COVID-19: What to Do If Someone in Your Home Tests Positive
With a recent massive spike in Covid-19
cases worldwide, many of us have been facing the reality that the
pandemic had spread even closer to us, sometimes even in our very own
homes, unfortunately. When someone close to you tests positive for the
Novel Covoronavirus, it’s always a stressful experience, especially so
if you share your living space with them. Apart from the inevitable
worrying about a loved one’s health, a lot of technical questions come
up as well.
For example, should you now all be wearing
masks at home? Should you get tested for the virus as well? How often
should I clean and disinfect the house? It’s important to be prepared
and know exactly how to act ahead of time both to protect yourself and
make the entire experience a lot less stressful. Here’s what to do if
someone close to you tests positive for the virus.
1. When to get tested
If someone in your home tested positive for
Covid-19, your own chances of getting the virus and that of other
inhabitants of the home increase by as much as 50%. Therefore, the
safest course of action is to also get tested yourself and watch out for
any early symptoms of Covid-19, like loss of the sense of smell,
tiredness, headaches, and a fever.
“We know that the sensitivity of the tests increases dramatically at 5
to 7 days after last exposure, so you will want to obtain a second
COVID-19 PCR test during or after that window,” said Dr. Scott
Braunstein to Healthline. If getting tested isn’t possible, it’s best if
all the inhabitants of the home self-quarantine for 14 days.
2. Keep the windows open
We know that the Novel Coronavirus is an airborne disease, which means
that it can be inhaled through tiny droplets hovering in the air for
hours. Therefore, letting some fresh air into your home and improving
ventilation in your home is crucial.
One way to do so is by simply keeping the windows open as much as you
can. It is especially important to leave the windows open in the living
quarters that you share with the person who’s Covid-19 positive, such as
the kitchen and the bathroom.
3. Maintain a distance
Social distancing and limiting contact with the person who’s sick is the
best way to protect the inhabitants of a home from the Novel
Coronavirus. In fact, some studies have shown that a greater viral load -
which is the initial amount of virus that gets into a person’s system
from the environment - the greater the severity of a Covid-19 infection.
This means not staying in the same room with the sick person at all
times if possible. Ideally, they should be using a separate bedroom and
bathroom according to the CDC. If this isn’t achievable, just make sure
that the sick person is as far away from others. This should continue
ideally for 14 days, or when the sick person takes a Covid-19 test that
gets back negative.
Of course, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care for the sick person and
bring them food and medication, but it’s best to leave those things 6
feet away from the person and have them take it later. It’s also
important to ask if they experience any alarming symptoms that can point
to a severe infection, such as trouble breathing, chest pain,
confusion, and blue lips or face on a daily basis to make sure they get
medical help if needed.
4. Wash your hands
Washing your hands as often as you can is extremely important when
you’re around a person suffering from any infectious disease, be it
Covid-19, the flu, or even food poisoning. Wash your hands with soap for
at least 20 seconds, especially after tending to the person who’s ill.
We have a comprehensive handwashing guide you can consult for more
detailed instructions here: How to Wash Your Hands Correctly. Using hand
sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol in-between hand washing may also
help.
5. How often to clean and disinfect surfaces
We know that Covid-19 can survive on some
surfaces, especially metal, plastic, and other hard surfaces for hours.
Therefore, keeping high-touch surfaces around the home clean and
germ-free is a must. Here’s an approximate list of surfaces that you
should disinfect every day, especially if you’re sharing them with the
person who’s sick:
Light switches
Faucets
Sinks
Countertops
Desks and tables
Doorknobs
Toilets
Handles
Electronics
Remote controls
Thermostats.
6. Wear and replace face masks regularly
While face masks and face coverings cannot
offer full protection from the Novel Coronavirus, they are capable of
lowering your chances of getting the virus, as we’ve discussed in detail
in a previous article. According to the CDC, those who tested positive
for Covid-19 must wear a mask when they’re around others, this includes a
home environment. If you’re living with someone who tested positive for
the virus, you too should wear a mask.
“Masks help contain respiratory infections from the nose and mouth of
the infected person. But more recent data supports that masks protect
individuals from becoming infected as well,” Dr. David Hirschwerk, an
infectious disease, internal medicine physician at Northwell Health,
stated to Healthline. Any face covering is better than none whatsoever -
surgical masks and cloth faces masks are good, but even a scarf will do
if you have no other options.
7. Separate the laundry
Although the risk of contracting the virus
from porous materials like fabrics is lower than from hard surfaces,
it’s better to stay on the safe side a separate the sick person’s
laundry from your own. Have a laundry basket in the sick person’s room
and launder all their clothes, towels, bedding, and cloth face masks
separately.
Have the sick person put the laundry basket outside their door when it
fills up or take the laundry basket from their room on your own while
wearing a mask. Don’t touch or rub your eyes or face during the process
and make sure to wash your hands thoroughly after loading the laundry.
8. Communicate virtually
We've been taking advantage of the various
means of remote communication for months now, talking with our family
and friends through video calls and regular phone calls to avoid
traveling and spending too much time in public spaces. If someone in
your family got Covid-19, the same video chats, texting, and phone calls
will also be very helpful, as they allow you to stay in touch and keep
track of their wellbeing without exposing yourself to the Novel
Coronavirus.
Remember that communication and moral support is just as important as
physical health. Keeping in touch with the sick person and other friends
and family members will make it easier for you and everyone else
involved to go through this tough experience emotionally. Wishing you
and all your family and loved ones the best of health!