PCMC issues guidelines for isolation centers in housing society’s clubhouse

Renuka Suryavanshi

Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation on April 25, 2021 issued guidelines for setting up isolation centers in housing societies. Amid the bed crisis, several housing societies last year had set up isolation center in their club house or empty flats. This year too, many have already begun with their planning on setting up isolation centers in club houses as well as in empty flats.

This initiative has helped many by maintaining social distancing and also isolating from patients who are tested Covid 19 positive.

Also, those with mild symptoms often prefer staying isolated and due to unavailability of beds in government as well as private facility such centers have become a boon.

Below are the guidelines on which societies can set up their isolation centers :

1. Society should arrange for beds, washrooms, water, daily cleanliness and allowing home made food for the patients.
2. Society should follow all the protocols set by PCMC
3. For medical assistance, seek help from PCMC or private hospital
4. Society should inform about the isolation center to the nearest PCMC run hospital.
5. This facility should not be used for children below 10 years of age, pregnant women, breastfeeding mother, high risk patients such as diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney stone, breathing problems, cancer and other health issues. Such people should be admitted in Covid Care Centers.
6. Covid 19 suspected and Covid19 positive patients should be kept separately.
7. Display of emergency numbers such as doctors, ambulances, hospitals is mandatory.
8. Entry and exit should be separate. Societies should make provision of hand sanitisers at the entry gate, thermal screening, etc.
9. Distance of 1 meter (3 feet) should be kept between two beds.
10. Covid19 positive patients should have separate washroom facility. Provision for cleaning agents must be adequately done.
11. Those using this facility should have a recommendation that the patient shows mild symptoms, no symptoms, early symptoms.
12. Those using this facility shall always wear triple layer medical mask.
13. Caretaker should keep a note of the patients.
14. Those patients using this isolation facility should not venture out in public spaces such as parking areas, garden. Facility of CCTV surveillance system or security guards must be provided.
15. Food should be packed in disposable food packing materials.
16. Incase, a patients shows below symptoms, immediate medical assistance must be sought: Difficulty in breathing, low oxygen level – (Spo2<95%), drop in blood pressure rate, continuous pain in chest, unconsciousness, difficulty in speech, fatigue and face and lips turning blue.
17. Medical officers from Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation should conduct health check up two times in a day.
18. Covid waste must be handed over to the PCMC’s bio medical waste facility.

Somnath Dhonde, chairman, Vedanta CHS near Wakad said, “Even in the last year we had created an isolation center. This year too looking at the scenario we have set up isolation center in our clubhouse as well as a 3BHK apartment. Isolation facility to accomodate nine people has been created with portable oxygen cylinder.”

Rajesh Patil, commissioner, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation said, “Many patients are choosing home isolation over hospital admission, those who have mild symptoms. But often do not have adequate space to maintain social distancing. Society’s club house are ideal places to start isolation centers. Hence, PCMC decided to allow societies to set up isolation center.”