Treating CoVID-19 at home: Care tips for you and others
With all the restrictions and orders mentioned on staying at home, now is the time to minimize the potential of corona viruses exposure to others and spread of COVID-19. One way to accomplish this is to manage any new viral symptoms while you are at home.
Most people who have suspected or known symptoms of COVID-19 can do some things to control their symptoms at home – like other viral illnesses like Flu – to minimize the spread of the coronavirus. But what does managing symptoms at home mean?
Here are 10 things you should do to speed your recovery and prevent the illness from spreading to others you live with:
1. Stay home.
Do not go to school or work, and do not shop. Designate one member in the household to be the shopper to minimize multiple people in your household from having to go out in public. If you must venture away from home, do not use public transportation or ride-sharing vehicles.
2. Monitor your symptoms.
Track your temperature, and note when new symptoms appear so you accurately report this information to your health care provider.
3. Rest and drink plenty of fluids.
Your body is fighting with infection. So it needs more rest. Continuous hydration also reduces the dryness of the airways and also allows mucus to be cleared more easily out of your body. In addition, drinking water and fluids improves kidney function and removes toxins from the body.
4. Call first.
If you have a medical appointment, call before leaving for your appointment to let your health care provider know you have or may have COVID-19. You will receive additional instructions at that time.
5. Call the emergency medical center.
If you notice any signs of illness, call your doctor. If a doctor is not available, call the Corona Emergency Medical Center at 4030. In case of emergency, call 115.
6. Sneeze or cough into your elbow rather than into your hands.
Cough or sneeze on a paper towel. Use this napkin only once. After use, put the napkin in a bin. If you do not have a tissue next to your hand, face to the inside of your elbow (not your hand!) when you sneeze or cough. This will prevent the virus from spreading to the place.
7. Wash your hands often.
Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap. Note that the space between the fingers and the fingertips should also be thoroughly washed. The best way to do this is to wash your hands for half a minute using proper hand-wash liquid and then rinse them with running water. You can also use an alcohol hand sanitizer.
8. Stay away from other people in your home.
Remain in one room and use a separate bathroom, if available. If you need to be around other people, wear a face mask.
9. Avoid sharing personal items.
Kitchen utensils and toiletries should not be shared with other family members or roommates. Utensils and dishes should be washed at regular intervals and thoroughly. The same goes for clothes. These include towels and bedding that can contaminate other people.
10. Clean household surfaces.
Use standard household cleaning products according to the instructions to clean the kitchen counter, room door handles, light switches and other surfaces. If you use a single handkerchief for different parts to be washed, try to wash each part of the handkerchief thoroughly with warm water and soap after cleaning.
source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html