The increase of new Covid-19 cases appears to have an impact on the numbers of people that have to self-isolate.
The Mpumalanga Department of Health said any individual identified as a close contact to a person who tested positive for Covid-19, will have to quarantine for 10 days following the last exposure date, and a negative polymerase chain reaction test must be obtained and submitted after eight days of the exposure.
The National Institute for Communicable Diseases defines being in close contact as being near someone who has confirmed coronavirus. It also means you had face-to-face contact, or were in a closed space for more than 15 minutes, with a person with Covid-19. This contact happened while the person with Covid-19 was still infectious, which is from two days before to 10 days after their symptoms had begun.
The spokesperson for the provincial Department of Health, Dumisani Malamule, said, “While in quarantine, one should monitor any development of signs and symptoms. After stopping the quarantine on day 10, for the remaining three days you should watch for symptoms until 14 days after exposure. If you have symptoms, immediately self-isolate and contact your local public health facility or healthcare provider.
“In case an individual chooses not to test after day eight, they will need to remain in quarantine for 14 days from their last date of exposure. While doing this, they must wear a mask, maintain social distancing, wash their hands, avoid crowds and take other steps to prevent the spread of Covid-19,” he explained.
Malamule said if sharing a house with someone who tests positive, that person should be isolated in a separate room from the others that tested negative. He urged the public to keep in mind the things they are allowed to do.
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“You must stay at home in a separate room from others or in a designated quarantine site. You are not allowed visitors when you are quarantined. Remember to rest, hydrate and eat healthy foods. Keep in touch with family and friends through social media.
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Use a separate bathroom when possible. Monitor your health for symptoms, including fever, shortness of breath, loss of taste and/or smell, or new onset cough. If you develop symptoms, seek medical attention immediately,” he explained.
