Self-monitor, quarantine or isolate?

As the COVID-19 crisis continues, there is a whole new lexicon of terminology. You've no doubt heard about self-monitoring, self-isolation and self-quarantining. While all three of these terms are related to stopping or limiting the spread of disease, the circumstances for each are different.

• Self-monitoring is what you should do if you have been in the same vicinity, but not in direct contact, with a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19. It involves limiting your interactions with others, taking your temperature regularly, and checking for symptoms of respiratory illness, such as cough, fever and shortness of breath. You should self-monitor for 14 days following the point at which you think you could have been exposed.
• Self-quarantining separates and restricts the movement of people who were exposed to a contagious disease to see if they become sick. This should be done if you have been in direct contact with someone who is infected. For example, if a person who has been diagnosed with COVID-19 has coughed or sneezed near you, or you live with a person who has been diagnosed, you should self-quarantine for 14 days.
• Self-isolating separates sick people with a contagious disease from people who are not sick. This is for people who have symptoms of COVID-19 or have been diagnosed. It means staying indoors and completely avoiding contact with other people. If you live with others, stay in a separate bedroom and use a different bathroom than others. You should remain isolated for 14 days.

“Only stop isolation if you have not had a fever for five days or it has been 14 days since you first developed symptoms,” said Mobeen Rathore, MD, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and hospital epidemiologist for Wolfson Children's Hospital and co-chair of the Baptist Systemwide Infection Prevention and Control Committee for Baptist Health.  "If you are not sure, call your primary care physician or complete a virtual visit on Telescope Health.”

At Baptist Health, we want to help keep you and your family informed about COVID-19. We’re coordinating with the health department and following CDC guidelines to ensure the health and safety of our community. For more information, visit baptistjax.com/covid19. 

Source: CDC