It has been observed that WHO has recently updated the casedefinitions based on the current information available and will be revised asnew information accumulates.
India may also need to adapt case definitions depending oncurrent epidemiological situation.
Based on the available information on COVID-19, thefollowing case definitions are put forth for approval:
SUSPECT CASE
A patient with acute respiratory illness {fever and at leastone sign/symptom of respiratory disease (e.g., cough, shortness of breath)},AND a history of travel to or residence in a country/area or territoryreporting local transmission of COVID-19 disease during the 14 days prior to onset symptom.
OR
A patient/Health care worker with any acute respiratoryillness AND having been in contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the last14 days prior to onset of symptoms;
OR
• A patient with severe acute respiratory infection {feverand at least one sign/symptom of respiratory disease (e.g., cough, shortnessbreath)} AND requiring hospitalization AND with no other etiology that fullyexplains the clinical presentation;
OR
• A case for whom testing for COVID-19 is inconclusive.
LABORATORY CONFIRMED CASE
A person with laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 infection,irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms.
UPDATED DEFINITION OF CONTACT
A contact is a person that is involved in any of thefollowing:
• Providing direct care without proper personal protective equipment (PPE) for COVID-19 patients.
• Staying in the same close environment of a COVID-19patient (including workplace, classroom, household, gatherings).
• Traveling together in close proximity (1 m) with asymptomatic person who later tested positive for COVID-19.
HIGH RISK CONTACT
• Touched body fluids of the patient (Respiratory tractsecretions, blood, vomit,saliva, urine, faeces)
• Had direct physical contact with the body of the patientincluding physical examination without PPE.
•Touched or cleaned the linens, clothes, or dishes of thepatient.
• Lives in the samehousehold as the patient.
•Anyone in closeproximity (within 3 ft) of the confirmed case without precautions.
• Passenger in closeproximity (within 3 ft) of a conveyance with a symptomatic person who latertested positive for COVID-19 for more than 6 hours.
LOW RISK CONTACT
• Shared the same space (Same class for school/worked insame room/similar and not having a high risk exposure to confirmed or suspectcase of COVID-19).
• Travelled in same environment (bus/train/flight/any modeof transit) but not having a high-risk exposure.
HOW TO SUSPECT CORONA VIRUS INFECTION?
•Patients may vary from being asymptomatic (Without fever,cough etc) to being seriously ill requiring ICU care. Since 60% patients do nothave fever at the outset of disease, the travel history and history of contactis most important
USUAL SYMPTOMS ARE:
• Fever • Cough • Running nose
• Sore throat •Shortness of breath
The incubation period is between 2-14 days. (Median 2-7days)