With thousands of new Covid-19 infections occurring daily in South Africa, have you thought about what would happen if you do get the virus and have to self-isolate for two weeks, or even worse, have to go to hospital?
“While more than 80% of people are only likely to be mildly ill with Covid-19, there are still things that you should plan and organise if you have to self-isolate at home for the obligatory 14 days. So, it’s well worth doing a bit of ‘scenario planning’ and consider the things that you’ll need to put in place if you do contract the infection,” says Geraldine Bartlett, a qualified pharmacists and chief professional officer at Universal Healthcare.
“As none of us ultimately know how seriously we may get the disease, it may be sensible to plan ahead in the event that we become one of those unfortunate enough to require hospitalisation. This is particularly important if you are a single parent living with young children, or if you’re at risk of developing a more serious Covid-19 infection,” she says.
Also Read: How to self-quarantine when you have a child at home
Geraldine believes it’s now important for all South Africans to prepare for the possibility of becoming infected and shares these tips on how to plan for such an eventuality.
Fortunately, most people who get Covid-19 will have only a mild illness and should recover at home. If you have been asked to self-isolate at home, you should:
Geraldine advises stocking up on items you’ll need if you have to be in self-isolation at home for 14 days. These include your chronic medicines, paracetamol, throat spray, toiletries, and sufficient non-perishable foods.
“Monitor your symptoms carefully. This is particularly important if you are at greater risk of developing a serious disease. If your symptoms are getting worse, your symptoms have not improved after seven days, or if you have any symptoms that are concerning to you, call your doctor.”
Make a list of important things such as your doctor’s telephone number, the contact details of the nearest, or preferred, hospital and emergency service, your medical scheme details, and a list of the chronic medicines you are taking. Keep this list on hand and give a copy to the person who will help you if your illness suddenly becomes worse.
If you develop any of following warning signs, you or someone in your household should call your nearest hospital or emergency service and tell them you have a confirmed case of Covid-19 disease:
More about the expert:
Geraldine Bartlett is a qualified pharmacist and chief professional officer at Universal Healthcare. Learn more about Geraldine Bartlett here.
Editor of Living and Loving. She is responsible for developing the brand’s overall content and business strategy.
She has worked on various newspapers and magazines as a journalist and editor over the years. Passionate about health and wellbeing, she has won several respected industry awards for writing and editing. She’s featured on radio and television as a health and parenting expert numerous times and has judged the Pfizer Mental Health Journalism Awards on three occasions.
Outside of work, she enjoys trying out recipes, reading crime mysteries and thrillers, practicing yoga, and exploring new destinations.
Learn more about Sonya Naudé.
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