Self-isolation means staying away from situations where you could infect other people. This means any situation where you may come in close contact with others. Self -Isolation is thus used to restrict the movement of well persons who may have been exposed to a communicable disease to see if they will become ill. The duration of the period of self-isolation depends on the incubation period (that is the time it takes between when an individual got infected and when signs and symptoms of the disease to appear) the specific disease. In the case of SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) that causes COVID- 19 (Corona Virus disease 2019), it is a period of 14 days. This usually happens in a person’s home. It may also be used for people who have contracted the disease but they are not so sick that they require hospitalization, or in situations where the hospitals are already full to capacity.

In summary, Self- Isolation thus restricts the movement of persons to help stop the potential spread of certain communicable diseases e.g. COVID- 19, thus protecting the wider community. We all need to accept this responsibility.

If a medical staff instructed you to self-isolate, what should you be doing?

1. Stay at home
You or the person you are caring for should remain in your home, except for getting medical care (see sections 3 and 8 before getting medical care). Do not go to work, school, or public areas, and do not use public transport or taxis until you have been told that is safe to do so. You will need to ask for help if you require support e.g., shopping or medications.. The delivery instruction needs to state that the items are to be left outside by your door, or in the porch, or as appropriate for your home.

2. Separate yourself from other people in your home*
You should stay in a well-ventilated room with a window to outside that can be opened, separate from other people in your home. Keep the door closed. Use a separate bathroom from the rest of the household, if available. If you have to share these facilities, regular cleaning will be required.

If a separate bathroom is not available, consideration should be given to drawing up a bathroom roster for washing or bathing, with the isolated person using the facilities last, before thoroughly cleaning the bathroom themselves (if able or appropriate*). Ensure the isolated person uses separate towels from other household members, both for drying themselves after bathing or showering and for hand hygiene purposes.
You should not be having meals with your family, meals should be delivered to the door of your room, when the people leave, you can collect the meal and enjoy it on your own in your room. (See cleaning utensil under 7.)

3. Call ahead before visiting your doctor
All medical appointments should be discussed in advance with your designated medical contact, using the number that has been provided to you. This is so the clinic or hospital can take steps to minimise contact with others.

4. Wear a facemask if advised to
If you have been provided with facemasks, then you should wear the mask when you are in the same room with other people and when you visit a healthcare provider. If you cannot wear a facemask, the people who live with you should wear one while they are in the same room with you.

5. Cover your coughs and sneezes
Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when you cough or sneeze. Carers of others undergoing testing for COVID-19 infection should use disposable tissues to wipe away any mucus or phlegm after they have sneezed or coughed.
Dispose of tissues into a plastic waste bag (see note 10. below for managing rubbish), and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry thoroughly. Carers should wash their hands as well as helping the person they are caring for following coughing or sneezing

6. Wash your hands
Wash your hands or assist the person you are caring for in washing their hands. This should be done often and thoroughly with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, rinse and dry thoroughly. The same applies to those caring for anyone that is being tested for COVID. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

7. Avoid sharing household items
You should not share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding or other items with other people in your home when you have used them (or after your child or the person you are caring for has used them). After using these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and hot water; dishwashers may be used to clean crockery and cutlery. Keep these utensils separate from other people in your house. If you are not able to wash your own utensils, the person washing them should be wearing a mask and gloves, wash it separately and store separately.
Laundry, bedding and towels should be placed in a plastic bag and washed once it is known that you did not develop the disease.

8. Monitor your symptoms (or the person you are caring for, as appropriate)
Seek prompt medical attention if you develop, for example, fever, sore throat, runny nose cough and if you have difficulty breathing, or if the person you are caring for exhibit these symptoms. If it’s not an emergency, you should call your designated medical contact point using the number that has been provided to you.
If it is an emergency and you need to call an ambulance, inform the call handler or operator that you may have been exposed to COVID-19(or that you are caring for someone that may have been exposed)

9. Do not have visitors in your home
Only those who live in your home should be allowed to stay. Do not invite or allow visitors to enter. If you think there is an essential need for someone to visit, then discuss it with your designated medical contact first. If it is urgent for you to speak to someone who is not a member of your household, do this over the phone.

10. Wastes
All wastes that has been in contact with the individual, including used tissues, and masks if used, should be put in a plastic rubbish bag and tied when full. The plastic bag should then be placed in a second plastic bin bag and tied.
Do not dispose of it or put it out for collection until you know that patient does not have novel coronavirus. Should the individual become ill and/or test positive, you will be instructed on what to do with the waste.

Source:
NLNG Mailbroadcast 3rd March, 2019.