People having mild or moderate disease, if they are under the age of 60, do not smoke, are not obese, and do not have other diseases such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease, cancer, chronic kidney disease, immunosuppression. Or people who have tested positive but are not showing symptoms can be given home care under the guidance and instructions of a health care provider.
People with COVID-19 who are cared for at home should stay in isolation until they are no longer able to transmit the virus to others, so until then care should be given by a healthy family member.
For symptomatic persons:
Minimum of 10 days after the first day they developed symptoms, plus at least 3 additional days without symptoms (including without fever and respiratory symptoms)
For asymptomatic persons:
10 days after testing positive
Health workers need to establish a means of communicating with the caregivers of individuals with COVID-19 for the duration of the isolation period until the ill patient's recovery. For the provision of clear, consistent, simple information about COVID-19, including how it spreads and how to prevent transmission in the home. As it is a key part of implementing this guidance on COVID-19 patient home care. Information alone is not enough to ensure good infection control practices and adherence to recommended measures and behavior below in the home to prevent disease transmission.
COVID-19 patient home care guidelines
Patient
Should stay in a separate room and minimize shared space. If this is not possible, keep at least a 1-meter distance from them.
Good ventilation in the room of the ill person and shared spaces.
The ill person should have dedicated dishes, cups, eating utensils, towels, and bed linens. They should be washed with soap and water, and not shared.
Should wear a mask when they are around other people at home and out (Masks should not be placed on young children under age 2, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is not able to remove the covering without help)
Drinks a lot of fluids and rests.
Look for the following emergency warning signs for COVID-19. If someone is showing any of these signs, seek emergency medical care immediately.
Trouble breathing
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
New confusion
Inability to wake or stay awake
Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone
Caregiver and family
Limit the number of caregivers to one person, if possible, keep a person who is in good health and has no underlying chronic conditions.
Help the sick person with basic daily needs like grocery shopping, filling prescriptions, and following their doctor’s instructions for care and medicine.
Caregivers and household members should wear a medical mask while in the same room with an ill person, not touch their mask or face during use, discard the mask after leaving the room, and wash their hands afterward.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
Frequently touched surfaces by the ill person should be cleaned and disinfected at least daily.
Everyone in the household should wash their hands with soap and water regularly,
Especially:
After coughing or sneezing
Before during and after you prepare food
Before eating
After using the toilet
Before and after caring for the ill person
When hands are visibly dirty
A cough or sneeze should be covered with a flexed elbow or a disposable tissue that is discarded immediately after use.
The caregiver should Track their own health
Visitors should not be allowed in the home.
The waste from the ill person should be packed in strong closed bags before disposal.
Caregivers should continue to stay home for 14 days after their last close contact with the sick person even after care is complete.
References
https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/home-care-for-patients-with-suspected-novel-coronavirus-(ncov)-infection-presenting-with-mild-symptoms-and-management-of-contacts
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/care-for-someone.html
https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/coronavirus-disease-covid-19-home-care-for-families-and-caregivers
Dinusha Epa Senavirathna
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