear double mask while coming out of the
room so as to prevent the spread of infection.
e. Check Oxygen saturation (95-100% is normal) and temperature every 4
hours. (See last section for correct method of checking Oxygen saturation)
f. If Saturation is below or at 94%, try rubbing your finger or checking in
another finger to make sure the reading is correct. Make sure you are sitting
/ lying in a comfortable position
g. Do breathing exercise (i.e., take a deep breath and hold your breath and try
to count upto how much ever possible, at least 30 counts in a single breath)
to improve elasticity of lungs
h. If diabetic or hypertensive, continue regular medicines and monitor blood
glucose levels (sugars) and blood pressure (BP) daily at home.

2. During home quarantine, contact your doctor in the following conditions:

a. Oxygen Saturation is or drops below 94%
b. If oxygen saturation is fluctuating between normal and abnormal values
c. Very high fever
d. Fever persisting for over 5 days
 e. Breathlessness
f. If blood glucose levels (sugars) and blood pressure (BP) are not within
normal range
g. Left sides chest pain with sweating and breathlessness
h. Any weakness of limbs

Based on your condition, the doctor will let you know whether and when you need to
seek hospital admission.
In ideal situations, it is advisable for the patients to get admitted when the oxygen
saturation is or falls below 94%. But in Bangalore, due to shortage of beds, the Oxygen
saturation criteria for admitting patients is currently taken as 88% or lower.

3. Home remedies that can be done if saturation drops below 94% and
hospitalization is not possible:
a. Lie down in prone position (lying on the stomach) for as long as possible.
Check the link below for detailed instructions.
b. If unable to lie down prone, lie in left lateral and right lateral (left or right
side) position alternatively.
c. Take Tablet Dexamethasone 6mg once daily for 5 days. As
Dexamethasone can cause gastritis, you can take Pantoprazole 40mg or
Omeprazole 20mg 15 minutes before food and Dexamethasone after food.
d. Metered dose Inhaler Foracort 400 mcg 2 puffs, twice daily with spacer
(See last section for Youtube link)
e. Please keep your doctor informed and follow their advice.
Links for help:

1. For online consultation:

https://clinicalhelpline.carrd.co/
This Helpline is a voluntary response from healthcare workers and allied
professionals of Emmanuel Hospital Association to address the rising number of
people who require advice and support for Home based care during their
COVID-19 illness in India.

https://projectstepone.org/toll-free-covid-helpline/
This is a Helpline by volunteer Doctors who do online consultations for Covid as
well as non-covid cases.

2. How to use a Pulse Oximeter correctly :

https://youtu.be/Y-CWTqKiIhQ

3. Proning technique :
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/COVID19ProningforSelfcare3.pdf

4. Correct technique of using Metered Dose Inhaler with Spacer :

https://youtu.be/ma_cmlU9DxU

The above details were formulated by Dr. Sheena Gnanaraj (MD General Medicine,
Physician, Duncan Hospital, Raxaul), Dr. Harshitha G.M (Volunteer Doctor) and Dr.
Gladlyn (Junior Medical Officer, Duncan Hospital, Raxaul)