Thread by @DearPandemic

1/ Q: If someone in my household tests positive for #COVID19, how can I best care for them and keep the rest of my household #safe?

A: This thread breaks down steps you can take to care for your sick family member and protect the rest of your household:

2/ If someone in your household develops symptoms of #COVID__19 (Here is a symptom list: cdc.gov/coronavirus/20…), or suspects they have been exposed to #COVID, they should contact their health care provider to get a test or, if available, visit a community testing site.

3/ If COVID-19 is suspected based on symptoms or verified with a positive test, start by:

👤 Isolating the ill member. Designate a separate bedroom, and if available, a separate bathroom to them. If only one bathroom is available, open a window/use a fan and clean after use.

4/
😷 Use masks: both the caretaker and the sick individual. The ill household member should also wear a mask when using shared spaces such as a bathroom. The caretaker should also wear a mask as well as gloves when washing the ill individual’s dishes, laundry or bedding.

5/
🧼 Wash your hands. Both ill individuals and caretakers should be #Handwashing often for 20 seconds each time.

🧽 Clean surfaces. Caretakers should clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces (i.e., doorknobs, light switches, faucets, remotes, etc. at least once a day.

6/
🌡️ Monitor their temperature at least twice daily. Or, if they can, have them take their own temperature. Treat fever with medications such as Tylenol, Advil/Motrin or Aleve as recommended.

🥤 Keep them #hydrated. Encourage the ill individual to drink plenty of liquids.

7/
🍯 Ease their cough. Provide them with cough drops or tea with honey to help with symptom of dry cough if present.

🛌 Consider using "proning:" a breathing technique (described further in the @CDCgov link above) that can decrease mucus build up in their lungs.

8/
🩸 Consider buying a pulse oximeter. This is a device that clips to your finger and can be used to monitor hear rate and oxygen saturation level-levels below 94% or that steadily decline over a span of days are concerning and can signal worsening condition.

9/
👩‍⚕️ Contact your doctor. While the majority of #coronavirus patients recover at home without needing medical care, if the ill individual members conditions seems to be worsening or you are concerned at all, don’t hesitate to contact your #doctor.

Read the full article here: aarp.org/health/conditi…