If You Think You’re Infected, Here’s What You Should Do.

From social distancing to washing your hands properly, you can do everything right to protect yourself against COVID-19, but still can be at the risk of getting infected. Sri Lanka started quarantining process a couple of weeks ago (12th of March), and there is a whole bunch of people who had skipped it and left untested. Unfortunately, tracking them down has been one hectic task as the majority of them do not want to come forward. Therefore, before all these curfews and special holidays were declared, there was enough time for one to unknowingly encounter the virus.

If you're reasonably concerned and suspicious that you're infected with the virus, here are a few things that you can do.

Don't Panic

First of all, don't panic. Panicking never helps or solves anything. COVID-19 spreads easily, but with proper treatments, it can be cured.

Separate Yourself

This is the first and the most important step; isolate yourself. You should get a dedicated "sick room" in your house where only you are allowed in, no one else. Wear a face mask at all times, and ask your family members to talk to you through the phone to reduce physical contact.

Good hygiene practice is a must, so always make sure to keep your hands clean. Wash them for at least 20 seconds with soap or use an alcohol-based sanitiser. And try your best to avoid touching your face with unwashed hands.

Monitor Your Symptoms

COVID-19 infection has the following specific symptoms.

Fever
Tiredness
Dry cough

However, some patients might experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually.

Take your temperature every 2 hours and note it down, and keep a close eye on the other symptoms. The government helplines, 117 and 1999 are dedicated to handling COVID-19 related inquires, and they're available 24 hours. If you're worried about the symptoms, immediately call these numbers up and seek for more details and advises from the public health officials.

Avoid Sharing

Do not let your family members handle anything that was used by you, as they can be contaminated with the virus. The food can be left on a table at your door, so the contact with your family members can be minimised as much as possible. It's better if they can use disposable plates, cups and utensils to serve your food/drinks, so they can be thrown away after using. The same should be done for the used tissues.

A separate bathroom for the infected is the better option, but in a shared bathroom situation, make sure to sanitise every element in it after using. Or try to set up a temporary one until the situation is handled.

Call 1990

Photo credits: dailynews.lk

If the symptoms seem to escalate, call 1990. The SuwaSariya ambulance will show up at your door in no time, and please know that they're specifically advised on how to handle COVID-19 suspected cases, and where to take them. That way, you won't have to risk contaminating your personal vehicle or family, or waste your time on the road without knowing which hospital you should go to.