Let’s imagine you’ve been told to self-isolate.
Utah recently experienced its first confirmed case of COVID-19. Fortunately, this individual was not so sick as to require hospitalization. However, the individual was asked by public health to remain isolated at home while they recover.
This strategy of ‘home isolation’ will become the norm as we see additional cases, especially among those whose symptoms are not severe enough to require hospitalization. These individuals will be monitored by the state or local health departments and will be provided with detailed information on what they should do to prevent others in the home from becoming infected. They will also be asked to remain isolated until they no longer pose a threat of infecting others.
This strategy is simple — effectively, it’s simply staying home when you’re ill, which always prevents the spread of infectious sickness. As simple as this strategy is, however, it has been shown to help greatly slow the spread of coronavirus worldwide.
Areas that successfully implement home isolation can often avoid more drastic measures such as large-scale quarantines.
Home isolation will be a key strategy in not only limiting the spread of disease, but also in ensuring the health care system has the capacity to take care of those who require medical care.
We have strong communities in Utah, and if we are willing to follow the guidance of those in whom we have entrusted our health and safety, we will all pull through this together.
Photo courtesy Fox 13.