Elizabeth Johnson Positive! Are you wondering what to do if a family member gets coronavirus? We lived it and have firsthand tips to share.
There is a negative stigma going around about catching coronavirus, but it isn’t your fault. We thought we were cautious—even a little over the top.
Check out my tips for preventing the flu.
I had the children change their clothes and take baths after school, I wiped down eating surfaces multiple times a day, and I cleaned common areas such as doorknobs and faucet handles. It didn’t matter.
In the end, COVID found its way into our house.
And chances are no matter how “clean” you are it can spread to you and your family quickly.
Keep reading for our best tips on what to do if a family member gets coronavirus.
How COVID Entered Our Home
We aren’t exactly sure how coronavirus entered our home. It’s one of two reasons. The first could have been our daughter. Her school had coronavirus cases, but the reporting system is delayed and shrouded in mystery in the name of HIPAA.
I am all about privacy, but the school still hasn’t even reported our case though my daughter is already off quarantine and back to school. And that’s how it goes when they do report it, the school won’t tell you which class or even grade level the case was in. It wouldn’t matter anyway because it was weeks prior when your child was exposed.
I find that extremely disturbing.
The second possible exposure, and most likely, was from my husband and his work. He wears a mask but has close contact with others.
Since coronavirus is easily spread through the air, he likely got it this way.
What to Do if a Family Member Gets Coronavirus
1) Prevent Coronavirus Spread
My husband’s symptoms were those of a bad cold. A stuffy nose, no fever, and we didn’t think it was coronavirus. So, by the time we had him tested (when he thought he was losing taste) we were all exposed.
The most important thing to remember when you think you may have the first signs of any illness is to wear a mask, even in your home. It is best to eat meals outdoors if you can. And open 2 windows to get a cross breeze to air out your home.
When it comes down to what to do if a family member gets coronavirus one of the most vital things to do is to quarantine. The ill person should be quarantined away from the family at all times, with their clothing source and meals in this area, and should have a designated bathroom to use.
I know this can be challenging, but try to do this the best you can.
Out of our three children only my 7-year-old daughter showed signs of being ill. She had a stuffy nose for a day and a half. My husband did recall two of my children mentioning headaches the week before, but they were quickly passing and we didn’t connect it at the time.
So, be aware that you or a family member may be a carrier and not even know it.
2) Get Tested
It’s important to get tested right away, this will not only help identify an issue, but also helps inform the Health Department. You must have a PCR test verses a rapid test. A negative rapid test is not considered accurate enough.
It is critical to have your children tested as soon as possible. A positive PCR test will adjust their quarantine time and lessen the length of time they will need to be home from school. This made a big difference for our family.
3) Dealing With the Health Department
Be mentally prepared to get numerous phone calls from the health department, the school, and the school or county coronavirus team. We have three children, so not only did I have to answer for myself I needed to address calls for each of them as well.
Add all of the well-meaning family members and you will be getting lots of phone calls. Unfortunately, it’s when you may not be feeling your best.
These days, it is common to not answer your phone to numbers you don’t know, but during this time I recommend answering local calls. Chances are it will be coronavirus related.
4) Be Prepared
I know it’s a little late to be prepared, but on the off chance you are reading this before your loved one is infected, I recommend that you stock up on some nonperishable foods and items.
For example, I had started getting a little bit extra at each grocery visit just in case there was another run on the grocery stores or in case we fell I’ll and couldn’t go. I made sure we had Gatorade, medicine, and food stocked up.
When we found out my husband was ill, we sent him off to stay at my mother’s empty condo. His father was kind enough to send him some microwaveable chicken soup, drinks, and some snacks.
He sent another generous box of snacks for the kids. This was a real blessing while they were home from school. It was great having a variety of items for snack time, so if you are looking to help a family member out during their illness, I recommend it.
If needed, you could do no contact grocery pickup. Or have your groceries delivered through Shipt.
Last but not least, be prepared for managing online learning. Have a plan. Know what computer your children will use and where your children will be working.
This can be a challenge if you are working from home yourself, so figure out a schedule that will work best for you.
5) Let It Go
This time can be very stressful. I get it, and it totally was for us. Just do the best you can.
If you aren’t able to get your child logged onto online learning the first day it’s okay. Things will work out in the end.
It’s no use adding more anxiety during already stressful times.
On my worse day I ordered Grubhub for dinner (in full disclosure my mother helped pay for it) and it was worth every penny. The leftovers were great for lunch the next day.
With my husband quarantining away, it was that little bit of help I needed when I was ill taking care of three healthy children full of energy.
Let them play video games, learning apps, or watch a show if that brings you a moment of rest. It’s okay to make exceptions to your screen time rules when you aren’t feeling well.
Final Thoughts on What to Do When a Family Member Gets COVID
I hope these tips help you know what to do if a family member gets coronavirus. We were lucky enough that in the end my husband and I weren’t more ill than a bad head cold. I hope the same for your family, and I certainly hope there are no long-term ramifications from the illness.
I used Musinex and a netty pot to help me get through the worst part of my illness. In addition, I took my daily vitamin in the a.m. and the p.m. which is more than recommended. Also, I took extra vitamin C throughout my day.
Drink lots of liquid and get rest like you would with any illness.
I hope you are safe throughout this pandemic, but please be extra careful if you have elderly or ill persons in your home.
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