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
