WHAT SHOULD I DO IF A FAMILY MEMBER HAS COVID-19?
Caring for someone with COVID-19
Most people who get sick with COVID-19 will have a mild illness and should be able to recover at home.
Monitor their symptoms and if they worsen or have trouble breathing, contact your healthcare provider. Be sure to call ahead to help the healthcare provider’s office take steps to keep other people from being infected or exposed.
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WHEN TO CALL 911
Get immediate medical attention if you have
any medical emergency.
If you are sick with COVID-19, seek attention immediately if the person develops any or all of these warning signs:
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion or inability to arouse
- Bluish lips of face
Notify the dispatch personnel that they have COVID-19. If possible, put face masks on before emergency medical services arrive.
HOME ISOLATION
Prevent the spread of germs when caring for someone who is sick.
Separate yourself from the person who is ill and separate them from other people and pets in your home. This is known as home isolation.
Use a separate bathroom if available. Have the ill family member wear a cloth mask over their nose and mouth, cover their cough and sneezes with a tissue and then throw the tissue away. Wash their hands often.
You and the others in the home should stay home and quarantine for 14 days.
Monitor yourself and others for symptoms of COVID-19 or for the development of a fever.
Distance yourself from the patient, staying 6 feet away as much as possible and limit the amount of time you are in close contact with them.
Do not share personal items with patient, such as drinking glasses, eating utensils, towels and bedding.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
Wash your hands often and do not touch your face.
Wear a mask to cover your nose and mouth, especially if you are going out of the house to a public indoor space.
FEELING BETTER?
You may be wondering when you are no longer contagious. If you test negative during your quarantine period, you will still need to complete your full 14-day quarantine before it is safe to go back to work or be around others. Learn more about when to end quarantine or isolation.