According to different studies, you may or may not be infectious after recovery. A study from Lancet journal states that The range of the viral shedding period is 8-37 days, with an average of 20 days. This means that an infected person can shed the virus or infect anybody until 20 days of the onset of symptoms. It's always safe for you as well as others to take precautions even while you are at home.
Q- What are "10+3 Guidelines" for Home Isolation?
- Self-isolate for at least 10 days since your symptoms first appeared, and at least 3 days after recovery.
- Recovery is defined as being fever-free without using fever-reducing medicines (e.g., acetaminophen) and improvement in respiratory symptoms (e.g., cough, shortness of breath).
- Regardless of when you were discharged from the hospital, the 10-day window of home isolation starts when your symptoms first appear.
Q- What should members of your household need to know after you are discharged home from the hospital?
14-Day Self-Monitoring Period - If you live with others, those members of your household should not leave the home for 14 days. This 14-day period begins on the last day that they had close contact with a COVID-19 positive person.
Each person in the household should do the following during the 14-day self-monitoring period:
- Take their temperature at least once a day, preferably between 4 pm and 8 pm.
- Record their temperature and symptoms daily.
- If they should develop symptoms during the 14-Day Self-Monitoring Period, they should stay at home and begin the 10+3 Guidelines for Home Isolation. They can stop home isolation when they complete the 10+3 Guidelines for Home Isolation.
Q- Should anyone in the home get tested for COVID-19?
Testing for COVID-19 is not necessary for members of your household. If someone develops mild symptoms and are well enough to stay at home, testing for COVID-19 is not necessary
Q- What can you and your household members do to prevent the spread of COVID-19?
1. Wash your hands
- Wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds. Use soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer (greater than 60% alcohol).
- When using hand sanitizer, rub your hands together until they are fully dry. Do not wipe off excess hand sanitizer.
- Learn how to hand wash, click here.
- Use soap and water if your hands are visibly dirty.
2. Cover your coughs and sneezes
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue. If you do not have a tissue, sneeze into the crook of your elbow, not into your hand. Dispose of tissues into a disposable trash bag.
- Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
3. Throw away trash
- Use a separate lined trash can for the person showing symptoms.
- Use gloves to dispose of trash.
- Remove gloves after disposing of trash and wash hands.
- Clean high-touch surfaces
- Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched using your usual household cleaning products. Detergents and bleach will be effective at getting rid of the virus on surfaces. Use cleaning products according to label instructions.
- Clean any surfaces that may have blood, stool, or bodily fluids on them.
- Remember to clean surfaces such as tables, doorknobs, countertops, toilets, light switches, handles, remote controls, desks, phones, keyboards, tablets, handrails, faucets, and sinks.
- Wash your used items using liquid soap and warm water. Dry your items using a clean towel separate from other household members.
4. Do Laundry
5. Keep your distance from others
- Aim to keep 6 feet (3 steps) away from others.
- Limit the amount of time you spend in shared spaces.
- Sleep separately from others. Use a separate bathroom and towels from the rest of the household, if possible.
- Avoid using the kitchen while others are present. Eat your meals in a separate room, if possible. Avoid visitors in your home.
- Do not invite or allow visitors, such as friends and family, to enter your home. If you want to speak to someone, use the phone or social media.
- Staying at home for an extended time can be difficult, frustrating, and lonely. It is important to take care of your mind as well as your body and to get the support you need. Stay in touch with family and friends over the phone or through social media.
- Consider activities such as cooking, reading, online learning, and watching films. If you feel well enough, you can take part in light exercise inside your home.
- By staying home, you are protecting the lives of others.
Q- What about children living in the household?
So far, it appears that children with COVID-19 are less severely affected. It is still important to keep your child at home as outlined in the Home Isolation or Self-Monitoring Guidelines. Children should follow the same general recommendations for good hand hygiene.
Q- What about pets?
At present, there is limited evidence that companion animals or pets such as dogs and cats can be infected with COVID-19.
Click here to watch a video on " Home Isolation Guidelines for Corona patients"-
Refernce:
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
https://krishnapriya22013.wordpress.com/2018/06/02/disease-prevention-etiquettes/