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Check your symptomsWhat Self-Isolation Means to You.
March 12, 2020
These days, along with Covid-19 transmission and prevention, self-isolation is a term that we all learn to live with. Several months away from the pandemic, it’s important that you are doing so properly but in a way that does not affect your physical and mental health. Here, we offer suggestions for ways you can do so.
On this page, we talked about the practical implications for Covid-19; especially for people living in areas recording cases of a new infection.
Here, we shed some light on a key factor in efforts to contain the spread of Covid-19; that is self-isolation.
The term means keeping yourself away from the general public (usually in your own private residence) for a set period of time.
At present, we are still studying the SARS-CoV-2 virus, responsible for Covid-19 infection.
Some very recent studies estimate the incubation period for Covid-19 to be about 5.1 -5.8 days.
Incubation period means the period of time from when a person is infected (the virus enters the system) to when they begin to display symptoms of ill health.
Presently, it is thought that those who develop symptoms will do so within about 11.5 days of infection.
In the UK, the recommended self-isolation period for Covid-19 in persons WITHOUT symptoms who have been exposed to a confirmed individual/contact is 14 days.
However, when a person has developed mild symptoms, it is thought that they will no longer be likely to transmit the virus 7 days after the onset of the symptoms.
The recommended self-isolation period for this group of people is thus 7 days.
If you do carry on having symptoms after 7 days, please call (not visit) your doctor.
“Self-isolation is about protecting others and slowing down the spread of COVID-19.”
Public Health England
There are quite a significant number of people who require self-isolating.
People can decide to self-isolate based on the advice provided by their local health departments or as directed specifically by their health provider.
These are the practical meanings of self-isolating:
Staying isolated can be quite difficult, especially if you are usually quite active.
Some people can work from home, but if not, we advise you to have lots of activities to occupy yourself – such as books, games, online or audio versions of books/games.
Don’t forget you can be in touch with friends and family on the phone, skype or other means so use them when possible till the end of your isolation.
If you need any answers about issues around self-isolation, ask here.
More Reading:
References
Editing By AskAwayHealth
Disclaimer
All AskAwayHealth articles are written by practising Medical Practitioners on a wide range of health care conditions to provide evidence-based guidance and to help promote quality health care.
The advice in our material is not meant to replace the management of your specific condition by a qualified health care practitioner.
To discuss your condition, please contact a health practitioner or reach us directly through info@askawayhealth.org
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