COVID-19 – Positive Test

Transcript

“A positive test for COVID-19 might feel overwhelming, but with the proper steps, COVID-19 can be easily managed and overcome while protecting yourself and others. So even if you haven’t tested positive already, it’s a good idea to prepare, make a plan. Think of it like getting ready for a storm. If you or a member of your household test positive for COVID-19, you should take precautions to protect you and your community. Stay at home orders and social distancing means you limit your interactions to essential needs. Even important tasks like grocery shopping can be done online to reduce the risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19. Physical distance means staying at least six feet away from people not in your household when you go to stores or exercise. And after you or a household member test positive for COVID-19, you need to self quarantine. You don’t leave your residence to shop.

You don’t use public transportation. You only go to a healthcare facility in the case of a medical emergency. These steps are important to stopping the virus from spreading. Quarantine works. Many studies have shown that quarantining during COVID-19 and other viral outbreaks significantly reduces the number of infections and deaths. If someone needs a support team, everyone in the household, including children and unrelated roommates, should follow the same isolation guidelines as the infected person. Always call ahead before going to your doctor’s office, urgent care, or an emergency room. Put on a mask ahead of time, if possible. And if you need to call 911 or your local emergency number, make sure to notify the operator that someone at home has COVID-19. If possible, put on a mask before emergency medical services arrive. Everyone in the household, both infected and uninfected, must be diligent about practicing good hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

Rub the fronts and the backs of your hands and the spaces in between your fingers the entire time. Then rinse with water. This should be done, especially when coming into contact with common services after the infected person has spent time with others. If soap and water aren’t available, clean your hands with hand sanitizer, covering all surfaces of your hands and rubbing them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Clean all high touch surfaces everyday, which includes countertops, door knobs, bathroom fixtures, toilets, phones, keyboards, tablets, bedside tables. Labels contain instructions for safe and effective use of cleaning products, including precautions you should take when using the product are very important. Many times you need good ventilation before use. The person with the virus needs to remain in the room as much as possible. If they use a shared bathroom, it needs to be disinfected after they use it every time. The sick person should avoid spending time with household pets, as there is some data that animals can catch and spread virus. When out of the room or others are around, the infected person should wear a face mask. The mask should also be worn in vehicles. If you’re infected, never share dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, or bedding with other people or pets in your home. After you have used these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and water. Isolation can usually end when at least seven days have passed since you got sick and all of your symptoms, including a fever, have been gone for at least three full days without taking any medications to reduce the fever. This means that you no longer have a fever, even when you don’t take any acetaminophen, ibuprofen or Naproxen. This includes combination cold flu medications that contain these ingredients. As an example, assume you or the infected household member got sick on a Sunday. You or the infected person might feel completely better by the following Sunday. All your symptoms are gone.”