The state health and family welfare department on Monday issued a “home isolation” advisory on the do’s and don’ts as part of prevention and spread of infection of novel coronavirus (COVID-19).
As per the standard set, people who have visited China or other coronavirus-affected countries as declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and the Union government, if they do not have symptoms of the flu and people who have been detected by doctors of having symptoms similar to coronavirus-like cold, cough and fever, have to maintain home isolation, advisory said.
The do’s for such patient are: They should remain in a separate room, which is clean, well-ventilated with an attached toilet-bathroom, and have to stay in isolation for 14 days.
In case of any flu-like symptoms or illness they should immediately intimate the district nodal officer or the chief medical and health officer of the district or the district surveillance officer.
People with symptoms of the flu should use handkerchiefs while sneezing and cough into their covered elbow or into a tissue paper, wash hands regularly and wash their clothes with soap or detergent.
The person should also consume more liquids.
The don’ts for such people are they should avoid public places, minimise use of common areas in their house, and even the stay away from their family members.
They should not touch their face or eyes and should not invite guests, spit in order to reduce the chance of spread of the infection. They should also keep away from the elderly, pregnant women and children, the advisory said.
The family members should keep a distance of one metre from the affected person and restrict movement inside and outside the house, it said.
Assistant health department officials have been directed to for collect , transport samples based on the protocol, and provide details of the affected person on a regular basis.
Pets should be kept away from the affected people, it said.
Separate directives have also been issued to the district collectors, district chief medical and health officers and other healthcare officials.