Self-quarantine during corona scare: Do not share cutlery, towels, rooms

Wed Mar 18 2020

Self-quarantine during corona scare: Do not share cutlery, towels, rooms

Roni Caryn Rabin/NYT

Stay home unless you must see a doctor. No work, school or shopping. If you must come out of your room, wear a mask. And don’t share towels. If you are among the thousands of those who are now self-quarantined because of possible infection with the coronavirus, these are a few of the new house rules, courtesy of health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Among people told to self-quarantine, isolate themselves or stay home are people returning from parts of China and Iran, those who developed symptoms after spending time in other countries with sustained community transmission, and those with no known exposure who are sick. But many individuals who don’t fit neatly into any of these categories and weren’t asked to stay home are choosing to seclude themselves anyway because they don’t want to put others at risk.

It may sound like a vacation from reality, an ideal time to binge on films and shows and catch up on sleep. In fact, it’s not easy to lock yourself away from family and friends. There are practical and logistical challenges and yawning gaps in the official advice that make it even harder. The terms of home isolation can be onerous and may last for two weeks, which is the presumed incubation period for the virus. It is especially challenging if you have young children or elderly relatives to care for, or live in cramped quarters with a lot of roommates.

HOUSEHOLD MEMBERS OF A PATIENT SHOULD WEAR MASK, GLOVES TO STAY SAFE

Family members and other occupants should monitor the patient’s symptoms and call a health provider if they see a turn for the worse. Housemates can go to work or school, but it’s going to be their job to stock up on groceries, pick up prescriptions, take care of the quarantined and keep the place clean. They’ll be wiping down doorknobs and countertops, doing loads of laundry and washing their hands.

When around the patient, household members must wear a face mask, and both mask and gloves if they have contact with the patient’s bodily fluids. These should be thrown away immediately, never reused. Elderly members of the household and those with chronic medical conditions are at particular risk if they are infected.

Other occupants of the home should wash their hands frequently and avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands. They should stay in a room separate from that of the exposed or sick individual. If feasible, other members of the household should not share a bathroom with the secluded person. They should monitor their own health, too, and call a doctor if they develop a cough, fever or shortness of breath.

SELF-QUARANTINE IS HARD WHETHER YOU LIVE ALONE OR WITH FAMILY

No one pays you for self-quarantine. There is no reimbursement for products you may need. Self-quarantine is a hardship for both those who have families and those who live alone. Not everyone can work remotely. A two-week absence from work can take an enormous financial toll on hourly wage workers who have to clock in and show up to get paid or who are part of the gig economy with no single employer.

DISINFECT FREQUENTLY

·        q Don’t share cutlery, towels or bedding with anyone (including your pets).

·        q Countertops, doorknobs, bathrooms fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, and bedside tables are considered “high-touch surfaces”; wipe them often with a household cleanser.

·        q Frequently wipe down surfaces that may be contaminated by bodily fluids, including blood and stool.

ISOLATE YOURSELF FROM FAMILY, PETS

·        q If you are infected or have been exposed to the coronavirus, seclude yourself from your partner, housemates, children and elderly occupants of the house. You shouldn’t even pet your dog. And definitely no snuggling pets.

·        q A room should be designated for your exclusive use. You should use a separate bathroom, if you have one.

·        q No visitors and no staff, unless it’s absolutely essential. Don’t take the bus or subway, not even a taxi.

FAMILY MEMBERS SHOULD TAKE SPECIAL CARE

·        q When around the patient, household members must use both mask and gloves if they have contact with the patient’s bodily fluids q They should stay in a room separate from that of the exposed or sick individual q If possible, family members should not share a bathroom with the secluded person

YOU CAN USE SANITISERS, BUT SOAP IS PREFERRED

·        q If you cough or sneeze, you should cover your mouth and nose with a tissue and discard the used tissue in a lined trash can.

·        q Then you must immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. You can use sanitiser, but soap and water are preferred.

·        q Even if you haven’t coughed or sneezed, you should wash your hands frequently and avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth if you haven’t just washed them.

MASK IS A MUST

·        If you must be around other people — in your home, or in a car — you should wear a mask, and everyone else should, too. Since they are sold out almost everywhere, you should firstly get yourself masks

MONITOR YOURSELF

·        Keep an eye on your health and call a doctor if your symptoms are getting worse. Make sure to tell the medical st

 Source : https://epaper.timesgroup.com/Olive/ODN/TimesOfIndia/?olv-cache-ver=20200316060345