Coronavirus, officially named as Covid-19 by WHO, is a disease caused by a new virus circulating in animals which has the capability of transmitting between animals and humans. The virus causes a respiratory illness with symptoms such as cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. Doctors also reported that Covid-19 symptoms can appear late, which are often referred to as asymptomatic cases. 

The spread of coronavirus can move relatively quickly from person-to-person through direct contact. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it, then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. Given how it easily spreads, someone who is exposed and/or has the symptoms of Covid-19 are encouraged to isolate themselves for up to 14 days and seek medical advice when the symptoms are getting worse. Self-isolation should be strictly conducted, especially if you are living with family or other relatives. 

Self-isolation 

According to the CDC, not all patients with Covid-19 will require medical support care. However, seeking medical advice is encouraged. Clinical management for hospitalised patients with Covid-19 is focused on supportive care and complications, including advanced organ support for respiratory failure, septic shock, and multi-organ failure. 

In addition, patients whose clinical presentation warrants in-patient clinical management for supportive medical care should be admitted to the hospital under appropriate isolation precautions. This decision will depend not only on the clinical presentation, but also on the patient’s ability to engage in monitoring, the ability for safe isolation at home, and the risk of transmission in the patient’s home environment. 

See also: Will You Lose Your Job Due to COVID-19?

What you need to do 

If you are someone who develops symptoms including high temperature, cough, and breathing difficulties, contact the health care provider immediately. The healthcare provider will instruct whether you need care at home or care at the hospital. Commonly, a healthcare provider will instruct a strict self-isolation at home with the below considerations: 

• You are stable enough to receive care at home 
• There are appropriate caregivers in your home 
• There are a separate bedroom and room where you can recover without sharing immediate space with others 
• There are resources to food and other necessities 
• You and the caregivers have access to appropriate, recommended personal protective equipment
• There should be no household members who might be at increased risk complications

After calling the healthcare provider, tell your employer as immediately as possible that you develop Covid-19 symptoms or might expose to the virus due to care for someone who develops the symptoms. Generally, you will be encouraged to take Sick Pay and no need to provide a sick note if you are off work due to coronavirus. Instead, your employer could affirm your sickness by calling emergency call services. 

The Dos for when you need to self-isolate yourself 

1. Do stay home for 14 days

• Work from home if required by your employers, otherwise, you might get compensation or ask to use sick pay leave. 
• Use food delivery service or online shopping when you live alone. 
• If you live with your family, make sure to use separate utensils and stay in your room. 
• Update your emergency call service or provider 

2. Do protect others

• Keep your hygiene 
• Cough into your sleeve 
• Keep 2 metres away from others (practice social distancing even with your family members) 

3. Do monitor your symptoms

• If your cough or fever worsen, call your health service and report 
• If you are having trouble breathing emergency health service like 911 
• If you are directed to an assessment centre of the Emergency Department, wear a surgical/procedure mask 
• If travelling by ambulance, notify the dispatcher that you might have Covid-19 

4. Do clean all high-touch surfaces

• During self-isolation, make sure you clean and disinfect everything that is touched frequently using a store-bought disinfectant. If not available, use a diluted bleach solution, one part bleach to 50 parts water (e.g. mix 10ml bleach with 500ml water), and allow the surface to remain wet for 1 minute. This could save your caregivers and/or family. 

5. Do keep contact with others and be creative with your boredom

• Use technology, such as live streaming or video calls to keep in touch with other people and/or kill your boredom. 
• Open your window and get fresh air but make sure you do not cough or sneeze outside.
• Home exercise yourself.  

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