Self-Quarantine and Testing

Key Points

1. Avoid crowds
2. Self-quarantine if in high risk
3. Don't be careless or cavalier 
4. Diagnostic tests not always available

It is important to be circumspect in your daily activities during this time because there continue to be unknowns about how COVID-19 is spread.  Common-sense actions, such as avoiding crowds and closed spaces (such as public transportation) is advised.  

Australia and other nations are postponing or cancelling religious and sporting events where many people gather.  The danger comes when one person who is unaware they are infectious (can spread the disease) could unknowingly begin a chain of infection for those they come in contact with during these events.

High-Risk Individuals

Those, especially at high-risk, should self-quarantine where possible.  They include: 

• The elderly
• Those with chronic respiratory disease (COPD, emphysema, asthma)
• Individuals with diabetes
• Anyone with suppressed immunity (such as from a transplant or undergoing cancer treatment).  

Keep in mind, those who are infected could be infecting others 14 (or more) days before showing symptoms themselves.  Because the symptoms initially seem like the flu, someone infected with COVID-19 virus could be tempted to just go about their daily routines.  

NOTE:  There are controversy and no hard data yet to know if, after someone is diagnosed and recovers or is proven to be free of the virus, if they can be re-infected.  

Diagnostic Tests

Additional challenges come from there being no standard diagnostic test, yet.  There are 'test kits' but: 

• Many countries do not have any of them, 
• There are not enough of them
• Some have already proven to be faulty
• Facilities that need them may not have them when a patient presents themselves

Finally, the test kits take time and have not proven to be as accurate as a CT scan.  However, CT scans are not available everywhere a patient may present with symptoms, especially in undeveloped countries, they are very expensive, time-consuming.  This is another area where solid research and statistics will help.

How to Help Protect Yourself and Others

Please take practical precautions.

There are still many unknowns about this new disease, that has been designated a pandemic (meaning world-wide consequences).  However, there are some things you can do to try to protect yourself and others around you.  They need to be followed consistently during this time:

1.      Avoid crowded places and public transportation – so self-quarantine when possible.

2.      Avoid touching surfaces and shaking hands.  You may wish to wear gloves when you know you will be out and about.  At this time, in Australia, non-latex gloves are available in boxes of 100 pairs and reasonably priced.  They need to be taken off and disposed properly.  (More on the use of gloves in a later post.)

3.      Wash your hands thoroughly with soap, scrubbing vigorously if you’ve been out in the public or exposed to someone suspected of having the virus.

4.      It is coincidentally flu season, so many may feel ill and more than usual may want to go to the hospital or doctors.  Try to avoid this.  If you feel you need help, call a health provider (doctor, clinic, hospital emergency room) rather than showing up and having to wait with other unwell people who may be infected and not know it.  Self-quarantine may be the best choice.  (In Australia the support of phone-based and visiting doctors is a great benefit.)

5.      Because this is a virus rather than a bacterium, the ‘virus germ’ is much smaller than a bacterium.  Additionally, because the COVID-19 virus is well protected by a barrier, unlike bacterium, it does not die easily when inadvertently deposited on a surface.

6.      Hand sanitisers (that rely on alcohol) have not been found to be effective, although they do give a sense of doing something and may be most effective in reminding you to keep your hands clean and away from your face.

7.      Face masks may be helpful, but they must be of the proper type (N-95 Mask – more in another segment of the blog on masks and proper wearing of them).  They must be worn correctly (again the virus is very small) and will slip through little cracks and porous materials.

8.      Glasses (or goggles) may also be helpful should you be exposed to someone who coughs or sneezes nearby as these droplets are small and travel through the air and may land on your face and eyes.

For Australians, this resource may be of interest:  An overview as of the 8th February by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pR0lgj0N2DI

HINT:  It may be good to buy a few masks now while they are available and not priced for the market value (meaning when there is a great need someone will sell the masks but at a hugely inflated price).  It may be good to also have some other basic supplies on hand, as you may find yourself quarantined.