You don’t feel sick or have symptoms, but maybe you work in the same office as someone who is a confirmed COVID-19 case, attended a party or large gathering where someone was later confirmed to be positive for COVID-19 or traveled in an airplane seated next to someone who was coughing. Understandably, you’re concerned.

An epidemic is a good time to be on high alert, but self-quarantining is only necessary if you’re reasonably suspect that you’re infected with the virus. Public health officials can help you decide what you should do.

Since it can be disruptive to your personal and professional life, the decision to self-quarantine isn’t one to make without knowing the facts. Here’s what you need to know about who should self-quarantine and how to do it right.

Who should self-quarantine

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends self-quarantining if you have a high or medium risk of exposure to the new coronavirus.

You’re at high risk of exposure to COVID-19 if you:

• Live with, are intimate with or care for someone who has symptomatic COVID-19 and you haven’t followed the recommended precautionary steps to prevent transmission of the virus

You’re at medium risk of exposure to the new coronavirus if you:

• Have traveled from a country with widespread or ongoing community spread
• Travel on a cruise ship
• Have come into close contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19 and is symptomatic (close contact means two seats in either direction on an airplane)
• Live with, are intimate with or care for someone who has symptomatic COVID-19 and you have consistently followed the recommended precautionary steps to prevent transmission of the virus

If you’re healthy, don’t have any symptoms and don’t fall into one of the risk categories above, you don’t need to self-quarantine — but you should continue to practice social distancing and monitor yourself for signs and symptoms, like fever and cough.

How to self-quarantine

Based on what’s currently known about how long symptoms last, the recommended length of quarantine is 14 days. The goal is to prevent potentially spreading the virus by separating yourself from other people long enough to determine whether or not you’re infected and showing symptoms.

The CDC recommends taking the following steps to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

Don’t leave your house unless absolutely necessary

You’ll need to restrict your activities outside of your home, including going to school, work, public areas or using public transportation. Only leave the house if you need to see your doctor and you have called ahead to discuss and plan your appointment.

Separate yourself from the people and pets you share your home with

If possible, stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom. While there are no reports of transmission of the new coronavirus to pets, it’s recommended that you limit contact with animals until more is known about the virus.

Wash your hands often

Practicing proper hand hygiene can help prevent the spread of the virus. Wash your hands after blowing your nose, sneezing or coughing. In addition, avoid touching your face.

Don’t share your stuff

Avoid sharing the following items with people or animals in your home:

• Bedding
• Dishes, drinking glasses and utensils
• Towels, including hand towels in the kitchen and bathroom

Disinfect commonly touched surfaces every day

Early evidence shows that the new coronavirus can live on surfaces — for hours or even days in some cases.

At least once per day, be sure to clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces around your home, including:

• Bathroom fixtures
• Counters
• Doorknobs
• Keyboards
• Phones

Monitor your symptoms

Twice a day, take your temperature to check for a fever. Also, take note if you’re beginning to cough or experiencing shortness of breath.

You may or may not experience COVID-19 symptoms (coughing, fever, and shortness of breath) during your quarantine. If you do begin experiencing symptoms:

• Wear a mask when you’re around people or using common spaces in your home
• Cover your coughs and sneezes and immediately wash your hands afterward
• Contact your health care provider or use telemedicine to seek guidance from home

Use telemedicine or call ahead before seeing your doctor

If you begin experiencing symptoms and/or need medical advice from a health care provider, consider trying telemedicine first. If you need to go to your doctor’s office, let your care team know ahead of time that you may have COVID-19. This will help the team take the precautionary steps needed to protect other people from being exposed to the virus.

By carefully following these tips, along with guidance from the CDC and public health officials, you can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and protect your friends and loved ones, as well as those most at risk of severe infection.

Source:

1. World Health Organization
2. CDC ( Centers for Disease Control and Prevention )

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How is the virus transmitted?

• Novel Coronavirus strains are spread from person to person through contaminated droplets from a person who is sick with the illness (through coughing or sneezing) or contaminated hands.
• The virus can spread through touching an infected surface.
• The incubation period extends from 1 to 14 days (that means the amount of time from being exposed to the virus to showing symptoms)

 The symptoms are: 

• Fever
• Shortness of breath
• Cough
• Headache
• Sore throat

Note: Not everyone with a cold or upper respiratory symptom needs to get tested for COVID-19. Only a person with symptoms and travel history can do the test.

Is there any treatment for COVID-19? 

The treatment of COVID-19 depends on enhancing the immunity level of patients, treating the symptoms and easing complications, as there is no specific treatment for the virus to date.

Is there a vaccine against the Novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?

Currently, there is no available vaccine that protects against novel coronavirus.

When should I wash my hands?

• After handling animals or animal waste
• When hands are dirty
• After toilet use
• After coughing or sneezing
• When caring for the sick
• Before, during and after you prepare food
• Before and after eating

 How to greet people while having respiratory symptoms such as a cough and a cold?

• Avoid shaking hands and just wave. 
• Avoid nose-to-nose greeting.
• Avoid hugging or kissing others.

Can facemasks protect me from COVID-19?

Facemasks can’t protect you from the disease, in fact, it can cause the user to constantly touch their face to adjust their mask, which increases the risk of transmission if your hand is infected.

It should only be used under two conditions:

• If you are suffering from respiratory symptoms such as coughing and sneezing
• If you are taking care of someone suffering from respiratory symptoms

Source:

World Health Organization

Dubai Health Authority: dha.gov.ae

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From the evidence so far, the COVID-19 virus can be transmitted in ALL AREAS, including areas with hot and humid weather.

Regardless of climate, adopt protective measures if you live in, or travel to an area reporting COVID-19. The best way to protect yourself against COVID-19 is by frequently cleaning your hands. By doing this you eliminate viruses that may be on your hands and avoid infection that could occur by then touching your eyes, mouth, and nose.

Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are younger people also susceptible?

People of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus. 

WHO advises people of all ages to take steps to protect themselves from the virus, for example by following good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene.

Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the new coronavirus?

No, antibiotics do not work against viruses, only bacteria.

The new coronavirus (2019-nCoV) is a virus and, therefore, antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment.

However, if you are hospitalized for the 2019-nCoV, you may receive antibiotics because bacterial co-infection is possible.

Source: World Health Organization.

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Source: World Health Organization

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At times like these, it can be easy to fall into unhealthy patterns of behavior which in turn can make you feel worse. There are simple things you can do that may help, to stay mentally and physically active during this time such as:

• Look for ideas of exercises you can do at home like walking, dancing, and yoga, cycling and swimming.
• spend time doing things you enjoy – this might include reading, cooking, other indoor hobbies or listening to the radio or watching TV programs
• try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, drink enough water and try to avoid smoking, alcohol, and drugs
• Keep your windows open to let in the fresh air, get some natural sunlight if you can, or get outside into the garden.
• Stay connected with your family and friends. Try to be in touch with those around you over the phone, by post, or online. Let people know how you would like to stay in touch and build that into your routine. This is also important in looking after your mental wellbeing and you may find it helpful to talk to them about how you are feeling.
• Talk to your physician or counselor 

Remember it is OK to share your concerns with others you trust and in doing so you may end up providing support to them too.

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• Before putting on a mask, clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• Cover mouth and nose with mask and make sure there are no gaps between your face and the mask.
• Avoid touching the mask while using it; if you do, clean your hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.
• Replace the mask with a new one as soon as it is damp and do not re-use single-use masks.
• To remove the mask: remove it from behind (do not touch the front of the mask); discard immediately in a closed bin; clean hands with alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water.

Source: World Health Organization.

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They are to:

1. Avoid contact with someone who is displaying symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19). These symptoms include high temperature and/or new and continuous cough
2. Avoid non-essential use of public transport when possible
3. Work from home, where possible.
4. Avoid large and small gatherings in public spaces, pubs, restaurants, leisure centers, and similar venues as infections spread easily in closed spaces where people gather together.
5. Avoid gatherings with friends and family. Keep in touch using remote technology such as phones, internet.
6. Use telephone or online services to contact your GP or other essential services.

Everyone should be trying to follow these measures as much as is practicable.

It is strongly advised to follow the above measures as much possible and to significantly limit face-to-face interaction with friends and family if possible, particularly if you:

• Are over 70
• Have an underlying health condition
• Are pregnant

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