Caring for family members who test positive or are suspected of coronavirus

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!