Hospitals may refer COVID patients for home care if their facilities are overloading, or they judge their symptoms less severe. It’s therefore important to know more about caring for somebody sick with COVID at home. They may appear relatively healthy, but they could still infect another family member for a while longer. We share latest available advice from Centers for Disease Control here.
The Primary Warning Signs Things Are Serious
Caring for somebody sick with COVID at home is a deep topic we can only touch upon here. Hence, we provide a link to the full CDC information sheet at the end of this post. And we encourage you to bookmark that link if you believe you might need to reference it in future. The most important thing is to know is when to seek medical attention.
Your primary warning signs your patient is deteriorating are difficulty breathing, and persistent pain and pressure on the chest. There may also be signs of fresh confusion, bluish lips or face, and / or difficulty waking, or staying awake. Call 911 or your local emergency facility for advice if these concerns arise.
Routine Aspects of Caring for Somebody Sick with COVID
Do your best to isolate the sick person from the rest of the household. Ideally, they need their own bedroom and bathroom. You cannot risk another family member or yourself falling ill. Apply the principles of masking, sanitizing, and distancing rigorously at all times.
If you must share space with the patient, then make sure there is an abundant supply of fresh air. You want to reduce the airborne virus saturation, or perhaps even remove it completely. Ask all visitors to stay away, especially highly vulnerable ones.
Monitor your own health, and that of your family throughout the time you are caring for an infected person. Fever, cough, and shortness of breath are warning signs, as are loss of smell and taste. Follow the above advice if this happens. You will all need to quarantine for 14 days at the end of the period, to ensure you successfully broke the infection chain.
Related
Home Air Cleaners Help Control COVID-19
Caring for Family at Home with Covid-19
Preview Image: Drink a Lot of Fluids and Rest
