BANDUNG, unpas.ac.id – Carrying out self-isolation by Covid-19-exposed patient is one of the ways to break the spread of the virus. Meanwhile, bed occupancy rate (BOR) in few hospitals is getting high while there are a lot of patients with severe symptoms who need special treatment. For some patients with mild symptom or without symptom at all, they are advised to do self-isolation in their house.
Currently, the provision of self-isolation facility is not provided by the centre government only, but also by the district institution or even sub-district/village which also involves participation from the society.
It was stated by Health Expert as well as Vice Dean II of Unpas Faculty of Medicine, dr. Hj. Alma Lucyati, M.Kes., M.Si., MH.Kes. She thought that the increase of Covid-19 patients has caused few people to do self-isolation / self-quarantine.
“Currently, there are a lot of places for people to do self-isolation/self-quarantine, for example, new integrated facility such campus, school, or places around the district or village,” she said, on Thursday, 29 July 2021.
Furthermore, dr. Alma also explained about the importance of society’s awareness and empathy to work together to break the spread of Covid-19, including in handling the patient around their area.
“There are often some people feeling afraid and hesitant to deal with Covid-19 patient in their area, which means it should not be happening. Therefore, proper handling starting from the lowest levels (RT or RW) needs to be done, including from the society who need to work together,” she continued.
She also explained that during the recovery of Covid-19 patient, there are no need for people around them to make a contact and always stick to the health protocol strictly.
“The society should work together to supply the foods for Covid-19 patient by putting the foods without making contact with them. People who give the food should also always stick to the health protocol. Patients need support from the others,” she added.
In addition, the first step to handle Covid-19 cases in the family and community is by doing 3T (Testing, Tracing, Treatment) or doing test, tracing close contacts, and following-up in the form of patient care. However, there are also few aspects that need to be paid attention to regarding the self-isolation implementation, both for provision of self-isolation facility for the patient, family, environment itself.
There should be a predetermined procedure to make a place for doing self-isolation, including few socializations to the society.
“The procedure includes Covid-19 Task Force, permission, facility provisions, tools/ equipment, separated place and – it should be done strictly,” she explained. “The patients should be able to take care of their health and cleanliness by using separated tools for eating and taking a bath. Other than that, they need to separate the trash to the available trash-bin, especially for medical trash,” she said.
Apart from consuming foods containing protein, carbohydrate and vitamin, dr. Alma also said that the patient needs to do other activities, such as doing light practice, reading, doing their hobbies and others which can improve their spirit and body immunity.
Patients who undergo self-isolation/self-quarantine should need to be productive and do nothing, so their activities can run the way it was, followed by positive feeling and thought.
“There are a lot of things to do when undergoing self-isolation, such as light practice, basking under the sunlight, doing hobbies, despite consuming healthy food. That could improve body stamina and stay productive,” she explained.
Based on the Announcement Letter of Ministry of Health No. HK.02.01/Menkes/202/2020, there are nine things to do when undergoing self-isolation.
These nine things include staying at home (by not leaving it for work or public space), using separate room, putting on face mask, checking on body temperature daily, avoiding same tools for eating or others, doing healthy and clean lifestyle, being in an open area and basking under the sunlight, keeping the house clean, and contacting health facility if the body condition need more specific treatment. (Rico B)*