Advice From Doctor Reisa To Avoid Family Clusters When Self-Isolation

Spokesperson for the COVID-19 Task Force Reisa Broto Asmoro/Antara

JAKARTA - Government Spokesperson for COVID-19 Reisa Broto Asmoro asked the entire community to prevent the formation of many family clusters when carrying out self-isolation (isoman) by remaining disciplined in carrying out health protocols (prokes).

"That's one of the loopholes, so indeed, during this pandemic, it's really important for us to immediately detect what kind of confirmed disease we have and what is currently circulating around us the most is COVID-19," Reisa said online in Jakarta, as reported by Antara, Monday, February 21.

To ensure the safety and resilience of the family in dealing with COVID-19, Reisa said that every member who begins to feel flu-like symptoms such as cough, runny nose, and sore throat followed by fever, must immediately do a COVID-19 test, either through an antigen swab test or a PCR swab.

This is intended to break the chain of infection in the family and determine whether family members have contracted COVID-19 or other diseases such as influenza.

“We have to really believe that we can protect other family members at home. Don't let anyone get infected," said Reisa.

In addition to making sure that if one of the families is infected, Reisa asks the public to continue to comply with health protocols by maintaining a distance and wearing a mask right on the nose.

Every family must be diligent in spraying disinfectants to every side of the house, diligently washing hands, and ensuring air circulation from both windows and doors goes well.

The public is also advised that although they are self-isolating at home with other healthy families, it is hoped that there will be no close contact through activities such as eating or watching television together so that cluster formation does not occur.

According to Reisa, in addition to carrying out public health protocols, one must also be careful in paying attention to clinical requirements or the requirements of a house that is used as a place of isolation so that self-isolation can run well.

For clinical requirements, the community must ensure that patients who are self-isolating have a maximum age of 45 years, have no comorbidities, and can access telemedicine health services.

Meanwhile, the requirement for a house to isolate itself is to have a separate bedroom and bathroom that is used by other family members. In addition, isolation at home is also expected to have health check tools such as thermometers, oximeters, or their own oxygen saturation measurements.

She hopes that all parties can self-isolate in accordance with government recommendations and routinely consult with health workers so that isolation activities in the family-run well and optimally.

"So, if you are positive, immediately consult and isolate, if for example, we have the slightest symptoms, we can immediately anticipate doing self-isolation. So we take care of ourselves and our loved ones,” said Reisa who is also the Ambassador for the Adaptation of New Habits.