Coronavirus self-isolation

As practice has shown since the beginning of the pandemic, self-isolation is one of the most effective methods to contain the epidemic of coronavirus infection. For us, this is a new experience, and, admittedly, not everyone liked the new restrictions and requirements. Although now there is no longer a total lockdown, when we were forced to stay at home, but in certain situations, self-isolation cannot be avoided¹.

Who, when and under what conditions need to observe the regime of self-isolation, who is shown to be in quarantine, how long he has and what to do at home – let’s figure it out!

By the way, no one has canceled penalties for violating self-isolation, and some careless citizens may well “get” a large amount today if they violate the instructions of Rospotrebnadzor².

What is “self-isolation mode”

The so-called self-isolation regime or “voluntary isolation” is a forced measure that many states around the world have taken to help contain the spread of the insidious virus and reduce the number of cases. This helps to reduce the burden on healthcare, reduce the risk of severe complications in especially vulnerable categories of people.

The peculiarity of self-isolation in case of coronavirus infection is that not only infected people, as is typical for other infectious diseases, but also quite healthy people who can become potential spreaders of the infection need to stay at home and isolate themselves from all contact with others. These are, for example, those people who were in contact with sick citizens or arrived from abroad (before receiving a negative PCR test)³.

In addition, by decision of the regional authorities (governor or mayor), self-isolation measures can be applied for certain groups of the population:

• people with serious chronic diseases;
• pregnant women;
• mothers with children up to a year;
• working pensioners who are over 60-65 years old.

Who should go into self-isolation

According to the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor, there are a number of people who need to go into self-isolation on a mandatory basis with an extract of an order for this action. This group includes the following categories of citizens:

1. Patients with asymptomatic COVID-19. This category of people has become relevant precisely during the period of a new coronavirus infection. Although asymptomatic carriage is possible with other infections, it was during this pandemic that this category of people acquired particular importance. In the body of asymptomatic patients, the virus actively multiplies and is released into the environment. The resistance of the immune system to the aggression of viral particles does not manifest itself in any way. But these people are especially dangerous to others, as they spread the infection without even knowing it.
2. People who have mild symptoms of coronavirus infection. With such a course of the disease, treatment at home is acceptable, under the supervision of a doctor, but this does not mean at all that the patient can walk around the streets and even go to the clinic. Today we already know that if all safety measures are observed, it is possible to be treated at home without becoming a “hotbed of infection”. Therefore, it is important to follow all the rules of self-isolation, staying at home for the entire period of illness until the complete disappearance of clinical symptoms and negative tests for the presence of the virus in the blood.
3. Persons who have had direct contact with the sick person (this is the so-called first-level contact). This is a close relative of the patient or work colleagues who sat next to him in the office. These people may well be contagious, therefore, potentially dangerous to others. It is important to go into self-isolation, since it is almost impossible to determine the virus at an early stage.
4. People with serious chronic diseases. These measures allow them to keep their health and life, since this is one of the risk groups for the severe and complicated course of COVID-19. In addition, the treatment of seriously ill patients is very expensive, and disability benefits are less of a burden on the budget than therapy.
5. Pregnant and lactating mothers. This group is also vulnerable to severe infection and risk to the infant. Therefore, it is worth following the recommendations and staying at home.
6. Working pensioners over 65. They, at their own request, having warned employers, can also self-isolate for a period of high incidence, as now, in the third wave of the pandemic. They will receive disability benefits. But there is a second option – the transition of such an employee to a remote location (if possible).

What pathologies require self-isolation

The analysis of epidemic data received since the beginning of the pandemic has allowed doctors and scientists to create lists of patients with chronic pathologies who need self-isolation in the first place. These lists are included in the guidelines of WHO and the ministries of health of all countries as persons who are expected to have a severe course of the disease.

In accordance with these methodological recommendations, each subject of the Russian Federation draws up its own lists of chronic pathologies, for which self-isolation is recommended when the epidemiological situation worsens. And on the basis of these orders, sick leaves are issued to patients leaving for self-isolation. This reduces the number of contacts these people have with potentially infectious people.

The list takes into account the workload of hospitals, climate, characteristics of the region and infrastructure, and can be taken as a basis for the capital list. It includes:

• persons after transplantation of organs or tissues;
• patients with various forms of immunodeficiency;
• persons with oncological pathologies, including those who have undergone chemo-, X-ray or adjuvant therapy, surgical treatment;
• people with severe pathologies of the cardiovascular system (post-infarction condition, heart failure, angina pectoris, etc.);
• people with obesity of 3-4 degrees;
• patients with diabetes;
• people with autoimmune lesions of the musculoskeletal system (arthritis, lupus, vasculitis);
• asthmatics, people with tuberculosis and severe lesions of the respiratory system;
• patients with lesions of the kidneys and urinary system.

The self-isolation regime for this group of people is introduced by a special decree or resolution of the regional Ministry of Health.

How to isolate when sick with COVID-19

If you suspect coronavirus, it is important to stay at home and call a doctor. You can not go outside your own apartment or outside the territory of a private house. This threatens with a fine and a shift in the terms of isolation. If there are other people at home, you need to isolate yourself in a separate room, giving yourself separate linen, dishes, hygiene products.

Leave the room only in a protective mask, and household members should often disinfect, wipe everything that an infected family member has touched. Constantly ventilate the premises, if possible – use air purifiers and bactericidal lamps.

How long does coronavirus isolation last?

According to the current requirements of Rospotrebnadzor, it is necessary to stay in self-isolation after contact for 14 days. This is the incubation period for the coronavirus. If, when passing the test on the 10th day from the beginning of isolation, it is negative, from the 15th day you can exit self-isolation.

For people with chronic pathologies, the regime of self-isolation is determined by the order of the leaders of the region. Self-isolation can last the entire tense period, even several months.

Asymptomatic and mildly ill people are kept in isolation for up to 18-26 days. That’s just the deadline for getting two negative tests.

What will happen for violating the terms of self-isolation

For persons who are sick or asymptomatic, as well as for level 1 contacts, both administrative and criminal liability is provided for violating the self-isolation regime (if it infects other people).

• According to paragraph 2 of Art. 6.3 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, and violation of the requirements of self-isolation threatens with a fine of up to 40,0 thousand rubles.
• According to paragraph 1 of Art. 20.6.1 of the Code of Administrative Offenses in case of non-compliance with the rules of conduct in the event of an emergency, a fine of up to 30,0 thousand rubles is possible.
• According to Part 1 of Art. 19.4 if the requirements of Rospotrebnadzor are not met, a fine of up to 1,0 thousand rubles is imposed.
• According to Part 1 of Art. 19.5 in case of violation of sanitary legislation, a fine of up to 500 rubles is possible.

Popular questions and answers

Sources:

1. Newsletter on the situation and measures taken to prevent the spread of diseases caused by the new coronavirus 09.07.2021/18306/3517595 https://www.rospotrebnadzor.ru/about/info/news/news_details.php?ELEMENT_ID=XNUMX&sphrase_id=XNUMX
2. If you have coronavirus: answering the top 10 questions about patients’ rights when infected with COVID-19. https://stopcoronavirus.rf/news/20201018-1958.html
3. Decree of the Chief State Sanitary Doctor of the Russian Federation dated March 18.03.2021, 7 No. 19 “On ensuring the isolation regime in order to prevent the spread of COVID-XNUMX”.