Thread by @covid19indiaorg

Isolating in a home/hostel with no separate room or bathroom:

📌 Most recommendations on isolation assume that a separate room/bathroom is available. This is not always the case - many live in shared spaces.

In this thread we look at ways to isolate in a shared room.

1/n

✅ Separate bedroom: If a separate bedroom is available, isolate the Covid +ve person there. Other residents have to temporarily use other rooms in the house, even if it means sleeping in the living/dining rooms. As much as possible do not share bedrooms.

2/n

✅ No separate bathrooms: If the bathroom has to be shared with a Covid +ve person, here are some tips to minimize risk:
📌 Have an order for using the bathroom: Let the Covid +ve person use the bathroom last, after others.
📌 Sanitize bathroom after each use.

3/n

📌 Use exhaust to provide ventilation. If bathroom has ventilator/windows - keep it open after use.
📌 Leave a gap of atleast 1 hour between use of bathroom.
📌 Sanitise any surface that has been touched.
📌 Do not keep items like brush/paste etc. inside bathroom.

4/n

📌 Wear a mask inside a shared bathroom whenever possible.
📌 Do not share items like paste, soap, towels, bucket, mug.
📌 Consider using a spray disinfectant before using the bathroom.
📌 Ensure the Covid +ve person wears N95 mask when moving from room to bathroom and back.

5/n

✅ No separate bedroom: This is a difficult situation to manage. This can occur in households without a separate bedroom and in shared accommodations like hostels/PGs.

📌 If there are senior citizens, see if they can be moved to another accommodation for safety.

6/n

📌 Some state governments provide quarantine facilities for those who do not have such facilities. Call your state Covid helpline and ask for help.
📌 Ensure that all residents wear N95 masks and keep more than 6ft distance.

7/n

📌 Do not share any items with the Covid +ve person like utensils, phone, newspaper, toiletries etc.
📌 Do not indulge in activities like loud talking, laughing, singing etc. that can increase risk of transmission.
📌 Open windows and provide adequate ventilation.

8/n

📌 Stay away from line of air flow: It is possible that Covid19 aerosols travel further than 6ft and remain suspended in the air. This introduces a risk of transmission in a shared room. Ventilation can reduce this risk - but also carry the aerosols in the line of air flow.

9/n

📌 To reduce this risk: (a) Ensure that all residents in a room are wearing N95 mask or a surgical + cloth mask combination. (b) Stay away from the direct line of cross ventilation in the room.

10/n

📌 Put in place any temporary make shift partition like a curtain line if possible.
📌 Use a room sanitization spray periodically.

No safety measure is 100% fool proof, but we should try our best to minimize risk.
Now, we should stay healthy to take care of our loved ones.

11/n

Staying healthy and safe in shared rooms is challenging and risky. But, it is what it is and we should take care of our family/friends while taking precautions, even while sharing space with them. Each one for the other.

Stay safe. We shall get through this. Together.

n/n