The ongoing situation regarding the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus is having a major impact on many aspects of daily life around the world.
Various health organisations are issuing regular advice about what people can do try and limit the effect the virus is currently having on society.
Self-isolation has been recommended as a highly effective method for slowing down the spread of the virus.
This has the knock-on effect of slowing down the rate of infections, thus helping to relieve the strain on healthcare systems.
Read on as we provide you with a guide to self-isolation and the best ways to protect yourself from Covid-19.
Stay at home
It might appear to be a blindingly obvious thing to point out, but self-isolation means you should go home and stay there.
Don’t go to work, stay off school, don’t use public transport, don’t visit public places – essentially you need to make yourself a prisoner in your own home.
Make sure that you put a support mechanism in place for the things you need most. Ask friends and family to buy groceries and anything else you need.
Don’t panic buy or stockpile items as that can put strain on the supply chain and cause major issues for vulnerable people.
Order your medication by phone or online and ask any delivery drivers who come to your house to leave items at the front door.
Keep your distance from others
If you live with other people – spouse, partner, children or friends – it may be difficult to keep away from them, but that’s exactly what you need to do.
Set yourself up in one single room in the house and use that as your solitary base for at least a seven-day period.
Ideally it will be a bedroom containing one of the best mattress you can buy online in order to ensure you get optimal rest if you are suffering from coronavirus symptoms.
You will obviously need to use the toilet during your period of self-isolation, but make sure you fully disinfect it after every use.
Don’t share any crockery or utensils and wash the ones you use thoroughly either manually or in a dishwasher after every single use.
Catch it, kill it, bin it
The coronavirus outbreak has shone a light on why people need to employ impeccable personal hygiene standards at all times.
Make sure that you cover your mouth and nose with disposable tissues when you cough or sneeze, and bin them straight afterwards.
If you haven’t got a tissue to hand when you sneeze or cough, do it into the bend of your elbow to stop the spread of the virus through droplets.
If you’re wearing a long-sleeved top when you do this, make sure you remove it and wash it with detergent as the virus can survive on clothing.
While some of this advice may seem like overkill, it is undoubtedly necessary in order to help stop the spread of coronavirus.
Wash your hands
One of the most important things you can do to avoid picking up infections is to keep your hands squeaky clean.
If there is a virus on your hand and you touch your eyes, nose or mouth you could unwittingly infect yourself.
Soap is a great antidote to coronavirus as it contains fat-like substances known as amphiphiles, some of which are similar in structure to the lipids in the virus membrane.
The soap molecules fight these lipids to loosen them from the skin and effectively remove the threat they present.
Hand sanitisers are also effective in stopping the spread of viruses, but make sure they contain at least 60 percent alcohol.
Ending self-isolation
The situation surrounding coronavirus remains in a state of flux, with advice from the authorities being updated on a daily basis.
However, it if you have self-isolated it is recommended that you remain at home for at least seven days from the first onset of your symptoms.
If you feel better at this point you can return to your normal daily routine, but if you are still showing signs of the virus you must immediately contact your local health service.
It has been known for coughing to persist for several weeks after the infection has cleared, meaning that you may not need to self-isolate.
Seek advice from health professionals before ending any period of self-isolation in order to reduce the risk to yourself and others.
Self-isolation and Covid-19 – the final word
It is fair to say that coronavirus has sparked major concerns across the world and the situation looks set to continue for the foreseeable future.
In the short term there are plenty of things everyone can do to help contain the spread of the virus, so please follow the advice of your local health professionals.
