Page 31 - bon-dia-aruba-20200331

locAl Tuesday 31 March 2020
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Protocol home isolation of a patient with COVID-19

ORANJESTAD — Isolation: This is used in a per-
son with disease symptoms where isolation is
indicated.

1. Isolation can be used to prevent the spread
of a proven infectious disease.
2. Isolation can be applied pending diagnosis
of a specific infectious disease

If isolation is indicated for a person, this can
take place at home, provided that the condi-
tions described below are met. We refer to the
person in this document as the “patient”.
The general practitioner, together with staff
from the Infectious Diseases Service and a
medical adviser from the Department of Pub-
lic Health jointly determine whether the patient
can stay at home depending on the clinical
picture. Personnel from the Infectious Diseases
Service and a medical adviser from the Depart-
ment of Public Health determine whether the
patient's home situation lends itself to isolation.
The prerequisite for home isolation is that the
patient must be able to take care of himself a medical adviser from the Public Health De- housemates allows for home isolation. It may
(this concerns the ADL functions) and that con- partment also take into account the medical sometimes be advisable for housemates (eg
tact between the patient and housemates (as situation of the patient and the housemates. children) to stay elsewhere during the isolation
much as possible) can be avoided. Personnel The doctor also examines to what extent the period. If home isolation is not possible, the pa-
from the Infectious Diseases Department and knowledge and behavior of the patient and tient should be moved to a different location.q

Protocol for quarantine of individuals in the context of COVID-19 Aruba

by Department of Public Health Note: When home quarantine is chosen, the person should occupy a
ORANJESTAD — This protocol is slightly modified version of the WHO well-ventilated single room, or if a single room is not available, maintain a
guideline on quarantine measures for individuals in the context of CO- distance of at least 1 meter from other household members, minimize the
VID-19. use of shared spaces and cutlery, and ensure that shared spaces (such
as the kitchen and bathroom) are well ventilated.
When to use quarantine
For contacts* of patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 be quar- The health care provider should:
antined for 14 days from the last time they were exposed to the patient • Provide all those in quarantine with the information sheet developed
or all persons travelling to Aruba from abroad. *A contact is a person by the Department of Public Health.
who is involved in any of the following from 2 days before and up to 14 • Emphasize the importance of social distance (that is, distance of at
days after the onset of symptoms in the patient: least 1 meter) between all persons who are quarantined.
• Having face-to-face contact with a COVID-19 patient within 1 meter • Emphasize the importance of hand and respiratory hygiene by all
and for >15 minutes; persons who are quarantined (also included in the information sheet)
• Providing direct care for patients with COVID-19 disease without us- • Provide an explanation of how long they will need to stay in quar-
ing proper personal protective equipment; antine and what will happen if they get sick (also included in the
• Staying in the same close environment as a COVID-19 patient (in- information sheet). o If they get sick, they will need to wear the medi-
cluding sharing a workplace, classroom or household or being at the cal mask provided by the department of Public Health and contact
same gathering) for any amount of time; 2800101. This is also included in the information folder given. Provide
• Travelling in close proximity with (that is, within 1 m separation from) a instructions on cleaning procedures (also included in the information
COVID-19 patient in any kind of conveyance. sheet).

Conditions for safe and effective quarantine Early recognition and control
• Those who are in quarantine must be placed in adequately venti- • Any person in quarantine who develops febrile illness or respiratory
lated, spacious single rooms with hand hygiene and toilet facilities. symptoms at any point during the quarantine period should be treat-
If single rooms are not available, beds should be placed at least 1 ed and managed as a suspected case of COVID-19.
meter apart. NOTE: Adequate air ventilation is essential. • People in quarantine are provided a medical mask in case (s) he de-
• Communication in a language that those who are quarantined can velops symptoms while in quarantine. A medical mask is not required
understand. for persons with no symptoms. There is no evidence that wearing a
• Provision of food and, if applicable, appropriate medical treatment mask of any type protects people who are not sick.
for existing conditions must be guaranteed. If the person in quaran-
tine does not have family and/or acquaintances to take care of Follow-up procedure for monitoring the health of quarantined person
food item and/or medication delivery, this will be taken care of by • Daily follow up of persons who are quarantined should be conducted
the Department of Social Affairs and the volunteers of CEDE Aruba. for the duration of the quarantine period and should include screen-
Protocol for quarantine COVID-19 v.1, 29th march 2 of 2 ing for body temperature and symptoms.
• Psychosocial support must be available if requested. • Groups of persons at higher risk of infection and severe disease may
• Older persons and those with comorbid conditions require special require additional surveillance owing to chronic conditions or they
attention because of their increased risk for severe COVID-19. may require specific medical treatments.
• Persons sharing a household with someone in quarantine may leave • Criteria for testing those in quarantine can be found in the relat-
the house as long they adhere to the requirements of social distanc- ed document ‘Criteria voor testen van personen in quarantaine 3
ing. talen’.q