The second wave of coronavirus is being brutal on the Indians. Since the mid of April, there are no signs of COVID-19 cases slowing down in the country. The overwhelmed health care system is witnessing supply shortages for hospital beds, steroids, oxygen, and vaccines.
According to the World Health Organization, one out of three new COVID-19 cases globally is from India. The cases of coronavirus started rising in February where average 10, 000 infections were reported per day. The circumstances worsened in April where India set its new global records for daily COVID-19 cases. By May, 400,000 new cases were reported.
No wonder, with such a spike in the cases families have seen an unimaginable loss in their lives. In April, around 200,000 deaths were reported. Above all, India is facing a vaccine shortage. Many states have run out of vaccine supply which further puts human life under a great threat.
Every second Indian home has one or two family members as COVID positive. Under such critical times, one needs to adopt every necessary precautionary way to fight against coronavirus. However, if someone in the family is COVID positive then the other family members are at 50% risk of getting infected.
To help and look after the infected person while keeping other family members and yourself at minimal risk, here are some of the tips from the experts to follow.
- Get the COVID tests done soon – if someone in your family tests positive for coronavirus, instead of panicking, get a COVID-19 PCR test for everyone else soon. But if the test results come out as negative that doesn’t decline the early infection symptoms. However, the level of detection can be low but the drastic change in health can be seen during the 5th or 7th Therefore, the second COVID-19 PCR test should be done at this stage.
Any other person who came in contact with the infected person should be informed immediately.
- Proper ventilation – in a family where one person is COVID positive, there should be proper ventilation in the house. Try to keep the windows open as long as you can even if the temperature outside hot. This is so because indoors there are clear chances for the virus to persist in the air and can theoretically infect other people.
- Wash hands frequently and disinfects the home surfaces – maintaining proper hand hygiene is highly essential during such situations.
- Try to wash your hands with good quality soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds. And follow this step every time you are close to infected family member.
- Keep a pocket-friendly hand sanitizer along with you which has minimum of 60% alcohol in it.
- Don’t touch your eyes, nose, or mouth with bare hands.
Washing your hands can protect you from getting infected especially when you are around your infected family member. However, it also crucial for the infected person to keep their hands clean.
As per the experts, it is also suggested to disinfect the highly touched surfaces or any items. For instance, table, light switches, desk, doorknobs, toilets, etc. You can either use a disinfectant spray or a solution of soap and water to clean the surfaces.
- Limit personal contact – limiting personal contact for both the infected person and other family members is highly important.
- The COVID-19 positive person should isolate himself from the rest of the family members.
- If possible, the infected person should be given his/her personal bedroom and bathroom.
- Every person living in the home should follow the rule of maintaining 6 feet distance from the infected person.
As per the guidelines of the government, the infected person should be quarantined for at least 14days and possibly longer during severe symptoms.
- Maintain a balanced and nutritious diet – seek medical advice on whether to take essential supplements or not. People suffering from COVID-19 should maintain a healthy diet and shun weight gain. A certain change in your diet and lifestyle can help you win your battle against this virus.
People with underlying medical issues should take extra care as they can easily become a victim of ICU admissions, intubation, hospitalization, or death. The health issues which can put anyone at the risk of severe COVID-19 illness are:
- Heart conditions
- Serious obesity issues (BMI> 40kg/m2)
- Obesity (BMI of 30kg/m2 or higher)
- Diabetes mellitus
Following a healthy diet can help your metabolism to be strong which eases the recovery rate from COVID-19.
- Never forget to wear a mask – the person who is fighting with the virus should never be around other people without wearing a mask. Similarly, other family members need to maintain a distance and wear masks while meeting the infected person.
Try using the masks with a low threshold, especially for the infected person. Masks are no doubt beneficial to contain respiratory infections from the nose or mouth but according to the latest reports, masks can even infect the person.
There is no 100% protection guaranteed from COVID-19 by wearing a mask. However, by wearing it you can surely reduce the chances.
Surgical masks and cloth masks are the best to protect yourself and others from getting infected. Plus, you can even wear goggles while interacting with the infected person. This way the virus won’t enter into the mucus membranes of your eyes.
- Put your faith in trusted sources – you will get various suggestions and advice from your friends, relatives, social media, but it is imperative to follow the official sources supported by experts with COVID-19 information.
Social media and other unreliable platforms are spreading misinformation such as taking hot showers, massive vitamins, etc. to cure COVID-19. Such information is either unproven or discredited, whereas some can fatal for your health.
Therefore, put your faith in trusted sources.
How to prevent COVID from entering your home?
Mostly coronavirus is spread via droplets when an infected person talks, coughs, or sneezes. However, it is also possible to get infected by touching the contaminated surfaces and later touching your face. Above all, coronavirus can even enter your home via card boxes or delivery packages. The COVID-19 virus can enter your home without any warning.
Therefore, it is essential to take the necessary measures mentioned below to prevent COVID from entering your home:
- Maintain personal hygiene – try to adopt simple hygiene measures to protect yourself and your family from getting infected. Take an immediate shower after coming back home is the important of all.
- Avoid touching your face – the virus can easily enter your body via the eyes, nose, or mouth. So, avoid touching your face.
- Monitor your health – precautions are always better than cure. It is essential to be alert of the COVID-19 symptoms. Keep a check on your health and other family members. If any symptoms develop, seeking medical help.
- Clean your home – frequently cleaning the house and disinfecting highly touched surfaces is the better way to lower the risk of coronavirus. Buy good cleaning products with 70% alcohol in them, wear gloves while cleaning. Plus, ensure that there is proper ventilation in the house.
- Never miss on laundry – try to wash bed sheets, towels, and other clothes on daily basis. You can soap, detergent, or an alcohol-based hand rub to do laundry.
10 FAQs
- What should one do if he was in contact with the infected person recently?
The ultimate way to protect yourself is by getting self-quarantine for 14days. Keep a close check on the health and be aware of the symptoms.
- Is it safe for a pregnant woman to get vaccinated?
Yes, it is completely safe for a pregnant to go ahead with the vaccination. However, you can always get in conversation before getting the dose.
- How many doses are required of the COVID-19 vaccine?
It depends on the vaccine a person receives. Two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech with 3 weeks apart, two doses of Moderns with 28days apart, etc.
- Is it essential for the children to wear masks?
Children of age 2years and above should wear a mask to avoid any uncertainties of COVID-19.
- When is it necessary to seek emergency care during COVID-19?
Try to seek medical emergency care immediately when you face:
- Trouble breathing
- Pale, grey, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nails.
- Constant pain in the chest
- Unable to stay awake
- What is the meaning of disinfecting and cleaning?
Disinfecting with any household disinfectant gets rid of the germs on the surface. Whereas, cleaning the house normally won’t kill the COVID-19 infections.
- What are the long-term effects of coronavirus?
People who have recovered from COVID-19 can still experience symptoms like fatigue neurological and respiratory symptoms.
- Do people with disabilities need to worry about COVID-19?
This comes under an underlying medical condition. Therefore, people with disabilities need to take extra safety measures.
- Can I get vaccinated while I have COVID-19 symptoms?
No, it is essential for you to completely recover from COVID-19 before getting vaccinated.
- What one should eat during COVID-19?
Try to consume unsaturated fats, eat less salt and sugar, and include fresh green vegetables and unprocessed food in your diet. Also, keep yourself hydrated.
Conclusion
COVID-19 has brought unimaginable devastation for the people of India. The country is getting help from all over the world during such tough times. Everyone needs to be aware of precautions when one family member gets COVID positive.
Following the guide will help you taking care of the infected person and other family members. Moreover, one can easily prevent COVID from entering their home. The fight against COVID-19 shall only be won with knowledge and proper prevention.
