This advisory issues an interim protocol for the management of Covid - 19 in the Paediatric Age Group (from 2 months to 18 years).
This advisory provides an algorithm for the management of adult patients. It is issued by AIIMS/ ICMR-COVID-19 National Task Force/Joint Monitoring Group (Dte.GHS) Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.
This document guides the eligible citizens, as defined by MoHFW, to register and fix an appointment for COVID-19 vaccination. Citizens can register by logging in to www.cowin.gov.in.
This excel sheet contains the list of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY empanelled hospitals, to be used as Covid-19 vaccination centres.
This excel sheet contains the list of Ayushman Bharat PMJAY empanelled hospitals, to be used as Covid-19 vaccination centres.
This excel sheet contains the list of CGHS empanelled hospitals, to be used as Covid-19 vaccination centres.
This advisory outlines the preventive and response measures to be followed in order to minimize and avoid the spread of COVID-19 in eye care facilities. Following guidelines issued earlier by MOHFW should be referred as applicable:
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/AdditionalguidelinesonrationaluseofPersonalProtectiveEquipmentsettingapproachforHealthfunctionaries
workinginnonCOVIDareas.pdf
https://www.mohfw.gov.in/pdf/GuidelinesonpreventivemeasurestocontainspreadofCOVID19inworkplacesettings.pdf
As per the seasonal pattern of epidemic prone diseases observed every year, they may co-exist in COVID cases. This document provides clear guidelines on prevention and treatment of co-infections of COVID.
This document provides guidelines for managing patients who have recovered enough from COVID for care at home. It is not meant to be used as preventive / curative therapy.
This advisory is issued by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), recommended by the National Task Force on COVID-19. As per this advisory, test results are required to be entered into the ICMR portal on real time basis after performing the test.
This document encloses FAQs on COVID-19 management issued from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi (AIIMS, National e-ICUs)
As stated in this advisory, it is found from studies that tuberculosis is associated with risk of COVID-19 disease and TB patients also tend to be co-morbid. This guideline details activities of screening for Bi-directional TB-COVID, ILI cases and SARI cases.
This document provides guidance on clinical management of diabetic patients including their screening at the time of admission and advising diet.
This guideline aims to provide preventive and response measures to minimize spread of COVID 19 infection in eye care facility, where ophthalmology involves close interaction with patients.
This advisory is issued by MoHFW, stating the extension of Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package insurance scheme launched for health workers.
The Dept. of Psychiatry, NIMHANS with MoHFW, GOI has developed guidelines for effective mental health management in general medical and specialised mental health care settings. It comprehensively covers mental health concerns of the general public as well as with psychiatric illness. Beyond mentle health care, it also addresses safety issues of psychitrists and other mental health care providers.
This protocol has been revised and reissued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (DGHS,GOI). To provide clinical guidance for management of COVID-19 suspect / confirmed cases.
These guidelines are in supersession to the guidelines issued on 10th May, 2020 by MoHFW. In view of large number of asymptomatic cases being detected, the current guidelines have been extended to asymptomatic positive cases also besides very mild and pre-symptomatic cases.
National Blood Transfusion Council (NBTC) provides second interim guidance to blood transfusion services in the country in continuation of first national guidance issued by NBTC dated 25th March 2020. While revising and updating the existing guidance, the NBTC has thrown light upon some important points enclosed in this document.
This protocol has been revised and reissued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (DGHS,GOI). This is the combined document of selective guidelines issued till date (by MoHFW), required to clinically manage the COVID-19 patients.
The healthcare workers in hospitals are at increased risk of acquiring the COVID-19 disease. This advisory aims to guide on preventive measures, isolation and quarantine of health care functionaries.
This protocol has been issued by Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (DGHS,GOI). This is the combined document of selective guidelines issued till date (by MoHFW), required to clinically manage the COVID-19 patients.
These guidelines are aimed to minimise the spread of COVID-19 infection as ENT being a high risk speciality. It comprises of protocols for ENT OPD, surgery wards and operation theatre.
This advisory lay down guidelines to enable individuals to reuse goggles (confirming to prescribed EN / BIS specifications) , thus allowing its extended use without risk of contracting infection.
MOHFW has issued guidelines for the delivery of essential services i.e. Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health Plus Nutrition to be provided at different levels in accordance with the zonal categorization using health system approach.
The Joint Monitoring Group under the chairmanship of DGHS and the National Task force (NTF) for COVID-19 constituted by ICMR reviewed the prophylactic use of Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in the context of expanding it in non-COVID and COVID areas based on the emerging evidence on its safety and efficacy. It lays down the eligibility criteria, excliusion, contra indication, and dosage of HCQ prophylaxis.
These guidelines provide for immunization services at health facilities situated in different zones to protect children and pregnant mothers from Vaccine Preventable Diseases (VPDs) during and post Covid-19.
This URL displays the list of certificates issued by Testing Laboratories for COVID-19 PPE coveralls under the Ministry of Textiles to manufacturers from all over India, against their submitted test sample.
This advisory provides guidelines for dental professionals in Covid-19 pandemic situation to prevent from high risk of cross infection. It addresses dental services situated in entire country in various zones classified on the grounds of Covid-19 pandemic. Several guidelines had been issued earlier by DCI, IDA and other organizations and hence there was a need to issue unified guidelines.
This advisory lays down revised strategy for testing the enlisted categories by RT-PCR test only.
This advisory provides guidelines for HCWs on preventive measures, isolation and quarantine of health care functionaries to avoid breach in the personal protection while managing patients.
Health functionaries working in non-COVID areas) This advisory lays down additional guidelines on rational use of PPE for non COVID hospitals and non-COVID treatment areas of a hospital which has a COVID block. This guideline uses “settings” approach.
These guidelines allow to use one time RT-PCR based pooled sampling for surveillance purposes for migrant workers, international passengers in quarantine facilities and in green zones. It is in pursuance of letter of Secretary, MoHFW dated 12th May 2020.
This advisory aims to monitor the trend in prevalence of SARS-COV2 infection at district level in addition to the current testing guidelines. It is initiated by ICMR (Indian Council of Medical Research) / NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) in collaboration with key stakeholders and state health departments.
This document encloses frequently asked questions for revised discharge policy for COVID-19 cases was issued by MoHFW on 8/5/2020
This advisory lays down revised discharge policy, which is aligned with the guidelines on the 3 tier COVID facilities and the categorization of the patients based on clinical severity. The present guidelines are in supersession of the guidelines issued on 27th April 2020.
This advisory provides additional guidelines for health care workers and others working in Non COVID hospitals and Non COVID treatment areas of a hospital which has a COVID block. It is based on “settings” approach to guide on the type of personal protective equipment to be used in different settings.
This advisory lays down detailed guideline on action to be taken on detection of suspect /confirmed COVID-19 cases. It is intended for both COVID-19 and non COVID-19 healthcare facilities.
This is an advisory which prohibits spraying of disinfectants on individuals or groups of persons.
The Board of Governors of the superseded MCI have modified the list A of the Telemedicine Practice Guidelines and have added certain drugs to list A.
This guideline suggests Real Time PCR and point-of-care-molecular-diagnostic-assays for diagnosis of COVID-19 for the entire country and additional testing in hot spot areas.
This advisory for personal use of N95 masks is for all healthcare workers. This is a video and is issued by AIIMS, New Delhi (in English language).
This advisory for personal use of N95 masks is for all healthcare workers. This is a video and is issued by AIIMS, New Delhi (in Hindi language).
This advisory guides on using pooled samples for molecular testing of COVID-19. This aims to increase capacity of the laboratories to screen more samples for the purpose of surveillance. This advisory is issued by Department of Health Research, ICMR.
This video (GIF) presentation informs about Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Package : Insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19.
This webinar conducted by AIIMS, New Delhi outlines the guidance for management of pregnancy and delivery in women with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection
This advisory lays down guidance for blood transfusion and blood donation services in India in light of COVID-19 pandemic to maintain safe and adequate blood supply during this period. This advisory is issued by National Blood Transfusion Council.
This is a video that provides guidance to healthcare workers on the appropriate use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) while performing different tasks in different areas of the hospital during COVID-19 pandemic.
This revised guideline is regarding dialysis of COVID-19 patients who require regular dialysis and face repeated unavoidable exposure to hospital environment.
These are FAQs on the insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19, who lose their life and their accidental death on account of COVID-19 related duty.
This advisory lays the guidance on appropriate management of suspect / confirmed cases of COVID-19 to break the chain of transmission; to appropriately prepare the health systems; and to use the existing resources judicially in the face of increasing number of such cases.
This is the guideline for quarantine facilities during the current COVID-19 outbreak. This guideline is very elaborate.
This advisory lays down the strategy for use of rapid antibody based blood test for areas reporting clusters (containment zone) and in large migration gatherings / evacuees centres.
This revised guideline aims to provide clinicians with updated interim guidance on timely, effective, and safe supportive management of patients with COVID - 19, particularly those with severe acute respiratory illness and critically ill. This is a very detailed guideline.
This advisory prepared by the technical committee of DRDO has identify the essential technical features for the ventilators for COVID-19.
This SOP lays down the guidelines for transporting COVID-19 patients and includes monitoring functionality and infection prevention protocols. It guides the ambulance drivers, technicians and also aims to support programme officers.
SOP for allocation of Residents/PG Students and Nursing Students as part of hospital management of COVID-19
This memorandum gives special sanction for reimbursement to the CGHS beneficieries for medicines purchased from other places for chronic diseases.
This office order pertains to issuing / indenting of medicines to CGHS beneficieries in view of COVID-19 infection. It is addressed to the CMOs I/C of the wellness centre.
This is an internal office order from the DGHS (Director General of Health Services) to Additional Directors directing them to optimally utilize manpower and minimize overcrowding.
This gazette notification states that the ‘Hydroxychloroquine’ meet the requirements of emergency arising due to pandemic COVID-19. Hence the drug ‘Hydroxychloroquine’ and preparation containing it should be regulated as per the conditions specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to prevent its misuse.
This notification provides the Webinar schedule starting from 27/3/2020 on various topics of COVID-19 to handle its outbreak.
This notification states the condition for the license holder in Form-20 / 21 under the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to regulate the sale and supply of drugs specified in Schedule H. The drugs should be supplied at the doorstep of the patients against physical or electronic prescription, who are located within the revenue as the supplier (license holder).
This guideline is published under the IMC Act, 1956 and designed to serve as an aid and tool to enable doctors (Registered medical practitioners) to effectively leverage telemedicine to enhance healthcare service and access to all. Telemedicine will include all channels of communication with the patient that leverage Information Technology platforms.
This document encloses minutes of meeting held to ensure smooth supply of hand sanitizers and avaialability through monitored prices to contain the spread of Corona Virus COVID- l9
This advisory is a guideline for health care workers and others working in points of entries (POEs), quarantine centers, hospital, laboratory and primary health care / community settings. ‘Setting approach’ is used to guide on the type of personal protective equipment to be used in different settings.
This advisory is a guideline for health care workers and others working in points of entries (POEs), quarantine centers, hospital, laboratory and primary health care / community settings. ‘Setting approach’ is used to guide on the type of personal protective equipment to be used in different settings.
This advisory lays down the guidelines for COVID-19 testing in private laboratory for real-time PCR assay for RNA virus. The laboratories have to be NABL accredited. Guidelines are provided for sample collection, storage, testing, reporting and destruction. The guidance on this subject is evolving periodically and therefore the latest revised version should be followed.
This advisory intends to prepare the medical infrastructure in India for any possible influx of patients on account of COVID-19. It spells out the precautions that need to be taken under four heads, namely indoor facilities, IEC activities, administrative and OPD. It specifies the details of training and preparation of HCWs for infection prevention and control practices and how to deal with emergencies in the face of COVID-19 outbreak.
This is the second advisory on testing strategy for COVID-19 in India. It stipulates that individuals with travel history to affected countries, individuals with direct close contacts of laboratory confirmed positive cases and HCWs managing SARI cases when symptomatic within 14 days should be tested. It also provides for testing at no cost to the public, optimal utilization of resources and scaling up of testing facilities. ICMR has been permitted to engage with private sector laboratories which are NABL accredited.
This advisory intends to strengthen the containment measures and to break the chain of transmission of COVID-19. Hospitals, registered practitioners and institutions (government and private including AYUSH practitioners) are bound to notify COVID-19 affected cases to the concerned district surveillance unit. Self-declaration of such patients has to be obtained if they have traveling history in COVID-19 affected countries.
This advisory lays down the policy for assessing and discharging the patients who are suspect or probable nCoV cases confirmed by designated laboratory reports. The discharge of nCov negative patients has to be governed by provisional/confirmed diagnosis and monitored for 14 days. Positive patients for nCOV have to be managed as per the confirmed case management protocol. The aforesaid has been demonstrated in a flow chart.
This detailed advisory is intended for clinicians taking care of hospitalised adult and paediatric patients of COVID – 19. Best practices for COVID - 19 including IPC and optimized supportive care for severely ill patients are spelt out in detail. This document aims to provide clinicians with updated interim guidance on timely, effective, and safe supportive management of patients with COVID - 19, particularly those with severe acute respiratory illness and critical ill.
This advisory is for conducting and assessing mock drill for handling COVID-19 cases in government healthcare facility and laboratory. It lays down in detail the personnel required, inventory / activity / skill to be tested in various departments of government hospitals.
This is the third advisory which lay down the testing strategy for COVID-19 in India. It specifies the five categories of individuals and their inclusion criteria for COVID-19 testing. The intent obviously is to contain the spread of infection and to provide reliable diagnosis.
This advisory is limited to hospital deaths. It lays down standard precautions for HCWs and family members while handling, packing, removing, handing over, transporting and finally disposing the dead body of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients. It also stipulates the procedure for disinfection of the materials which are directly and indirectly used for any procedures, including autopsy performed on the dead body. The same advisory has been issued for both hospitals and citizens.
This is the first advisory in a series for testing COVID-19 in India issued by the Health Ministry. It takes into account that there is no community transmission of COVID-19 infection in India. Thus, individuals with travel history to affected countries and the ones who develop symptoms within 14 days of home quarantine should be tested. Individuals with direct close contacts of laboratory confirmed positive cases should also be tested. This is an evolving strategy.
This is a very detailed guideline that intends to integrate standard, evidence based and internationally accepted infection prevention and control practices among health care workers to improve patient safety, healthcare quality and containment of anti-microbial resistance in the country. It lays down additional standard contact and droplet precautions, airborne precautions for aerosol-generating procedures along with hand hygiene precautions
This advisory lays down the standard precautions and guidelines approved by ICMR and NIV for collection, labelling, processing, packaging and transport of 2019-nCoV specimen.
This document outlines various generic and specific precautionary measures to be adopted due to frequent visitors. The competent authority may implement additional measures within their jurisdiction as per their local assessment and in line with activities permitted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per MHA orders issued under Disaster Management Act, 2005 from time to time.
This document outlines various generic and specific precautionary measures to be adopted at locations during the season of festivals, where large gatherings are inevitable. The competent authority may implement additional measures within their jurisdiction as per their local assessment and in line with activities permitted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per MHA orders issued under Disaster Management Act, 2005 from time to time.
This document provides guidelines for managing patients who have recovered enough from COVID for care at home. It is not meant to be used as preventive / curative therapy.
This SOP provides minimum precautions to be followed during planning and conduct of examinations. Additional measures may be followed as per local assessment and in line with activities permitted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per MHA orders issued under Disaster Management Act, 2005 from time to time.
This SOP outlines various generic precautionary measures to be adopted in addition to specific measures to be taken. To enable safe resumption of teaching/ training activities in the field of skill or entrepreneurship and technical / professional programs requiring laboratory / experimental works.
This SOP outlines various generic precautionary measures to be adopted in addition to specific measures to be taken when schools are permitting students. All States/UTs are expected to comply with the COVID-19 related guidelines issued by Ministry of Home Affairs and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
This detailed ‘Standard Operating Procedure’ is to be followed by the examination centres, which are outside the containment zone and are allowed to function. Further it is advisable to follow additional measures as per local assessment and in line with activities permitted by Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) as per MHA orders issued under Disaster Management Act, 2005 from time to time.
The guidelines outline various generic precautionary measures in addition to specific measures to be adopted at yoga institutes and gymnasiums. This aims to minimize all possible physical contacts between staff, members & visitors and maintain social distancing and other preventive and safety measures in context of COVID-19.
The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare warns against the use of any tobacco products as it could be a risk factor and makes people vulnerable to COVID-19. This is in concurrence with the WHO statement on tobacco use and COVID-19. It advises citizens to quit tobacco and avail the services of mCessation.
This advisory aims to guide Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) / residential societies in gated residential complexes to create awareness about and thereby prevention and control of COVID-19 transmission in gated complex.
This advisory provides ptincipal guidelines to help RWAs / Residential Societies / Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) desirous to set up a small Covid Care Facility, a community based isolation facility, with their own resources.
This office memorandum is issued by Deputy Secretary to Govt. of India, MoHFW; for the fixation of rate for rt-PCR Test for COVID-19 in respect of Central Services (Meidcal Attendance) beneficiaries.
These guidelines are in supersession to the guidelines issued on 10th May, 2020 by MoHFW. In view of large number of asymptomatic cases being detected, the current guidelines have been extended to asymptomatic positive cases also besides very mild and pre-symptomatic cases.
These guidelines aim to contain the spread of COVID-19 in office settings. It outlines generic preventive and specific measures, measures on occurrence of cases and disinfection procedures to be implemented in case of occurrence of suspect / confirmed case. Offices in containment zones shall remain closed except for medical & essential sevices. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
These guidelines provide generic precautionary and specific measures for religious places / places of worship as they get frequented by large number of people. It requires social distancing and other preventive measures in such premises. Religious places / places of worship for public in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
These guidelines provide generic precautionary and specific measures for restaurants and other hospitality units while providing restaurant services to prevent spread of COVID 19. Restaurants in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
These guidelines provide generic precautionary and specific measures for shopping malls to prevent spread of COVID 19, as they get frequented by large number of people for shopping, entertainment and food. Shopping malls in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
These guidelines provide generic precautionary and specific measures in all hotels and other hospitality units, while providing accommodation and other tourist services. It aims to minimize all possible physical contacts between Staff and Guests and maintain social distancing and other preventive and safety measures against COVID-19. Hotels in containment zones shall remain closed. Only those outside containment zones will be allowed to open up.
This advisory outlines the preventive and response measures to be followed under different situations to contain the spread of COVID-19 in workplace settings.
This advisory lays down revised strategy for testing the enlisted categories by RT-PCR test only.
These guidelines are in addition to the guidelines on appropriate management of very mild / pre-symptomatic COVID-19 cases for home isolation, they are in supersession of the guidelines issued by MOHFW on 27th April 2020.
This is a revised discharge policy, which is aligned with the guidelines on the 3 tier COVID facilities and the categorization of the patients based on clinical severity. The present guidelines are in supersession of the guidelines issued on 27th April 2020.
These additional guidelines are for quarantine / isolation of suspects / confirmed cases respectively in private facilities. It includes detailed SOP to support this model to be ensured by the state / UT government.
This is an advisory which prohibits spraying of disinfectants on individuals or groups of persons.
This is the EoI cum bid document for procurement of medical oxygen cylinder issued by Central Medical Services Society, MOHFW (Government of India). It encloses technical specifications and commercial terms in detail for the vendors.
This revised guideline is regarding dialysis of COVID-19 patients who require regular dialysis and face repeated unavoidable exposure to hospital environment.
These are FAQs on the insurance scheme for health workers fighting COVID-19, who lose their life and their accidental death on account of COVID-19 related duty.
This advisory lays down the self-care guidelines recommened by Ministry of AYUSH for preventive health measures and boosting immunity with special reference to respiratory health. While there is no medicine for COVID-19 as of now, it will be good to take preventive measures which boosts immunity in these times.
This is the guideline for handling, treating, and disposing waste generated during the treatment / diagnosis / quarantine of COVID-19 patients. This guideline has been issued by the Central Pollution Control Board (Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change).
This is the guideline for quarantine facilities during the current COVID-19 outbreak. This guideline is very elaborate.
This advisory lays down the guide to make face cover at home. The key criteria of proposed designs are ease of access to materials, ease of making at home, and ease of use and reuse. It is especially recommended for people living in densely populated areas across India.
This is a letter from the Ministry of Human Resource Development giving information about the following:
This order directs the appropriate authorities in Delhi to take strict penal action against such landlords / house-owners, who force doctors / paramedical staff / healthcare personnel to vacate their rented houses.
This order lays down SOP to facilitate smooth and uninterrupted operation of the essential services / establishments and commodities and to ensure effective operations during the lockdown in Delhi to contain the spread of COVID-19.
This advisory lays down the DO’s and DONT’s for elderly population due to their decreased immunity. It is critical for each one to take necessary measures and precautions to break the chain of transmission of the disease.
This guideline is for the environmental cleaning / decontamination of common public places including offices in areas reporting COVID-19. Adherence to infection prevention protocol and use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipement) is mandatorily recommended.
This memorandum gives special sanction for reimbursement to the CGHS beneficieries for medicines purchased from other places for chronic diseases.
This is an internal office order from the DGHS (Director General of Health Services) clarifying that medicines may be issued / indented for three months at a time (in chronic diseases) and even to an authorized representative of the beneficiary.
This is an internal office order from the DGHS (Director General of Health Services) to Additional Directors directing them to optimally utilize manpower and minimize overcrowding.
This gazette notification lays down that the drug ‘Hydroxychloroquine’ is essential to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to pandemic COVID-19, hence its sale and distribution shall be regulated as per the conditions specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945 to prevent its misuse.
In this press note the Finance Minister has announced Rs 1.70 lakh crore relief package under “Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojana”. It is intended to reach to out to the poorest of the poor, with food and money in hands, to help them in buying and meeting the essential needs thereby helping them in fighting the battle against Corona Virus.
This advisory prescribes social distancing for infection prevention and control interventions to avoid and decrease contact between those who are infected and those who are not, and to stop or slow down the disease transmission in a community. The State and UT governments have been directed to prescribe such other additional measures as they may consider necessary.
This advisory is limited to hospital deaths. It lays down standard precautions for HCWs and family members while handling, packing, removing, handing over, transporting and finally disposing the dead body of suspected and confirmed COVID-19 patients. It also stipulates the procedure for disinfection of the materials which are directly and indirectly used for any procedures, including autopsy performed on the dead body. The same advisory has been issued for both hospitals and citizens.
This advisory lays down guidelines for persons who are home quarantined, both suspected and confirmed, their family members and about environment sanitization. The duration of home quarantine has been prescribed as 14 days.
This advisory intends to give correct evidence-based information to general public on use of mask and its disposal. It provides information about who, when and how to use the mask as also the duration to use mask.
This is an office memorandum from the Union government to the various State governments on queries relating to mass gatherings. It advises citizens to avoid or postpone mass gathering, in view of COVID-19 infection outbreak.
This ordinance aims to protect the health care personnel serving during an epidemic against violence committed by any person. It broadly defines such acts of violence and the penalty for the same.
This notification states the modification in the ‘Medicine Lists’ contained in Annexure- 1 of Telemedicine Practice Guidelines.
The Board of Governors, MCI has adopted the “Telemedicine Practice Guidelines” which includes both the overarching principles and a practical framework. It specifically tries to address the current need in the wake of COVID19 outbreak.
Following link leads us to the page, where WHO has broken the “Myths” about COVID-19 to make public aware about the “Facts”.
To encourage the spread of information obtained only from verified and trusted source, WHO guides us on stopping the spread of inaccurate information through various social media platforms as follows:
Following link directs to detailed guidance of precautionary measures to be followed to break the transmission of COVID-19 risk.
This advisory provides every aspect of information in detail about the “mask”, in the context of COVID-19 spreading in community.
This advisory is an update of the guidance published on 5th June 2020 by WHO. The use of masks is part of a comprehensive package of prevention and control measures; however, its use alone is not sufficient to provide adequate level of protection.
This advisory is issued by World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF). It provides guidance for the use of non-medical mask, also known as fabric masks, by the children, who are below the age of 18 years.
This document helps to guide the Policy Makers/Governments/Programme and Facility Managers/ Health Care Providers to address violence against children, women and older people in the following format: Plan – Inform – Prevent – Support survivors – work across sectors
In view of pandemics and its differential impacts on women and men, where individual’s experience varies according to their biological and gender characteristics. WHO thinks it important to form global and national strategic plans based on strong gender analysis ensuring active participation of affected groups including women and girls, in decision-making and implementation.
The ‘enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health’ is at the heart of the World Health Organization 1948 Constitution. This document advises to integrate human rights into public health response to provide ethical guidance and to set the foundation of world’s response to public health crises.
This advisory lay down guidelines to help mitigate the effects of violence on women and children during the current COVID-19 crisis. It also provides tips for coping with stress at home and actions to take if someone is experiencing violence.
This advisory lay down guidelines for parents about planning one-on-one time, staying positive, creating a daily routine, avoiding bad behaviour, managing stress, and talking about COVID-19with their children during this time of confinement.
This advisory lay down guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in workplaces. It gives advice on organizing meetings and events, travel by employees to other areas and preparing workplace in case COVID-19 arrives in that community.
This advisory provides guidance on the use of masks in communities, during home care, and in health care settings in areas that have reported cases of COVID-19.
This link provides answers for questions related to infection prevention and control for health care workers caring for patients with suspected or confirmed 2019-nCoV.
This advisory provides guidance on Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) in Long-Term Care Facilities (LTCF) to prevent COVID-19-virus from entering the facility, spreading within the facility, and spreading to outside the facility.
This advisory provides guidance on water, sanitation and health care waste management relevant to viruses, including coronaviruses.
This advisory lays down recommendations for the rational use of personal protective equipment (PPE), in health care and community settings, including the handling of cargo.
This advisory provides tool for the risk assessment of health care workers (HCW) after exposure and also provides recommendations for their management. It encloses template for collecting the data and a corresponding data dictionary to facilitate the collection of this data.
This advisory provides guidelines for infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies when novel corona virus infection is suspected. It is intended for healthcare workers (HCW), healthcare managers and IPC teams at the facility level and also relevant for the national and district / provincial level.
Health workers are at the front line of the COVID-19 outbreak response and as such are exposed to hazards that put them at risk of infection. This advisory highlights the rights and responsibilities of health workers, including the specific measures needed to protect occupational safety and health.
This advisory provides recommendations on safe home care for patients with suspected COVID-19 who present with mild symptoms and on public health measures related to the management of their contacts.
This advisory provides guide to local production of WHO-recommended hand rub formulations which is separated into two discrete but interrelated sections.
Medlegal Advisory on COVID-19 Pandemic
On 11th of March 2020, the Union Cabinet Secretary announced that all the States and Union Territories should invoke Section 2 of the Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897. Nearly all the States and Union Territories followed this directive. This gave legal backing, a statutory support to the directions issued by the Union health ministry, the State governments and the local authorities to contain the corona pandemic. The disease had already been declared as a notifiable disease.
Two laws are now therefore applicable to everyone - doctors, hospitals, patients and general public, namely, The Epidemics Diseases Act, 1897 and The Indian Penal Code, 1860. Coincidentally, both these laws are more than 100 years old and are penal in nature, that is they give rise to criminal liability and hence imprisonment is one of the consequences of not following them.
The first law, The Epidemic Diseases Act, 1897 was enacted “for the better prevention of the spread of Dangerous Epidemic Disease”. It is a very short Act having only 4 sections.
Section 2 of the Epidemic Act empowers the State Government to take suitable temporary measures to prevent an outbreak or threatened outbreak or spread of an epidemic. Once this Act is invoked, the State government can give directions and take required steps to arrest spread or outbreak of an epidemic disease.
Section 4 gives legal protection to every person who has acted under this Act or the directions issued under this Act subject to only one condition that the act must have been done in good faith.
Section 3 of the Epidemic Act prescribes the punishment for disobeying the orders of the State government given under this Act. The penalty prescribed takes us to the second law which is applicable in an epidemic, The Indian Penal Code, 1860, very specifically Section 188.
Section 188 of the Penal Code prescribes punishment of upto 6 months and fine of upto Rupees One Thousand for not following government orders.
There are 2 more provisions of the Indian Penal Code that can be attracted in the current scenario for spreading an infectious disease either knowingly (Section 270) or unknowingly or negligently (Section 269). The former attracts imprisonment or 2 years which is far more than the 6 months under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code which is attracted under the Epidemic Act.
Section 2.(1). Power to take special measures and prescribe regulations as to dangerous epidemic disease
When at any time the State Government is satisfied that the State or any part thereof is visited by, or threatened with, an outbreak of any dangerous epidemic disease, the State Government, if it thinks that the ordinary provisions of the law for the time being in force are insufficient for the purpose, may take, or require or empower any person to take, such measures and, by public notice, prescribe such temporary regulations to be observed by the public or by any person or class of persons as it shall deem necessary to prevent the outbreak of such disease or the spread thereof, and may determine in what manner and by whom any expenses incurred (including compensation if any) shall be defrayed.
Section 3. Penalty.
Any person disobeying any regulation or order made under this Act shall be deemed to have committed an offence punishable under section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
Section 4. Protection to persons acting under Act.
No suit or other legal proceeding shall lie against any person for anything done or in good faith intended to be done under this Act.
Section 188. Disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant
Whoever, knowing that, by an order promulgated by a public serv¬ant lawfully empowered to promulgate such order, he is directed to abstain from a certain act, or to take certain order with certain property in his possession or under his management, disobeys such direction, shall, if such disobedience causes or tends to cause obstruction, annoyance or injury, or risk of obstruction, annoyance or injury, to any person lawfully employed, be punished with simple impris¬onment for a term which may extend to one month or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both; and if such disobedience causes or trends to cause danger to human life, health or safety, or causes or tends to cause a riot or affray, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both.
Explanation
It is not necessary that the offender should intend to produce harm or contemplate his disobedience as likely to produce harm. It is sufficient, that he knows of the order which he disobeys, and that his disobedience produces, or is likely to produce, harm.
Section 269. Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease danger¬ous to life
Whoever unlawfully or negligently does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to six months, or with fine, or with both.
Section 270. Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease danger¬ous to life
Whoever malignantly does any act which is, and which he knows or has reason to believe to be, likely to spread the infection of any disease dangerous to life, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine, or with both.
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The Supreme Court has directed the government to make necessary suggestions in the `Rational Use of Personal Protective Equipment’ guidelines so that PPEs are provided to all health officials.
The Supreme Court directed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to ensure availability of appropriate Personal Protective Equipments to all Health Workers; the police authorities to provide the necessary police security to the doctors and medical staff in hospitals; the State to take necessary action against those persons who obstruct performance of duties by doctors, medical staff and other government officials; and to the government to explore all alternatives to augment domestic production of protective clothing and gear to medical professional.
The Supreme Court directed that tests relating to COVID-19 whether in approved Government Laboratories or approved private Laboratories shall be free of cost and that these must be carried out in NABL accredited Labs or any agencies approved by WHO or ICMR.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the State government to provide PPE’s to doctors and other health workers. Doctors and paramedical staff were directed to do the needful to save the citizens of the society and the nation.
These detailed guidelines have been specifically prepared from the viewpoint of conducting safe medico-legal autopsy in COVID-19 cases issued by ICMR.