COVID-19: Isolation At Home And Quarantine
/COVID-19: Isolation At Home And Quarantine
Are there strategies that have proven to be essential for controlling infectious diseases in the event of a global epidemic? We learn from mistakes and become more experienced after we have been able to find some solutions. Isolation of infectious persons has proven to be one of the measures taken since ancient times to limit the transmission of the respective infection to healthy people.
The World Health Organization believes that we are experiencing a pandemic with the COVID-19 coronavirus. In this situation, the measures must be taken from the lowest level to the global level. Find out what isolation means at home, what quarantine is and why they are needed, to whom, and in what cases each of them is recommended and how are people in self-isolation supported.
What is quarantine, and why is it necessary?
Isolation and quarantine help protect the public by preventing exposure to contact with people who have or may have a contagious disease. These are practically achieved either by separating the sick and the healthy persons or by dividing the potentially infected persons from the healthy ones.
Quarantine separates and restricts the movement of people who have been exposed to a contagious disease to stop the possibility of transmitting the infection if they are infectious.
Quarantine and self-isolation mean that the person remains in a certain place designed for it or at home for a period after exposure to the situation in which infection with COVID-19 could have occurred. Evidence for influenza pandemics indicates that the use of individual isolation methods directly contributes to reducing disease transmission.
The difference between quarantine and self-isolation at home
According to the information shared by World HEalrth Organization, but also different other institutions, the quarantine and isolation measures at home are defined as follows:
· Quarantine is established for all persons who do not have symptoms, but who return from the areas with extensive community transmission of the new coronavirus (COVID-19).
The quarantine will last for a period of 14 days and will be organized in specially arranged spaces, made available by the local authority, in collaboration with the public health department.
Why 14 days? The duration of quarantine depends on the estimated incubation period of the virus (eg, the period between the time of infection and the onset of the first symptoms of the disease). Initial estimates indicate an average incubation period for COVID-19 of 5.2 days, but some people have symptoms after 13 days. Doctors' calculations show that out of 100 people infected with COVID-19, 95 had symptoms before 13 days.
The duration of 14 days is therefore considered sufficient for the monitoring of the persons who came into contact with the cases of COVID-19. The rapid identification of cases contributes to the efficiency of the quarantine measures.
Self-isolation is instituted for people who have no symptoms but who:
· traveled in the last 14 days in regions from areas affected by COVID-19, other than those with extended community transmission
· have come into direct contact with people with symptoms and who have traveled to areas with extended community transmission
· have been in direct contact with persons confirmed with coronavirus (COVID-19)
· family members of a person who falls into one of the above situations.
These persons will isolate themselves at home for a period of 14 days from the date of their return from the trip, respectively, or from the date of the last contact with an asymptomatic or confirmed person. During this time, they will be monitored by the family doctor or, failing that, by the public health department.
If a family member is isolated at home, does the measure apply to the spouse or children?
The answer to this question, according to the World Health Organization is the following:
Self-isolation applies to all family members and persons living in the same home for a period of 14 days from the date of return from the trip, respectively, from the time of the last contact with an asymptomatic or confirmed person.
Everyone has an obligation to NOT leave the residence, where they are from the moment of isolation. If the rest of the family does not want to go into isolation with the person who has traveled, the person is asked to enter into an institutionalized quarantine. This option is possible only if the person has NOT previously had contact with the family!
Hygiene measures for self-isolated persons
Individuals in isolation at home must comply with the following personal hygiene measures:
· Avoid close contact with other people in the house and, if possible, isolate yourself in a separate room.
· NOT to receive visitors during the period of self-isolation at home.
· Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, whenever necessary (after using the toilet, before preparing the meal, etc.).
· Daily clean and disinfect all surfaces that they frequently touch (eg, tables, lintels, furniture items, battery/faucets from the sink, other objects that can be affected by other people).
· Cover the mouth and nose with a disposable napkin or fabric when sneezing or coughing or squeezing and coughing in the bend of the elbow. The handkerchief is immediately disposed of in the trash in a plastic bag, after which it is washed on the hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Ventilate all the rooms of the house as well as possible. The common areas of the house (kitchen, bathroom) must be well ventilated!
· To keep in touch with the family doctor daily and to inform her/him about the evolution of all family members.
· Call the emergency number 112 if at least one of the following symptoms occurs: cough, fever, difficulty breathing, sore throat - cover your nose and mouth with a protective mask.
Among the measures of cleaning and disinfection of the house and objects in the home include the daily cleaning and daily disinfection of the surfaces that are commonly reached with high frequency and the use of various household chlorine-based disinfectants.
What if a family member has symptoms or has another medical emergency while in self-isolation?
If, during the 14 days, any family member presents symptoms suggestive of coronavirus infection (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) or any other medical emergency, contact the family doctor by phone and / or call 112. You should mention that you are in the situation of self-isolation at home! Here's what you can do:
· Limit close contact as much as possible - less than 1 meter, for more than 15 minutes - cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief when coughing or sneezing, or use your elbow! Wash your hands with soap and water immediately, wear a protective mask.
· Wait for the arrival of the ambulance, which will take you to the nearest infectious disease center, where coronavirus testing can be performed. There you will be isolated until you get the results.
· If the result is negative, you will be brought back home and will continue self-isolation for up to 14 days.
· If the results are positive, the specific procedures for coronavirus infections will be applied.
· For other medical emergencies, the ambulance staff will make the necessary decisions accordingly.
How are people in self-isolation supported?
People in self-isolation can be helped in the supply of water and food by relatives and/or friends. If necessary, persons in self-isolation can request the support of County Committees for emergencies and local authorities for the supply of food, water, protective masks. The self-isolated persons will take over without contacting the supplying personnel, keeping a distance of at least 2 meters from it. Basically, food and goods are left at the entrance to the house and are taken over by the person in isolation only after the other person has left.
According to information provided by the European Center for Communicable Disease Control (ECDC), it is crucial for people with signs of respiratory infection to take self-isolation at home. In essence, this is one of the most important measures to reduce the spread of the disease and limit the spread of the virus. The self-isolation measure is valid for people who have an acute respiratory infection and probable or confirmed infection with COVID-19, but who do not need hospital care. These persons must volunteer to stay at home or in a place for isolation, in a ventilated room, separated from the rest of the rooms and preferably to use only the toilet, separated from other persons,
It is also essential to avoid contact with other people in the home, especially if they are already suffering from different conditions and it is recommended to avoid contact with pets if they can be reached by others later.
Sources of information:
https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/novel-coronavirus-guidelines-non-pharmaceutical-measures_0.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/index.html
