What to do when exposed to persons with Covid-19

FARMERS from north Isabela receive CLOAs and assistance from Dept. of Agrarian Reform and provincial government of Isabela during distribution at  City of Ilagan on July 23. (Photo by Isabela PIO)

By Venus May H. Sarmiento

DAGUPAN CITY – Here’s what to do when one is exposed to a Covid-19 positive patient, according to Dr. Dean Zenarosa, resident doctor of the Philippine Information Agency in a post crafted with his fellow doctors on the matter.

With the rising number of Covid-19 positive patients, Zenarosa said one can call the Dept. of Health hotline 1555 for personalized recommendations but there are general principles which people ought to follow upon exposure, on whether or not one is tested.

She said if an exposed individual is symptomatic, meaning he is manifesting fever, cough or colds and sore throat, a test is probably needed and proper instructions on how to safely access the test and decrease the risk of spreading it to those around him, must be followed.

“Put on a mask in the meantime and isolate yourself as much as possible,” he said.  “If you are short of breath, proceed to the nearest emergency room. If you have mild symptoms, then you may be instructed to isolate at home after the test has been done. If you do not have an adequate set up for isolation at home, contact the local government unit to ask about community isolation facilities in your area.”

For an asymptomatic (showing no symptoms) individual, a test may or may not be needed depending on when he was exposed, and how much he was exposed, he said.

“If it has been more than 14 days since your last exposure to the confirmed COVID-19 patient and you never developed symptoms, then you don’t need to test or isolate for that particular contact,” the doctor said.

However, If it has been less than 14 days, one needs to consider the degree of exposure.

First, the individual must try to remember if it was  a close contact.

This means any direct physical contact; or more than 15 minutes at less than three feet; more than two hours in the same enclosed area; or provided care to a confirmed patient without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE).

“If yes, you should quarantine yourself immediately. You may be tested, but it should be done at least five days from the last contact since doing the test too early yields a lot of false negatives. If it has been more than five days, then you can opt to get tested or can just continue quarantine to complete 14 days even without a test. If at any time you develop symptoms before the 14 days is over, then you should get tested. If the test comes back negative, your physician will decide whether to continue quarantine or not since there can still be false negatives. Do not break quarantine without speaking to a healthcare worker,” Zenarosa said.

Second, if it wasn't a close contact, then the individual probably doesn't need to test unless he develops symptoms.

Activities should be limited and mask use should be meticulous especially within 14 days from exposure just in case symptoms do develop.

Zenarosa said DOH and the LGU do have discretion if they wish to test an individual anyway especially if there are large clusters in the locality.

“Please cooperate and let yourself be tested if requested and don't insist on testing if the authorities say it isn't warranted,” he said.

In cases when a person is exposed to someone who was exposed to a positive case but has not yet been tested, then same principles above should be applied on close contact and presence or absence of symptoms.

The person would be a second generation contact, and will not need isolate or test unless symptoms develop, or the person you were exposed to does test positive or develops symptoms.

“You should observe meticulous masking and physical distance while waiting for your contact's result. If your contact's test is negative and he remains asymptomatic, then you don't need testing unless you develop symptoms or were exposed to someone else.  As always, this can be overruled by local authorities or DOH especially if there is a cluster of infections,” he added. -- PIA Pangasinan