SARASOTA COUNTY (WSNN) – It is clear the holidays caused a spike in Florida coronavirus cases. So, what happens if you or a loved one bring it home?
“80-percent of those folks who get COVID-19 will be asymptomatic or have a very mild or moderate disease and will recover at home without the need for hospitalization,” First Physicians Group’s Chief Medical Officer, Jack Rodman M.D. said.
But what if others in your home catch COVID from an asymptomatic family member and get really sick? Dr. Rodman says keep your distance and mask up.
“Ideally, we’d like to have a separate bedroom and a separate bathroom,” Dr. Rodman said. “If that doesn’t exist, it’s really important that both the patient and the caregiver are both masked and gloved. We want to wash hands, wear gloves regularly, avoid sharing common items. “
According to the CDC, symptoms occur anywhere from 2 to 14 days after a person contracts the virus. A mild illness includes fever, sometimes with a slight cough and/or headache. Dr. Rodman says it’s important to drink plenty of fluids, eat healthy foods, track your symptoms, and rest. But, there’s a caveat.
“This virus may make your body want to lay in bed, but I think it’s important that you get your rest, but it’s also important that you sit up, stand up, exercise your lungs and expand them in order to prevent the potential for a secondary bacterial infection or pneumonia,” Dr. Rodman said.
“Every hour on the hour, you need to get up and walk through your house for no good reason other than just to move,” SMH’s Critical Care Pulmonologist, Joseph Seaman M.D. said. “When you’re walking you need to take deep breaths and purposefully cough so you’re clearing the phlegm from your lungs to open your lungs up and help clear the mucus.”
And, if your symptoms worsen, Dr. Seaman says get to the hospital.
“If you’re having chest pain, you should not stay at home and try to tough it out. If your blood pressure is severely low, or severely high and you have a critically low oxygen level you shouldn’t stay at home,” Dr. Seaman said.
For more information from SMH on how to care for someone with COVID-19 from home, click here.
