10 ways to manage your health at home if you have COVID-19

The Centers for Disease and Control Prevention (CDC) recommended 10 things you can do to manage your health at home if you have a possible or confirmed case of the coronavirus disease.

A person is advised to self-quarantine at home if he or she is showing mild coronavirus symptoms but was not required hospital admission.

What is the difference between PUI and PUM?

And, while precautionary measures like proper handwashing and physical distancing are encouraged to prevent COVID-19 infection, there should also be a guideline on what a (suspected or confirmed) COVID-19 patient should follow as he or she undergoes the process of recovery.

Here are 10 tips from the CDC:

1. Stay home from work, school, and away from other public places. If you must go out, avoid using any kind of public transportation, ridesharing, or taxis.

2. Monitor your symptoms carefully. If your symptoms get worse, call your healthcare provider immediately.

3. Get rest and stay hydrated.

4. If you have a medical appointment, call the healthcare provider ahead of time and tell them that you have or may have COVID-19.

5. For medical emergencies, call 911 and notify the dispatch personnel that you have or may have COVID-19.

6. Cover your cough and sneezes.

7. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

8. As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from other people in your home. Also, you should use a separate bathroom, if available. If you need to be around other people in or outside of the home, wear a facemask.

9. Avoid sharing personal items with other people in your household, like dishes, towels, and bedding

10. Clean all surfaces that are touched often, like counters, tabletops, and doorknobs. Use household cleaning sprays or wipes according to the label instructions.

The CDC also clarified that a person should seek medical attention if he or she has developed the emergency warning signs for COVID-19, which are:

• Trouble breathing
• Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
• New confusion or inability to arouse
• Bluish lips or face

Furthermore, here are other anecdotal symptoms:

• Loss of appetite
• Loss of taste or smell
• Abdominal pain
• Diarrhea

Stay safe, mga Kapuso!

If you wish to be part of GMA's efforts to help stop the spread of COVID-19, you may visit the Kapuso Foundation. https://www.gmanetwork.com/kapusofoundation/donate

Source: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/caring-for-yourself-at-home.html

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