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Guidelines for self-quarantine or self-isolation

Use of a cloth face-mask is recommended for all household members

From a practical point of view, self-quarantine and self-isolation have the same  requirements.

People who are required to self-quarantine or self-isolate, should be given the following advice. 

HYGIENE AT HOME 

  • Protect yourself and the people you live with by cleaning your hands frequently  throughout the day;  
  • Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds before drying your  hands thoroughly, preferably with a clean, single-use towel;  
  • Alternatively, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer applied to clean hands;  
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or cough or sneeze  into your elbow. Use a cloth mask;  
  • Use of a cloth face-mask is recommended for all household members;  
  • Throw used tissues in a lined trash can and immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, making sure you dry them thoroughly, preferably with a clean  single-use towel;  
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.  

SOCIAL RELATIONS 

  • As much as possible, limit your contact with people other than the people you are self isolating with;  
  • Avoid having visitors at home, but friends, family or delivery drivers can drop off food and other essential supplies. Maintain a distance of one to two metres during these deliveries;  
  • If in a home where the others who live with you aren’t self-isolating, one should minimise  close contact with them by avoiding situations where you have face-to-face contact closer than one metre. The other household residents do not need to self-isolate provided these  precautions are followed;  
  • Use your own toothbrushes, eating and drinking utensils (including cups and glasses in the  bathroom and bedroom), dishes, towels, washcloths or bed linen;  
  • Do not share food and drinks or prepare food for others;  
  • Wash your clothing and dishes separately to others in your home; 
  • You should not share a bed or a room with others during your 14-day isolation period.  This includes sleeping in communal areas;  
  • Minimise the time you spend in shared spaces such as bathrooms, kitchens and sitting  rooms as much as possible and keep shared spaces well ventilated;  
  • Clean surfaces like kitchen benches and sink tops after you use them and try to avoid  touching them after you have cleaned them;  
  • Make sure you use separate towels from other people in your house, both for drying  yourself after bathing or showering and for drying your hands;  
  • If you use a shared toilet and bathroom, it’s important that you clean them every time you  use them (for example, wiping surfaces you have come into contact with);  
  • You should use your own toilet paper, hand towels, toothpaste and other supplies during  your self-isolation;  
  • If you share a kitchen with others, avoid using it while others are present; 
  • Take your meals back to your room to eat;  
  • If you have one, use a dishwasher to clean and dry your used crockery and cutlery. If this is not possible, wash them using your usual washing up liquid and warm water and dry them  thoroughly, remembering to use a separate tea towel;   
  • Don’t invite or allow social visitors, such as friends and family, to enter your home. If you  want to speak to someone who is not a member of your household, use the phone or other means of contact.  

CHILDREN AND CHILDCARE 

  • Try to reduce your contact with your children as far as possible, but that may not be possible, particularly with young children;  
  • Try to explain what is happening in a way that is easy to understand. Tell them you are staying at home to protect other people. Try to avoid worrying them;  
  • If a child develops symptoms, you should contact their GP, the COVID-19 hotline or their  local health facility. They will also need to stay at home for 14 days from the onset of their  symptoms;  
  • If you have tested positive, and you are breastfeeding, take precautions to limit the  potential spread of COVID-19 to the baby by:  
  • Wearing a mask when breastfeeding;  
  • Washing your hands before touching the baby or bottles; 
  • Avoiding coughing or sneezing on the baby while feeding at the breast  ● considering asking someone who is well to feed your expressed breast milk to the baby;  
  • If you are feeding with formula or expressed milk, sterilise the equipment carefully before  each use. You should not share bottles or a breast pump with someone else. 

LAUNDRY 

  • Wash items according to manufacturer’s instructions;  
  • You can wash your dirty laundry with the rest of your household if you do the washing  yourself, but you should only fold and put away your own items;  
  • It may be easier for someone else to fold and put away clean shared laundry items (such  as towels and tea towels) and provide a supply for you; and  
  • If you do not have a washing machine, wait 72 hours after your 14-day isolation period  has ended before taking your laundry to a laundrette.  

LIVING WITH OLDER/VULNERABLE PERSONS 

  • Evidence from many countries suggests that older people and vulnerable people (those  who are immune-compromised or have pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular disease,  diabetes or hypertension) are more at risk for COVID-19 transmission, morbidity and  mortality. Particular care should be taken to reduce close contact with such persons. Avoid  visiting the elderly if you are in self-isolation at home.  

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING 

  • Emotional and mental health is important. It is normal to feel stressed or lonely when self isolating, during this time you can do the following: Reach out to your usual supports, like family and friends, and talk about how you feel;  
  • Stick to a routine such as having regular mealtimes, bedtimes and exercising;  
  • If you feel you are not coping, it is important to talk with a health professional (which  includes allied health practitioners or traditional health practitioners).

SOURCE; varies 

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shonaaylward

Shona Aylward is a vastly experienced journalist working as a senior reporter. Aside from her extensive community involvement and story writing, she is also involved in creative page layout, and the various media platforms. Shona began her career with Caxton at the Southlands Sun. Previous to this she worked in the marketing industry for surf magazines. Shona is a renown 'greenie' and champions environmental causes. She is also Mom to a number of dogs and cats, and the occasional uninvited snake. When she can find some spare time, it's usually to the beach that she heads.
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