Patient information sheet for self-isolation at homeV5.1. 03.04.2020

CoronavirusCOVID-19

The information in this leaflet is for people who:

• areself-isolatingathomebecausetheyhavesymptomsofCoronavirus(COVID-19)

• arewaitingtobetestedforCoronavirus

• havebeentestedandarepositiveforCoronavirus

• havebeentestedandarenegativeforCoronavirus

What is self-isolation? WearenottestingeveryonewithsymptomsofCoronavirusbutthisdoesnotmeanthatyoudonothaveCoronavirus.EvenifyouhavemildsymptomsyoucanstillspreadCoronavirustoothers.We are asking everyone with symptoms of Coronavirus to self-isolate for 14 days from when they first get symptoms.

Self-isolationmeansyoustayathomeandavoidcontactwithotherpeople,includingthoseinyourhousehold.Theadviceonself-isolationbelowwillhelpcontrolthespreadofCoronavirus.

What kind of symptoms could I expect to feel with Coronavirus?

NoteveryonewhohasCoronaviruswillhavethesamesymptoms.Fourinfivepeoplewhoget itwillhavemildsymptoms.Theywillrecoverontheirownathomewithrestandcare.

Symptoms of Coronavirus Very common symptoms arefever,fatigue,anykindofcoughormusclepain.

Less common symptoms aresorethroat,mildshortnessofbreath,runnyorblockednose, orheadache.

Occasional symptoms arediarrhoea,nauseaorvomiting.

Watch out for signs that you are getting worse:

• Ifyoustarttofeelveryunwell,especiallyifyourbreathingchangesorbecomesdifficult, telephoneyourdoctorimmediately.

• Ifyouareveryshortofbreathandcannotreachsomeone,calltheemergencyservices on112or999.

1VisitHSE.ieforupdatedfactualinformationandadvice,orcall1850 24 1850

Patient information sheet for self-isolation at homeCoronavirusCOVID-19

Keep yourself safe and well while self-isolating at home

• Itisveryeasytobecomeanxiousandlonelywhenyouhavetospendtimeonyourown.Butremember,youcanalwayspickupthephoneandcallafriend.FormoreinformationonmindingyourmentalhealthduringtheCoronavirusoutbreakgotowww.hse.ie or www.yourmentalhealth.ie OlderpeoplecantelephonethecharityAlone on0818 222 024fromMondaytoSunday,8am to8pm.• Tryandkeepactivebygettingupandmovingaroundasmuchaspossible.Ifyouhaveyourownoutdoorspace,youcangoouttogetsomefreshairbutpleasekeepawayfromotherpeople,includingneighbours.Keepadistanceofatleast1metre(3ft)butwherepossible2metres(6feet)fromotherpeople.• Eatwellanddrinkplentyoffluidstokeepyouhydrated.• Takeparacetamolforyourfever,muscleachesorheadaches.• Avoidalcoholifyouarefeelingunwell.• Donotsmokeorvape.• Makesureyouhavesomeonetocheckinonyouregularlytomakesureyouarewell.

Keeping everyone safe and well while you self-isolate at home

1. Stay at home

• Do not go outexceptifyouhaveyourownoutdoorspacetogetsomefreshair.• Phonefamilyorneighboursandaskforhelpifyouneedgroceries,othershoppingormedications.

2. Keep away from other people in your home as much as you can • Stayinaseparateroomwithawindowyoucanopen,ifpossible.• Ifyouhavetogointothesameroomwithotherpeopleathomeyoushouldtrytokeepatleast

1metre(3ft)andwherepossible2metresawayfromthem.Washyourhandsregularly.Whenyoucoughorsneeze,coveryourmouthandnosewithacleantissue.Putusedtissuesintothebin.Usetheinsideofyourelbowifyoudon’thaveatissue.• Ifyoucan,useaseparatetoiletandbathroomtotherestofthepeopleinyourhome.• Ifyoudon’thaveyourowntoiletandbathroom,makesuretokeepthetoiletandbathroomveryclean(seeadvicebelow).

3. Clean your hands

• Cleanyourhandsregularly.This is one of the most important things you can do.• Trynottotouchyourface.

4. Cover your coughs and sneezes

• Coveryourmouthandnosewithatissuewhenyoucoughorsneeze.• Placeusedtissuesintoaplasticwastebag(seenotebelowformanagingrubbish),andimmediatelycleanyourhandswithalcoholhandruborwashyourhandswithsoapandwaterfor atleast20seconds.

2VisitHSE.ieforupdatedfactualinformationandadvice,orcall1850 24 1850

5. Do not share things

• Donotsharefood,dishes,drinkingglasses,cups,knives,forksandspoonsorotheritemswithotherpeopleinyourhousehold.• Washkitchenitemsinadishwasherorwithwashingupliquidandhotwater,afteruse.Ifyouarenotwellenough,someoneelseinthehousecandothisforyou.Thepersonshouldusehouseholdorrubberglovesifavailable.Washanddrytheglovesaftereachuse.Theyshouldwashtheirhandsthoroughlywithsoapandwateraftertakingoffthegloves.• Donotsharetowels,beddingorotheritemswithotherpeopleinyourhousehold(seelaundryadvicebelow).• Ifyouuseremotecontrolsorgamesconsolescleanthemthoroughlybeforeanyoneelseinthehouseusesthem.• Ifyoucoughorsneezeonascreen,aphone,orgameconsole,wipethescreencleanimmediately.

6. Do not have visitors in your home

• Donotinviteorallowunnecessaryvisitorstocomeintothehome.• Ifsomeoneurgentlyneedstocometothehouse,keepatleast1metre(3ft)andwherepossible2metres(6.5ft)awayfromthemandadvisethemthatyouarenotwell.

7. Toileting and bathing

• Ifpossibleuseatoiletthatnooneelseisusing.• Ifthatisnotpossibleandyoudonothaveyourowntoiletorbathroom,cleanyourhandsbeforeentering,afterusingthetoiletandbeforeyouleavetheroom.• Ifyouhaveabathorshower,cleananysurfacesyouhavetouchedafterwards.• Donotshareyourtowelswithanyoneelse.

8. Household cleaning

• Allsurfaces,suchascounters,table-tops,doorknobs,banisters,bathroomfixtures,toiletsandtoilethandles,phones,keyboards,tablets,and

bedsidetables,shouldbecleanedeverydaywithacleaningproduct.• Useyourusualhouseholdproducts,likedetergentsandbleachastheseareverygoodatgettingridofthevirus.Followtheinstructionsonthemanufacturer’slabelandchecktheycanbeusedonthesurfaceyouarecleaning.• Wearhouseholdorrubbergloves,ifyouhavethem,whencleaningsurfacesorhandlingdirtylaundry.Washanddrythemafteruse.Alwayswashyourhandsafteryoutakeoffthegloves.• Washreusablecleaningclothsinahotwashcycleofawashingmachineafteruse.• Putdisposableglovesandcleaningclothsinaplasticwastebagafterusingthem(seeadviceaboutmanagingrubbishbelow).

9. Laundry

• Washlaundryatthehighesttemperaturethatthematerialcanstand.• Tumbledryitemsandironusingahotsettingorsteamiron.• Ifyouhavehouseholdorrubberglovesyoucanwearthemwhenhandlingdirtylaundry.Holdlaundryitemsawayfromyourself.• Washyourhandsafterhandlingdirtylaundry,whetheryouusedglovesornot.• Donotsendlaundrytoalaundrette.

10. Managing rubbish

• Putallyourpersonalwasteincludingusedtissuesandallcleaningwasteinaplasticrubbishbag.• Tiethebagwhenitisalmostfull,placeitintoasecondbinbagandtieit.• Oncethebaghasbeentiedsecurelyleaveitsomewheresafeandsecure.Thebagsshouldbeleftforkeptsomewheresafeforthreedaysbeforeputtingthemoutforcollectionbyyourwastecompany.• Youcanputyourotherhouseholdwasteoutforcollectionwithoutanydelay.

3VisitHSE.ieforupdatedfactualinformationandadvice,orcall1850 24 1850

Patient information sheet for self-isolation at homeCoronavirusCOVID-19

How long do I have to self-isolate for:

If you have symptoms but are not going to be tested:

Youcanstopself-isolatingathomeafter14dayssinceyoufirstdevelopedanysymptomsandyouhavehadnotemperatureforthelast5days.

If you had the test and have Coronavirus:

Youcanstopself-isolatingathomeafter14dayssinceyoufirstdevelopedanysymptomsandyouhavehadnotemperatureforthelast5days.

If you had the test and Coronavirus was not detected:

Itispossiblethatyouhaveanotherinfectiousillness,suchasflu.Toreducetheriskofspreadingthatinfection,continuetoself-isolate,washyourhandsregularlyandsneezeandcoughintoatissueuntil48hourshavepassedsinceyouhadsymptoms.After48hourswithoutsymptoms,youcanstopself-isolating.

NOTE:

Since Friday 27th of March 2020,

Government advice is that people should

stay at home except within certain limited

circumstances. This is to reduce the spread

of Coronavirus. Therefore, after you

stop self-isolating you should follow the

Government’s advice.

What should my household members do?

Theyshouldfollowtheadviceprovidedintheleaflet‘Advice for people who share the same home with someone who has symptoms of Coronavirus.’Peopleinthehouseholdneedtorestricttheirmovementsfor14daysafteryoustartedtoself-isolate.Thismeanstheyshouldstayathomeandavoidotherpeopleasmuchaspossible.

Ifyourtestshowsyoudon’thaveCoronavirus,theycanreturntonormalactivitiesstraightway,following the current Government advice.

What happens if there are children in the house?

• Doyourbesttofollowthisadvicehoweverweunderstanditmaynotalwaysbepossible.

• ChildrencangetCoronavirusbutinmostcasestheydon’tgetverysick.

• Ifyourchilddevelopssymptoms,theyneedtostayhomeuntiltheyhavehadnotemperatureforfivedaysandafter14dayssincetheyfirstdevelopedanysymptoms.

Can my pets get Coronavirus?

• SofarwehavenostrongevidencethatpetssuchasdogsandcatscangetCoronavirus.

4VisitHSE.ieforupdatedfactualinformationandadvice,orcall1850 24 1850

Patient information sheet for self-isolation at homeCoronavirusCOVID-19

5VisitHSE.ieforupdatedfactualinformationandadvice,orcall1850 24 1850

Patient information sheet for self-isolation at homeCoronavirusCOVID-19