Coronavirus: MoH guidelines for home-quarantine

Muscat: With the total number of cOVID-19 infected in the Sultanate has reached 39. The Ministry of Health last week had issued guidelines for home-quarantine if someone gets infected with the COVID-19 virus. The ministry also warned that anyone failing to adhere to these guidelines would face legal action.

• The isolated person should stay in a well-ventilated single-room with dedicated toilet
• If another family member needs to stay in the same room (Not more than one person allowed), maintain a distance of at least 2m (e.g. sleep in a separate bed)
• The isolated person should restrict his/her movement within the house
• Only assigned family members should attend and take care of the isolated person
• Family member giving care should wear a surgical mask when attending the isolated person, and should dispose of it after use and wash hands using soap and water or disinfect with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Visitors are not allowed
• The isolated person should strictly avoid social gathering e.g. wedding, condolences, mosques etc
• Cover cough and sneeze with tissue or cough and sneeze on his sleeve
• Throw used tissues and immediately wash hands with soap and water or disinfect with alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Wash hand as often thoroughly with soap and water or with alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid sharing household items e.g.; dishes, drinking glasses, cups, eating utensils, towels, bedding, or other items with other people at home
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces in the isolated person room (e.g. bed frames, tables etc.) daily with regular household bleach solution
• Clean and disinfect toilet surfaces daily with regular household bleach solution
• Clean the clothes and other linen used by the person separately using common household detergent and dry
• Avoid shaking the soiled linen or direct contact with skin
• Use disposable gloves when cleaning the surfaces or handling soiled linen
• Wash hands after removing gloves
• The home isolation period is for 48 hours from the last day of symptoms
• Isolated person should wear a surgical mask if attended by the medical team or visiting a health care facility
• Close contact of isolated person: If asymptomatic he/she will be placed in quarantine for 14 days and provided with a quarantine information card
• If any quarantined contact develop symptoms he/she should communicate with the nearest health center for management