WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE UNDER HOME QUARANTINEWHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE UNDER HOME QUARANTINE

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE UNDER HOME QUARANTINE Para po sa mga Persons Under Quarantine (PUQs), katulad ko, ito po ang procedure for home quarantine based on DOH Circular No. 2020-0105, s. 2020. a. Room isolation and Contacts of Persons Undergoing Quarantine (“PUQs”) 1. Place the persons undergoing quarantine alone in a well-ventilated room, preferably with toilet and bathroom. If this is not possible, maintain a distance of at least 1 meter from the persons undergoing quarantine (e.g. sleep in a different bed). 2. Assign a person who is in good health as caretaker of the person under quarantine. 3. Visitors, family members, and even caregivers are not allowed in the room of the PUQ, if possible. 4. Confine activities of the PUQ in his/her room only. If this is not possible, ensure that shared spaces are well-ventilated. b. Use of Disposable Surgical Mask 1. The PUQ should wear a surgical mask fitted tightly to nose, mouth and chin when in the same room with another household member or when talking to other people. The use of masks is not required for person/s the PUQ is/are interacting with. 2. If alone, the PUQ is not required to wear a mask. 3. Masks should not be touched or handled during use. If the mask gets wet and dirty with secretions, it must be changed immediately and disposed properly. 4. Discard the used mask after a maximum of 8 hours. Masks are not reusable and should not be washed. After removal of mask, wash hands using water or soap, or rub hands with 70% alcohol or any hand disinfectant. c. Hand Hygiene Practice for ALL 1. All PUQs and household members should perform hand hygiene following contact with PUQs or if in contact with their immediate environment. 2. Perform hand hygiene by washing hands with soap and water. If hands are not visibly soiled, 70% alcohol or any alcohol based hand rub can be used. 3. When using soap and water, disposable paper towels to dry hands is desirable. If not available, use dedicated cloth towels and replace them when they become wet. 4. Hand hygiene should be performed before and after preparing food, before eating, after using the toilet and whenever hands look dirty. 5. Address safety concerns (e.g. accidental ingestion by children and fire hazards) on the use of alcohol based hand rub. d. Respiratory Hygiene and Standard Precaution for ALL 1. Respiratory hygiene/cough etiquette should be practiced at all times. Respiratory hygiene refers to covering the mouth and nose during coughing or sneezing using surgical masks, tissues, flexed elbow, sleeves of clothes, or inside neckline of shirts, followed by hand hygiene. 2. Avoid direct contact with body fluids, particularly oral or respiratory secretions, and feces. Use disposable gloves to provide oral or respiratory care and when handling feces, urine, and waste. Wash hands before putting on and after removing gloves. 3. Avoid other types of possible exposure to PUQs or contaminated items in their immediate environment e. Food handling of PUQs on Home Quarantine 1. The assigned caretaker of the PUQ shall serve their plates/meal trays only up the room door. 2. After eating, plates/meal trays should be picked up at the room at the room door by the caretaker using disposable gloves to avoid contamination. Perform hand hygiene afterwards. 3. Eating utensils and dishes should be cleaned with soap or detergent and water after use and may be re-used instead of being discarded. 4. Do not share eating utensils, dishes, and drinks with PUQs. f. Disposal of Used Gloves, Tissues, Papers, Masks 1. Immediately discard materials used to cover the mouth or nose into the trash or clean reusable items appropriately after use. 2. Gloves, tissues, masks, and other waste generated by PUQs should be placed in the container in the PUQs room before disposable with other household waste. g. Cleaning and Disinfection 1. PUQs are encouraged to clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces such as bedside tables, doorknobs, bed frames, and other bedroom furniture daily with regular household disinfectant containing a diluted bleach solution (1-part bleach to 99 parts water). 2. Clean and disinfect bathroom and toilet at least once daily with regular household disinfectant containing diluted bleach solution. 3. Use disposable gloves and protective clothing when cleaning or handling surfaces, clothing or linen soiled with body fluids. Perform hand hygiene before and after removing gloves. Reporting 1. PUQs who developed symptoms should be reported immediately to Regional Epidemiology and Surveillance Unite (RESU) or Local Surveillance Officer for transport to nearest health facility. 2. All household members of PUQs should be advised to seek immediate medical care when signs and symptoms develop. #COVID19 #homequarantine