Amritsar, NFA Post: In an attempt to protect vulnerable patients and frontline healthcare workers, the Union health ministry has issued guidelines to manage mental illness during the pandemic situation.
The guidelines, released on Sunday, have been drawn up to address the needs of Covid-19 patients, who are suffering from trauma or stress, pandemic-induced depression and for those who are already suffering from severe mental health conditions.
The health ministry has said that the guidelines are based on the recommendations and protocols of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the available information on Covid-19.
It added that these guidelines, prepared by experts from the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru, will be revised and updated from time to time.
In the guidelines, the government has stressed on the importance of training all healthcare workers in waste disposal, sanitisation of establishments, maintaining social and physical distancing, and putting on and taking off personal protective equipment.
The covid positive cases in India crossed 8.2 million on Sunday, and the deaths reported so far stood at 122,379, according to government data. Active covid cases stand at 572,455.
“India’s deaths per million population is one of the lowest in the world and stands at 88,” the health ministry said, adding that 21 states or Union territories (UTs) have deaths per million lower than the national average.
Currently, 17 states or UTs have cases per million lower than the national average.
