We have beenhearing a lot about quarantine. Quarantine is to isolate from normal relationsand routine activities or communication and is recommended for apparentlyhealthy people who may have been exposed to the virus (suspects) and maypotentially transmit the same to others. These healthy individuals may fallsick due to possible exposure and are therefore advised to go onself-quarantine or may be ordered by state or local administration to stay homeor in facilities like hospitals (public or private), hotels, schools, worshipplaces etc. to isolate them from normal relations in order to preventtransmission of virus to others. Quarantine can be unpleasant and lasts for 14days which is the presumed incubation period for the virus.
Whilequarantine all together is a hardship both emotional as well as financial andthe process may be a little frightening to most of the suspects undergoing thesame, however, among all available options of quarantine, home quarantine canbe assumed as the most pleasant option when one thinks of the benefits itoffers, some among those are highlighted here:
Comfort of Home:
When askedto seclude yourself it becomes harder than it sounds, it may sound like avacation from reality an ideal time to binge and catch up on sleep. But thereare practical and logistic challenges as it’s not easy to lock yourself awayfrom friends and family, being quarantine can be one’s own decision to protectown self and the family or it may be because they are bound by state or localguidelines. Being at home gives one calmness and a relaxed feeling having beenwell adapted to the environment, one has less to complaint.
Compliance:
It isexpected that those in facility quarantine have more chances of beingrebellious because putting suspects in a facility quarantine can give them afeeling of being ill, jailed or locked away as they may not have the otherliberties like those in home quarantine thus leaving them more stressed therebyleading to revolt resulting in compromise with compliance of guidelines.However being at home does not throw any such challenges steering to highercompliance of guidelines.
Utilization of Human & Other Related Resources:
Once thesuspects are under facility quarantine, it requires man-power, money, space andother related infrastructure to take care of those people. However, when putunder home quarantine and family members are well instructed on how to takecare of a person who is in quarantine whilst protecting themselves; it leavesthe specialized human resources used for monitoring in case of facilityquarantine to be channelized for confirmed infected cases, moreover helping inutilizing the money and other infrastructure for procurement of testing kitsand management of other treatment facilities.
Stigma is less:
It’s notsomething unusual if we find social norms influential and the stigma associatedwith the virus makes one more vulnerable to these influences thus making themshy away from being quarantined in common facilities and if one stays in afacility quarantine and comes out after 14 days, the social stigma that willfollow will have an impact on him for long on the other hand being in homequarantine has less of such social influence.
Prevention of Cross Infection:
Whensuspects are put under facility quarantine, they may be put along some otherpeople, who may be asymptomatic patients of COVID-19, thus increasing the riskof non-infected suspects to acquire the same. It thus poses more threat whileattempting to prevent the spread of infection. Hence, keeping the suspectsunder home quarantine may prevent their exposure to the asymptomatic patientsand prevent them for being converted to infected patients.
Added Care:
Whensuspects are around their loved ones it is bound that they receive added careand affection. When it comes to one’s family its well understood that one maynot want them to acquire the infection, hence renders a suspect to be morecautious and more particular to follow all the guidelines for quarantine.
Food and Environment:
It is a factthat an individual cannot compromise on food for long, moreover the attempts tomeet the constantly changing conditions are adding to the stress of a suspectin quarantine conversely when one’s food habits and environment stays the samewhilst being at home, there is less apprehension of upsetting one’s sentiments.
Personalized Monitoring:
When familymembers become the primary caregivers. It is observed that they keep a keenwatch and thus help attain a more individualised care.
Mental Health:
The suspectswhen put under facility quarantine may feel depressed, insecure and isolated,thus it is bound that their mental health will be more affected before thevirus can do any harm as the feeling of anxiety, stigma and the post-traumaticstress can leave a long impact on one’s mental health. This all can be reducedin a home quarantine as the aura around is very familiar and soothing, theydon’t feel dejected and thus they have a stable mental health leading to apositive impact.
Greater Independence:
For asuspect at home quarantine it is rare to find opportunities like these when onegets “me time”, to learn something new, spend good family time and execute thechores keeping them involved but with a sense of greater independence.
Work From Home:
Once putunder facility quarantine, suspects are bound to be there and with meagreavailable facilities they can’t work remotely or even study, thus affectingtheir career and or studies. Nevertheless while in home quarantine working alittle on the ergonomics and setting up home office can help to be an effectivetool to ensure continuity of work from the comfort of home and subsides therelated stress of being in quarantine.
All of ushave a responsibility to protect oneself, our families,our friends andthecommunity we live in, we should voluntarily decide tobe home quarantined,follow all the guidelines religiously and advocate it to others as well.
As theproverb says “you don’t find refuge from storm; you find refuge in the storm”The bottom line is home quarantine only works to limit the spread of disease ifpeople stick to it. How well will it work or how effective it is as compared toother measures is less certain.
The Authors are working as Senior Resident in Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, Srinagar