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a sars doc explains how to self-isolate
a clinical ethicist on why self-isolation at home is important for slowing both the spread of infection and mental health effects.
mar 4 2020
3 minute read
self-isolation means exactly that. stock/ getty images
as the number of covid-19 cases continues to climb, more patients are instructed to self-isolate at home when they are not sick enough to require hospital care.
even if symptoms are mild, you can spread the disease to other people. because self-isolation has an ‘element of volunteerism,’ a large part of its effectiveness depends on the goodwill of the person infected, and their ability to recognize quarantine is necessary for the benefit of society, says dr. kerry bowman, a clinical ethicist at mount sinai hospital in toronto.
bowman, who had to self-isolate during the 2003 sars outbreak, says self-isolation helps get people completely out of circulation without increasing risk to people in hospitals. this can also help prevent the most vulnerable, such as the elderly, from getting sick while also providing greater personal autonomy and freedom than a hospital quarantine would.
“if a person has a bedroom they can just slip into for two weeks and they’re well-stocked for food and supplies, it’s much easier,” says bowman. “but if they’re in a living with roommates or in a home with multiple generations, it gets trickier.”
isolation means exactly that. separate yourself from others
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this means avoiding direct contact with healthy family members. for example, if you have recently travelled home from a country with high risk of infection but the rest of your family had not, you would need to be isolated from everyone. this means physically being in a separate room with the door closed. keep a window open to keep the room well-ventilated and make sure that if you’re getting food and medicine, have a family member leave it at the door.
while this may sound ideal, the logistics can be challenging depending on your home circumstances.
“[during the sars outbreak in april] i had colleagues who were sleeping in the unfinished basements in their own home to avoid their spouses and children,” says bowman. “i know someone else who was literally in a tent in their backyard because they didn’t want to risk anything.”
wear a mask if you’re in the same room with others
avoid being in the same room with others, but if you have to be in the same room with others, make sure you’re wearing a face mask. also wear a mask when a healthcare provider is checking in. this may also be necessary if the physical layout of your home is open-concept, or a bachelor apartment, for example.
don’t share household items
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make sure your dishes, cups, utensils, bedding, and clothing are all cleaned after being used. wash them thoroughly afterwards with soap and water.
if possible, use a separate washroom but if everyone in your home shares one washroom, make sure you’re the last to go after everyone else and don’t share towels and toiletries.
wash your hands
this isn’t new advice — you should have been doing this all along. in case you need a refresher on expert hand-washing, we have it for you here . also, contrary to popular belief, alcohol-based hand sanitizers do, in fact, kill pathogens and influenza viruses. it hasn’t been tested on covid-19 viruses yet, but hand sanitizers have been shown to work against influenza viruses and related coronaviruses.
“there’s a huge advantage to self-isolation because you have the element of psychological control and well-being within the safety of your own home. you’re in control of your environment and not directly answering to other people,” says bowman. “if you asked most people if they wanted to be quarantined [in a hospital] or if they wanted to be in self-isolation at home, the vast majority of people would say ‘right in my own home.'”
diana duong is a writer and editor at healthing. follow her on twitter @dianaduo.
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dduong@postmedia.com
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