3/25/20
It's a scenario all too many of us are facing -- or will soon face. You or a loved one has a mild fever, body aches, the start of a nagging, dry cough. Food doesn't taste good nor smell as it once did. Maybe you have shortness of breath or struggle to breath deeply. You've called your doctor, and you are suddenly face-to-face with the scary reality of Covid-19. What happens next depends on your specific circumstances. If you are having trouble breathing or are elderly and fragile, you may be hospitalized and tested for the virus. If you're not in immediate danger but potentially higher risk -- you have underlying health conditions, such as diabetes, hypertension or lung issues; you're over 60; or you are immune-compromised -- you may be told to closely monitor your symptoms but shelter at home. The rest of us with symptoms but no additional known risk factors will also certainly be told to stay home, rest and drink plenty of fluids, all while keeping a close eye on how we feel. "People who are mildly ill with Covid-19 are able to recover at home," the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. "Do not leave, except to get medical care." Be sure to get care if you feel worse or you think it is an emergency, the CDC adds, but call first. And don't use public transportation, ride-sharing or taxis to get there. Now what? Are you prepared to take care of yourself if you're alone? What can you do to protect other family members who have been exposed and will have to stay home with you?
Preparation is the key to a good plan. Before anyone in your family or community gets sick, the CDC suggests checking in with loved ones, relatives, neighbors and friends to exchange phone numbers and emails and to find out if anyone will have special needs if they get sick. Have a list of your own emergency numbers handy. It should include your health care provider, local public health department, local hospital and ambulance service. Hopefully, you've been following standard hygiene practices. These are behaviors we should be doing daily, automatically, to protect ourselves from germs, colds and flu: Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands; cough and sneeze into elbows or tissues that you immediately throw away, and regularly wash, wash, wash those hands with warm water and lots of soapy bubbles. When you can't use soap and water, use hand sanitizer that is at least 70% alcohol and rub thoroughly. The CDC says you should also be cleaning frequently touched surfaces daily with a regular household cleaner followed by a disinfectant. In addition to bathroom surfaces, tables and counter-tops, don't forget light switches, faucets and sinks, cabinet handles, doorknobs, phones and keyboards. If possible, have a designated bedroom and private bathroom ready to use. Stock the room with all relevant forms of entertainment: TV, computer, iPad, books, even games that you could play via FaceTime or Skype. A recent study that analyzed data coming from China found the incubation period for the virus can range from 1 to 14 days, with 95% of the patients experiencing symptoms within 12.5 days of contact.
