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Best Practices For Home Cure | Isolation Of COVID Patients

Since the pandemic outbreak, doctors have pleaded to the masses to understand what it means to isolate yourself. Self-isolation is different from social distancing and shielding yourself. Although all three practices help reduce exposure to COVID-19, there’s still some room for improvement. Here are the best practices for home cure | isolation of COVID patients that you can apply. Read on!

Also Read: Use Face Masks For Long Time

You might have questions if one of the following cases is true for you:

  • You have coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and you’re caring for yourself at home.
  • You’re caring for a loved one with COVID-19 at home.

Well, pick one. Then, you’d want to know the answers to these questions:

  • How do you know when emergency care is needed?
  • How long is isolation necessary?
  • What can you do to prevent the spread of germs?
  • How can you support a sick loved one and manage your stress?

Here’s what you need to know.

Emergency Warning Signs | Best Practices For Home Cure | Isolation Of COVID Patients

Most people who become sick with COVID-19 will only experience mild illness and can recover at home. Symptoms might last a few days, and people who have the virus might feel better in about 10 days. Treatment is aimed at relieving symptoms and includes rest, fluid intake and pain relievers. Refer to a medical practitioner for more details.

Follow the doctor’s recommendations about care and home isolation for yourself or your loved one. Talk to the doctor if you have any questions about treatments. Help the sick person get groceries and any medications and, if needed, take care of his or her pet.

It’s also important to consider how caring for a sick person might affect your health. If you are older or have an existing chronic medical condition, such as heart or lung disease or diabetes, you may be at higher risk of serious illness with COVID-19. You might consider isolating yourself from the sick person and finding another person to provide care.

In case of a medical emergency, carefully monitor yourself or your loved one for worsening symptoms. If the symptoms appear to be getting worse, get a doctor’s assistance for a supervised takeover.

If you or the person with COVID-19 experiences emergency warning signs, medical attention is needed immediately. Call on your local emergency number if the sick person can’t be woken up or you notice any emergency signs, including:

  • Trouble breathing
  • Persistent chest pain or pressure
  • New confusion
  • Bluish lips or face

 

Protecting Others If You’re lLL

If you’re ill or asymptomatic (but still infected), you can do your part in curbing the spread of the virus.

  • Stay home from work, school and public areas unless it’s to get medical care.
  • Avoid using public transportation, ride-sharing services or taxis.
  • Stay isolated in one room, away from your family and other people, as much as possible. This includes eating in your room. Open windows to keep air circulating. Use a separate bathroom, if possible.
  • Avoid shared space in your home as much as possible. When using shared spaces, limit your movements. Keep your kitchen and other shared spaces well ventilated. Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from your family members.

  • Clean often-touched surfaces in your separate room and bathroom, such as doorknobs, light switches, electronics and counters, every day.
  • Avoid sharing personal household items, such as dishes, towels, bedding and electronics.
  • Wear a face mask when near others. Change the face mask each day.
  • If wearing a face mask isn’t possible, cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or elbow when coughing or sneezing. Afterward, throw away the tissue or wash the handkerchief.
  • Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

 

Protect Yourself When Caring For An Infected Person

To protect yourself while caring for someone with COVID-19, the CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) recommend:

  • Keep your hands clean and away from your face. Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after being in close contact or in the same room as the sick person.

  • Consider wearing a face mask. If you need to be in the same room with the person who is ill and he or she isn’t able to wear a face mask, wear a face mask. Stay at least 6 feet (2 meters) away from the ill person.

  • Clean your home frequently. Every day, use household cleaning sprays or wipes to clean surfaces that are often touched, including counters, tabletops and doorknobs.
  • Be careful with laundry. Don’t shake dirty laundry. Use regular detergent to wash the sick person’s laundry. Use the warmest setting you can. Wash your hands after putting clothes in the dryer. Place dirty gloves and masks in a waste bin with a lid in the sick person’s room. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers and wash your hands afterward.

  • Be careful with dishes. Wear gloves when handling dishes, cups or utensils used by the sick person. Wash the items with soap and hot water or in the dishwasher. Clean your hands after taking off the gloves or handling used items.
  • Avoid direct contact with the sick person’s bodily fluids.

Wear disposable gloves and a face mask when providing oral and respiratory care and when handling stool, urine or other waste. Wash your hands before and after removing your gloves and mask. Don’t reuse your mask or gloves.

  • Avoid having unnecessary visitors in your home. Don’t allow visitors until the sick person has completely recovered and has no signs or symptoms of COVID-19.

Please Note: The WHO also recommends that, as the sick person’s caregiver, you monitor your health for 14 days after the start of the sick person’s symptoms.

 

Ending Isolation | Best practices For Home Cure | Isolation Of COVID Patients

Talk to the doctor about when to end home isolation. The CDC recommends the following guidelines for ending home isolation after you’ve had COVID-19.

  • If you won’t have a test to determine if you’re still contagious, you can leave your sick room or home if three full days have passed with no fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine, other symptoms have improved, and at least 10 days have passed since your symptoms started.

  • If you’ll be tested to determine if you’re still contagious, you can leave your sick room or home if you no longer have a fever without the use of fever-reducing medicine, other symptoms have improved, and you’ve had two negative tests in a row, 24 hours apart. However, testing isn’t available in all areas.

 

Coping With Care-giving Stress | We Get It

As you or your loved one recover, seek emotional support. Stay connected to others through texts, phone calls or video-conferences.

Share your concerns. Avoid too much COVID-19 news. Long story short, just consider the following:

  • Maintain a daily routine, including showering and getting dressed.
  • Take breaks from COVID-19 news, including social media.
  • Eat healthy meals and stay hydrated.
  • Exercise.
  • Get plenty of sleep.
  • Avoid use of drugs and alcohol.
  • Stretching, breathe deeply or meditate.
  • Focus on enjoyable activities.
  • Connect with others and share how you are feeling.

 

Well, there you have it guys! This was all about the best practices for home cure | isolation of COVID patients. If you have any questions, drop a comment in the section provided below.

Good luck and STAY AT HOME!

Written by Ahsan Gardezi