COVID 19: Tips to care for infected people at home

With COVID-19 cases still rising in the Caribbean, more and more families are becoming infected with the virus.

It just takes one person to spread the virus which can then easily rip through a household. Sharing confined quarters with someone who has COVID puts everyone at risk.

Protecting yourself and your family members in those situations is important.

Here are some measures you can take to protect yourself if someone in the home is infected.

Patients

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), an infected person should be isolated from others in the home. If you have the space and enough rooms, the person should stay confined to a separate room and bathroom for the duration of their illness unless their condition worsens and they need to be hospitalised.

Sick people who are in isolation should eat and drink in their own rooms or in spaces away from others.

If you have no choice but to share a space with a sick person. Ensure the room has good air flow. Open windows for proper air circulation which helps to remove respiratory droplets from the air.

Sick people should wear a mask before entering a room or interacting with others.

Do not encourage visitors.

Make sure the patient is comfortable and has all the necessary medication they need.

Caregivers

Caregivers should not be people who are considered to be high-risk.

Monitor the sick person daily and keep in contact with relevant medical experts. Call for emergency help if the person’s health deteriorates.

Any dishes, cups or utensils used by a sick person should be washed in soap and hot water.

Use gloves to wash items and clean your hands after handling used items.

Do not share dishes, cups/glasses, silverware, towels, bedding, or electronics (like a cell phone) with the person who is sick.

Ensure all bedding and clothing from infected person is kept separate from household laundry. Change and wash infected bedding and clothing daily if possible.

Wear gloves when you touch or have contact with the sick person’s blood, stool, or body fluids, such as saliva, mucus, vomit, and urine. Throw out gloves into a lined trash can and wash your hands right away

Put on a mask and ask the sick person to put on a mask before entering the room. Do not put masks on children under the age of two.

Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Tell everyone in the home to do the same, especially after being near the person who is sick.

Avoid touching your face, mouth, eyes etc with unwashed hands

Regularly clean and sanitise surfaces that are touched often such as light switches, table tops, doorknobs, cell phones etc.

Limit your interaction with people outside of your home.

Source:loopnewscaribbean