Syed Mustafa Ahmad
In the fight against the novel corona virus disease (COVID 2019), the Union Health Ministry issued elaborate guidelines on how to enforce “ home quarantine” for a fortnight. It is a well judged step , given the present situation of rumours and misinformation or panic at the earliest. Home quarantine comes with its own set of restrictions. Here, I will try to make it clear how to do it but the need of the hour is to implement it fully.
What is home quarantine?
Quarantine, like isolation, separates people from others during the outbreak of a contagious disease like the COVID 2019. It is isolation that separates sick or ill people from who are not sick, it is quarantine that separates those who are exposed to a contagious disease and who are then observed to see if they too become sick or ill. Home quarantine means being quarantined at home.
How is home quarantine to be enforced or done?
Home quarantine means that a person is restricted or confined to a well ventilated single room, preferably with an attached / separate toilet, in his or her own home. If another family member needs to stay in the same room, the two must maintain a distance of at least meter between each other. Given the enhanced risks for some people, the person should refrain from elderly people, pregnant women, children and persons with co morbidities ( cardiovascular diseases), within the household. In the corona virus outbreak, children have so far been less affected than others_ in China only 2 % of the patients have been below age 20. However, according to the present information, the COVID 2019 virus is an essentially strange organism, the guidelines provided by the government , highlight the need for an infected to stay away from children as well. All religious and social gatherings should be avoided during the fourteen day period. The person should not share any items like dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, etc., with other people at home and should wear a mask at all times, as suggested by the top Chinese scientist. Masks used by patients / caregivers/ close contacts during home care or quarantine should be disinfected using ordinary bleach solution or sodium hypochlorite solution and then disposed of either by burning or deep burial as being suggested by the Directorate General Of Health Services.
Socialize the glad tidings and refrain from hoax.
Does home quarantine control the spread of disease?
Officials or persons associated with the detection and surveillance of COVID 19 say that home care has so far turned out to be a very effective and affordable means of infection control. An official told that the way of home quarantine is the best method at the present moment because it forces other family members or caretakers to take extra precaution not to mishandle the affected person. It is this realisation that helps a lot in reducing the spread of the disease. Moreover, after the completion of fourteen days, if the person comes into contact with the affected person, he or she has to go for quarantine again.
What precautions are necessary for family members? To minimise the number of people in a family who come in contact with a person with possible COVID 19 exposure, only one designated family member, who needs to wear a mask and gloves at all times, should be the caregiver. All physical contact should be totally avoided, including sharing of linen or quilt. Visitors are not to be allowed. In case the person being quarantined becomes symptomatic, all his/ her close contacts will be home quarantined for 14 days and followed up an additional 14 days or till the report of such case turns out negative on lab testing. A very important aspect of the process of home quarantine is disinfection and cleaning of all surfaces possibly contacted by the person with sodium hypochlorite solution. Toilet surfaces have to be cleaned with phenolic disinfectants or other household bleaching solutions. Clothes have to be washed separately. The last but not the least, inform the common people. They are gullible. They fall into a trap. Living in the country of superstitions and religious bigotry, we should be very careful. We have to remain extra vigilant both in the real world and in the virtual world. We must get experience of those very countries that have dealt with this situation. Politics should be kept aside for a moment. It should be started after this. This is the case of humanity. No binary of developed vs developing at all. All must come forward and do their bit. Health care should be our next priority. Health care in our largest democracy has become the soft target of politics. Find long-term solutions. Give enough space for those who are innovative. God forbid if this disease spreads fast, our already crumbled health care system will be more exposed. Lip service works for s moment. Practical solutions are needed. Avoid being fake at this moment. Why to sell fake equipment? Overall, we are at the receiving end. Mercy should be given to those who are at the mercy of different gods. Our economy is in doldrums. Care should be taken by all. Try to keep mental balance. It is difficult but possible. Socialize the glad tidings and refrain from hoax.
( The author is a student. Views are his own, [email protected])
