Are you home quarantined? Here's how to protect your family from Covid-19
Some advice for home-quarantined Covid-19 patients from Dr April Baller, who works on infection prevention and control at the World Health Organisation.
What precautions do asymptomatic Covid-19 patients need when they are in home isolation? How careful should caregivers be? How can self-care be done at home? How can you keep everyone who is not infected at home safe while you are in quarantine?Â
These are some of the usual questions one comes across when the individual who has tested positive is advised home quarantine. Simple precautions can ensure your family's safety.
Here some advice from Dr April Baller, who works on infection prevention and control at the World Health Organisation.
* The patient should remain in a separate room. If this is not possible, then they should have a designated part of the home, and their movements around the house should be limited.Â
* At least one-meter distance should be maintained between them and anyone else.Â
* It is critical to have good ventilation in that patient's room and any shared spaces.Â
* There should only be one person who is the caregiver for that patient, and that caregiver should have no underlying condition.Â
* Whenever patients receive care, they should wear a medical mask, as should the caregiver.Â
* As soon as the caregiver leaves the room, they need to make sure to wash their hands.Â
* The patients should have their own designated dishes and cups, towels and bed linens. And these can be washed with soap and water at least once a day.Â
* Any frequently touched surfaces by the patient have to be cleaned and disinfected every day.
* Any waste generated from the patient should be packed safely.Â
* There should be no visitors allowed during the time that the patient is ill.