INFORMATION SHEET FOR NEW COVID POSITIVE PATIENTS

You should isolate yourself at home if you tested positive for COVID-19, with or without symptoms.
COVID tests can be positive even if you do not have symptoms.

You will have to isolate for at least 20 days from the onset of symptoms and this time may vary
depending on your symptom progress. Once symptomatic, you will receive calls based on the severity of
your symptoms. The main purpose of this call is to check on you and your family, to ensure that you
are stable enough to remain under home quarantine. If the doctor is concerned, they will request that
you be transferred to a covid facility for closer monitoring and medical care. N.B. We cannot effectively
manage severe symptoms medically over the phone; it is always safer to be transferred to a tertiary
facility when necessary.

You will not be re-swabbed at the end of your isolation as this is unnecessary. We follow the necessary
protocols / recommended guidelines for quarantine and isolation. As such, once you have completed
your full quarantine time, you are no longer considered contagious (even with mild symptoms). It is
possible to still test positive on PCR for several weeks after isolation due to how sensitive the test is.

Your release is automatic once you have completed the designated quarantine period stated on the
quarantine order.

While in home isolation, you should separate yourself and stay away from other people in your
household.
As much as possible, stay in a specific room and away from others in your home. Use a separate
bathroom if you can. Do not leave your home except to get urgent medical care at hospital.

 Take care of yourself by getting plenty of rest, stay hydrated, taking over-the-counter medicines
once you are not allergic to them – our preferences are Paracetamol (acetaminophen), nasal
decongestants, allergy / sinus medication and expectorants.
 Keep track of your symptoms (such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath) and temperature,
pulse and oxygen level (SPO2) daily if you have those readings.
 Use a face mask over your nose and mouth anytime other people are in the same room with
you. Cover your coughs/sneezes with a tissue and discard it after use.
  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
 Do not share personal items such as eating utensils or bedding. Wash anything you have used,
including linens, separately from the rest of the household.
 Clean all "high-touch" areas with your usual household cleaning products in the home, such as
doorknobs, fixtures, toilets, phones, counters, and other surfaces.

Call 811 (GMRTT – ambulance) at any time if you have:

 Trouble breathing
 Chest pain or pressure that does not resolve in a few minutes
 Confusion
 Weakness
 Blue lips or face
 Any other symptoms that are severe or concern you
 Tell them you are COVID positive, and they will take you to an appropriate hospital
that treats COVID positive patients.

A few things to note:

 You will be called by our surveillance team to collect contact tracing information. For contact
tracing and quarantine order queries, you can contact the surveillance numbers at: 493-2974,
493-2864, 282-4297, 493-0964, 493-2876, 493-2922, 274-4471.
 If you are symptomatic and did not receive a call, please message one of our doctors between
the hours of 8:00 am to 3:00 pm stating your name and date of birth on 493-2920; 279-1509;
279-1869.
 The quarantine directions you received will act like your “sick leave” for your employer. In the
event of any necessary extension of your isolation/quarantine period, we will send you an
extension notice and issue a final quarantine directions.
 You will not be given any release from quarantine form/fit for work at the end of your
quarantine period as this is not needed and your release is automatic.