COVID-19 HOME GUIDE
Stay Safe
and Stay Positive
A guide to managing mild COVID-19
disease at home
The most commonly reported COVID-19 symptoms are:
• new continuous cough
• fever
• fatigue
• muscle aches
• headaches
• shortness of breath
• loss of appetite/taste/smell
• diarrhoea
If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, or if you have
symptoms but cannot get tested, this is what you should do:
• Do not go to work
• Do not use public transport
• Do not go to public places
• Do not go shopping
• Do not visit anyone
• Do not attend religious gatherings
• Do not have visitors in your home
• Do not leave home unless you
need medical care
• Do stay at home for 14 days
• Do stay calm
• Do ensure you have family
members on hand who can help
you to get shopping and things you
may need
• Do keep connected to people you
care about by phone and video
calls
If you test COVID-19 positive, you should isolate
• Separate yourself from other people in your home, in a well-ventilated
bedroom. Your family should not stay or sleep in the same room as you.
• Use a separate bathroom. If you have to share a bathroom, clean after
every use.
• Avoid sharing items and the same spaces with other people and clean
surfaces often.
• Stay at least 1.5 metres (3 steps) away from other people in the home.
• Wear facemasks to help prevent the spread of the disease to others.
• Cough or sneeze into the fold of your elbow. Alternatively, cover your
mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and dispose of
tissue in a dedicated bin.
• Clean your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or with
alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains 60-95% alcohol.
If you do not isolate yourself correctly, you may infect others.
What is the difference between isolation and
quarantine?
ISOLATION
• You have tested positive for the virus or
you have symptoms and likely have
COVID-19
• You need to avoid contact with other
people for
• 14 days after your test if you have no
symptoms
• 14 days after your symptoms started if you
have mild disease
• 14 days from the last day you needed
oxygen if you have been treated in hospital
with severe disease
• You do not need to re-test to confirm you
are negative to de-isolate
QUARANTINE
• You have been in close contact with
someone with the virus and you don’t
have symptoms and haven’t tested
positive
• You need to avoid contact with other
people for 14 days after your exposure to
the person with COVID-19
• If you do not develop symptoms you can
de-isolate after 14 days
• If you develop symptoms you are
considered to also have COVID-19 and
then you need to isolate for 14 days from
the start of your symptoms
What is a close contact?
• Face-to-face encounter with a probable or confirmed case
• Within less than one (1) meter
• For more than 15 minutes
• Both were not wearing masks
You are at greatest risk for severe disease if you:
• Are older than 60 years
• Are overweight
• Are unfit
• Have multiple medical conditions
• Have medical conditions that are
not well controlled
• The following medical conditions
put you at greater risk:
• Hypertension
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney, heart and lung
disease
• Cancer
• HIV
• TB
Those at risk need more careful monitoring
• Make sure your underlying medical conditions are
well controlled. Take your hypertension, diabetes
and other medicines correctly and on time.
• Monitor your blood pressure and sugar. If you are
diabetic it is a very good idea to get a home device
to measure your sugar.
• Consider getting a pulse oximeter. This is an easy-to-
use device which measures the oxygen saturation
(level) in your blood and helps to identify early on
when you are in need of medical attention.
• The oxygen saturation should always be greater than
92%
Strengthen your immune system
• Eat healthy meals, drink water, sleep well, get plenty of rest but also
remember to stay active.
• Stop smoking!
• Take the following vitamins:
• zinc 200mg daily
• vitamin D 50 000iu once off
• vitamin C 1000mg daily
• vitamin B complex 1 tablet daily
• Do not take steroids or hydroxychloroquine or any medicines you have
heard of in the media. Many of these treatments have not been proven to
work or are reserved for seriously ill patients who are being treated in
hospital.
Use the usual cold and flu remedies to relieve
your symptoms
• Take Panado for fever and pain
• Drink warm honey and lemon water or use lozenges to relieve sore throats
• Do warm water and salt gargles twice daily
• Steam or use a humidifier with eucalyptus or Vicks as dry air is not good for
your lungs
• Traditional remedies like black seed, turmeric, ginger and other natural
substances known for their anti-inflammatory properties are not harmful
and may help
If you feel a little short of breath
• Sleep on your stomach for as much as possible with
your head turned to the side (prone position)
• It helps to prop a pillow lengthwise underneath your head and chest for this
• You can also cycle between laying on your belly, on your side and sitting up
1. 30 minutes – 2 hours: laying on your
belly
2. 30 minutes – 2 hours: laying on your
right side
3. 30 minutes – 2 hours: sitting up 4. 30 minutes – 2 hours: laying on your
left side
Then back to Position 1
Breathing exercises to clear your lungs
and improve flow of oxygen
DEEP BREATHING and FORCED EXPIRATION
Take a deep breath in through the nose.
At the end of it, hold your breath for five seconds.
Then breathe out through the mouth.
Do this five times — five breaths total.
Next, take a sixth deep breath in, then at the end of it
cough strongly — covering your mouth when you do so.
The six breaths plus cough at the end represent once
cycle. Repeat this cycle twice.
BALLOON BLOWING
You can also blow up a balloon as
breathing against resistance helps to expand
the chest.
PURSED-LIP BREATHING
Breathe in through your nose and breathe out at least
twice as long through your mouth, with pursed lips.
BELLY BREATHING
Lie on your back. Bend your knees.
Breathe deeply through your nose, allowing your
chest and belly to expand.
Breathe out through your mouth at least twice as
long as your inhale.
Perform for 1 minute.
Then, rest for 30 seconds.
The idea is to get the lower part of your lungs to expand so that any
mucus that’s collecting there can be dislodged and coughed out
When should you seek medical help?
• If your symptoms are worsening or have not improved after 7 days
• If you become confused or have difficulty concentrating
• If you develop a new fever or your fever returns
• If you develop chest pain
• If you are diabetic and your sugar level is very high or very low
• If your breathing becomes difficult, and the number of breaths you take in
one minute (respiratory rate) is more than 25
• If your oxygen level on the pulse oximeter is lower than 92%
Do not go to your GP’s rooms
Call the doctor or arrange a virtual medical consultation
Or call an ambulance and go to the hospital
