Isolating At Home
If diagnosed with Covid-19 you must isolate to prevent the spread of infection. Isolation involves:

Staying at home, unless you need to leave to get medical care. You must always call ahead before arriving at your medical center.  However, in most cases you will be able to receive medical care using telehealth (VDO or phone consultations) while medicines can be delivered to your home. If you need a doctor or nurse (e.g. for blood sampling) consultation they could visit you at home (using protective clothing).

Living in a separate room, preferably well ventilated, away from other people in your household. Use a separate bathroom, if available, that others do not use.  Pets should not stay in the room with the patient.

Ensuring others do not enter your home unless they are providing necessary medical or personal care. The people who usually live in your house with you can continue to stay in the house with you. However, they are considered to be close contacts and are also required to isolate (see below).

Having groceries and other essential items delivered to your home. As all household members will be in isolation, it is important to arrange delivery of groceries and other essential items.

Strictly observing hygiene measures e.g:

  • Stay at least 2 meters away from people living in your house.
  • 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.
Protecting People In Your Household
Our recommendations for them are:

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 patient. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

Avoid direct contact with the patient’s bodily fluids:  Wear disposable gloves and a face mask when providing 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.

Wear a face mask:  If you need to be in the same room with the patient wear a face mask and stay at least 2 meters away. Don’t touch or handle your mask while you are using it. If your mask gets wet or dirty, replace it with a clean, dry mask. Throw away the used mask and wash your hands. Preferably assign one (preferably young & healthy) person in the household to have close contact with the patient.

Avoid having unnecessary visitors in your home:  Don’t allow visitors until the sick person has completely recovered.

Clean your home frequently:  Every day, use household cleaning sprays or wipes to clean surfaces that are often touched, including counters, tabletops and doorknobs. Avoid cleaning the patient’s separate room and bathroom. Set aside bedding and utensils for the patient only to use. Wear disposable gloves.

Be careful with dishes:  Wear disposable gloves when handling dishes, cups or utensils used by the patient. Wash the items with soap and hot water or in the dishwasher. Clean your hands after taking off the gloves or handling used items.

Be careful with laundry:  Don’t shake dirty laundry. Use regular detergent to wash the patient’s laundry. Use the warmest setting you can (min. 60°C). Wash your hands after putting clothes in the dryer. Thoroughly dry clothes. If you are handling clothing that has been soiled by the patient, wear disposable gloves and keep the items away from your body. Wash your hands after removing the gloves. Place dirty gloves and masks in a waste bin with a lid in the patient’s room. Clean and disinfect clothes hampers and wash your hands afterward.