Here’s the scenario. You wake up one morning with a dry cough, a sore throat, and a fever. You recognise these as COVID-19 symptoms and you do the responsible thing - book yourself an appointment at your nearest hospital.
1- You won’t be tested right away
Once you arrive, a doctor will ask you a few questions to decide if you meet a certain criteria. These include if you have returned from overseas in the past 14 days or if you’ve been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 case in the past 14 days, amongst others.
If the doctor deems your symptoms and circumstance fitting of the set criterion you will be tested for COVID-19. According to the Department of Health’s website, this ” strategy is used due to a global shortage of the test kits used to diagnose COVID-19. As opposed to “wide-spread” testing.
Test results may take a few days, during which time you may be sent home or kept at the hospital depending on the seriousness of your symptoms. If you are sent home, you’ll be instructed to self-isolate.
If the test results come back positive, you’ll need to take these actions.
2- It’s up to you take yourself to the hospital
Initially, your doctor may advise you to simply self-isolate at home. It may not be necessary for you to be quarantined at a medical facility. The severity of your symptoms is the major deciding factor in this decision.
If however your condition deteriorates and you need medical care, it’ll be up to you to notify the Public Health officers managing your case that you are now a confirmed case of COVID-19. You will be expected to put on a mask and drive yourself to the hospital where possible.
If you are experiencing severe symptoms however, such as shortness of breath, you’ll have to call an ambulance and Inform the paramedics that you are a confirmed case of COVID-19.
3- You won’t be treated for the virus
As of today, there’s still no cure for the virus, although labs around the world are working on potential solutions. Vaccines are being developed by companies such as Pfizer/Biontech and Sanofi, as well as a number of academic institutions. There are also 2 potential treatments once infected by the virus. Those are being developed by Drug Innovation Ventures at Emory and Can-Fite.
There is also a handful of repurposed treatments being considered to combat the virus.
However, as of this time, all the above-mentioned solutions are all in various phases of testing and some are in clinical trials. None are ready yet for the general public.
Meanwhile, if you’re quarantined you will receive medical attention in the form of for the symptoms.
4- You will still have contact with the outside world
Hospital quarantine is not prison. You will still have access to your internet and phone and you can bring whatever personal belongings you need to keep yourself occupied. The same goes for self-quarantine at home.
Online services like Zoom and Slack have allowed millions around the world to continue working from home while they undergo self-quarantine and social isolation. Not to mention social media will allow you to still communicate with your friends and family.
Many have shared online their creative ideas for how to spend their time productively during self-quarantine. Whether learning a new language or working on a long-abandoned personal project.
5- You may not be immune after quarantine
Before being released from isolation, doctors will have to confirm whether you’re infection-free. The guidelines laid out by the department of health states that people with mild symptoms can be released from quarantine after 10 days of the onset of symptoms and at least 72 hours of resolution from all symptoms of the acute illness.
As for severe cases that needed hospitalisation, the criteria for release is 10 days from hospital discharge and resolution of all symptoms of the acute illness for the previous 72 hours.
In both cases, you’re advised to take all precautionary measures against the transmission of the virus. This includes hand washing, cough etiquette, and social distancing. This is both for your safety and the safety of others.
Scientific research has not yet confirmed whether recovering from a case of COVID-019 definitely develops immunity against the virus. It seems more needs to be done before a final verdict.
