Caring for family members who test positive or are suspected of coronavirus
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If you are a household member, partner or caregiver of a person who is symptomatic, has a confirmed case of COVID-19 or is awaiting test results, it is important to not only monitor your health but also take precautions to protect yourself and others.
If any person in a household has tested positive for COVID-19, all persons in the household are hereby ordered to stay home. Members of the household may not travel to work, school or any other community function until cleared by a medical professional. You can all schedule telehealth visits for clearance by a physician by clicking here.
When caring for someone who is suspected or confirmed to have COVID-19, you should take the following steps:
- Understand and follow all instructions given by healthcare providers.
- Help the person you are caring for with basic needs like getting groceries, prescriptions and personal needs.
- Monitor their symptoms and notify their physician if the symptoms worsen.
Isolation
- Continue isolating the person you’re caring for and stay in a separate room as much as possible.
- Do not allow visitors to your home.
- Care for any pets in the home.
- Make sure shared spaces have good airflow if possible, like an air conditioner or an open window.
- Make sure the person you’re caring for wears a facemask when around other people. If the patient is unable to wear a facemask, others should wear a mask when in the same room.
Sanitize
- Frequently wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
- Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer containing 60% to 95% alcohol.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Avoid sharing household items with the person you’re caring for (utensils, dishes and more). Wash all household items thoroughly after the patient uses them.
- Wear disposable gloves while handling household items and keep the items away from your body.
- Use a cleaning spray or wipe to clean high-touch surfaces after contact. This includes counters, tabletops, doorknobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets and bedside tables.
- Immediately remove and wash clothes or bedding that have blood, stool or body fluids on them. Use laundry detergents at the warmest temperature recommended on the clothing labels.
- Immediately clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer after removing your gloves.
When you have contact with a patient’s blood, stool, or body fluids (saliva, sputum, nasal mucus, vomit, urine)
- Wear a disposable facemask and gloves.
- Throw out disposable facemasks and gloves after using them. Do not reuse.
- Follow all sanitizing procedures above.
How to remove personal protective equipment
- First, remove and dispose of gloves.
- Then, immediately clean your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Next, remove and dispose of facemask, and immediately clean your hands again with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
Are you feeling under the weather? Do you have any additional questions about how to care for someone suspected of COVID-19 or who tested positive? Schedule an appointment by clicking here!