How to Quarantine at Home – Easy Family Guide to COVID 19

The Family Guide to COVID 19 – How to Quarantine at Home

If you’re like me, you’ve been glued to the news lately watching for updates on the COVID19 pandemic. And if you have kids, you’re probably feeling even more stressed out about what all of this means for your family. Well, never fear!

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about how to quarantine at home with your loved ones. From food and entertainment ideas to ways to keep in touch with friends and family, we’ve got you covered! Stay safe and stay sane during these crazy times!

It seems every day the Covid-19 Virus is escalating.  If we are to be quarantined – what might that look like?  We look at how to prepare for a long lockdown quarantine period, and the steps you should take if you or a member of your family comes down with the virus.

Preparation for Quarantine:

We have been told for a few weeks now to have 14 days’ worth of supplies on hand.  If you are prepared both mentally and physically, you and your family will find the lockdown quarantine at home easier to cope with.

Things you should have on hand to prepare for a lockdown period:

• 14 Days of Food (non-perishable)
• 90 days’ worth of prescribed medications on hand (did you know there are online pharmacies in Australia that will post your medication to you!).
• Have a well-stocked First Aid Kit including a thermometer, cold and flu medication, and pain relief.
• Check out our ‘Family Essentials for a Two Week Corona Virus Quarantine’.

How you can help others:

• If you have elderly neighbours or parents nearby, ensure you have enough items to cover them too.
• Be patient and courteous to supermarket staff.  They are under a tremendous amount of pressure at the moment.
• Don’t panic buy and leave shelves empty – there is plenty to go around and you’ll only put stress on already stressed resources.

Getting ready for work and school

In the past few weeks, we all have been adapting to a new way of life with the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people are working and going to school remotely, while others have been ordered to stay home and practice social distancing. If you are one of the latter, here are some tips on how to make the most of your time with a quarantine at home!

Work from home ready

• Talk about the structure with your employer – how you will communicate, what are the tasks, filing documents, etc.
• Set up your home office.
• Communicate with everyone at home when it comes to working hours – no interruptions, less noise, etc.
• Hang a “do not disturb” placard at your office door.
• Take breaks and walk around the garden. Or, play with your kids if they’re available.
• Prepare your snacks and meals before work, if you sorely don’t want to be interrupted. Or, if you’re really busy at work!
• Organize your documents – online and offline.
• Pick a time to finish.

Just because you’re working at home doesn’t mean you have to work 24/7! Pick a definite time to rest and schedule things in order.

Get your kids ready for virtual schooling

Are your kids home from school during the COVID-19 pandemic? If so, you may be wondering how to keep them occupied and learning during quarantine at home. Don’t worry – there are plenty of online resources that can help. This post will introduce you to some of the best ones. Keep your kids busy and learning during this time of social isolation!

• Stock up on school supplies and learning materials
• Set up a designated work area for each child
• Create a routine and stick to it
• Encourage your kids to ask questions and get help when they need it
• Take breaks, have fun, and stay positive!

If your kids are like mine, they’re probably spending a lot of time glued to their screens lately. Whether it’s playing games, watching movies, or even just scrolling through social media, there’s a good chance that technology is keeping them occupied. So what if we could put that screen time to good use and get them ready for virtual schooling during the COVID-19 quarantine at home?

Recommended Educational Sites and Activities for Children:

• 20+ Educational Websites for Kids
• 100 School Holiday Activities for Teenagers Who are Easily Bored
• 50 Free School Holiday Activities For the Kids
• 50 Fun And Cheap School Holiday Activities

Subscribe to Be Informed:

Now is a good time to keep informed.  Listen to your Doctor’s orders or that of Medical Professionals giving press conferences. These are the professionals you should be listening to and follow their directives.

Great websites to keep informed include:

• Australian Government Health Website
• World Health Organisation
• Health Direct Australia

How you can help others:

• Ensure that elderly parents or neighbours quarantine at home will be cared for during the lockdown period.
• Subscribe to your child’s school newsletter or Facebook Page to keep updated on what the schools are implementing.
• Contact sporting clubs and gyms etc to find out updates or check their Facebook pages.

Preventing Infection in the Home:

Wash Your Hands

Wash your hands regularly and use a hand sanitiser if you have it.  If you blow your nose, sneeze, or cough, ensure you wash your hands again. Make sure your kids understand the need to wash their hands regularly!

More Reading: Where You Can Buy Hand Sanitiser Online in Australia

Personal Hygiene

• Keep your fingernails short and scrubbed at all times.
• Try to avoid touching your face
• Get into the habit of using hand sanitiser regularly during the day if you cannot wash your hands with soap and water.
• Ensure hands are washed for at least 20 seconds after sneezing, blowing your nose, or using the toilet.
• Use paper towels to dry your hands and dispose of those paper towels in the bin right away.

Regularly Clean High-Touch Areas

Using gloves, use disinfectant to clean all high-touch surfaces in the home every day.  High-touch surfaces include:

• Door knobs
• Keyboards
• Phones and Tablets (clean with recommended cleaner according to manufacturer’s instructions)
• Table tops
• Benchtops
• Toilet Seats

Try Not to Share Household Items

Do not share items like towels, cutlery, bedding, or drinking glasses.  Ensure each item is cleaned well with hot soapy water after every use or washed in the dishwasher every single time.

Keep the House Clean

• Ensure that the bathrooms, kitchen sinks, and toilets are cleaned and wiped with disinfectant regularly.
• Wash bedding regularly using the hottest setting.
• Soak any used kitchen cloths in a mixture of boiling water and bleach between uses
• Assign all the family members their own towels (preferable their own colours) and stress that they only use their assigned colour.

The Quarantine Period:

A quarantine will mean that all members of the family are to remain home.  No member of the family should be going to work, school, or attend public areas, including supermarkets. The only reason to go out of the home would be to seek medical treatment (call ahead to your Doctor or Hospital first so they are expecting you).

• Do not allow any visitors during your quarantine at home.
• Do not visit elderly neighbours or parents (but call regularly to ensure they are okay).
• If you do need to seek medical assistance, wear a facemask when leaving your home.

Mental Health and Quarantine at home:

Being cooped up with your family can be very stressful, boring, or cause conflict amongst household members. Ways to improve this include:

• Ensure everyone can get outside in the backyard to get fresh air without mixing with others.
• Talk to other family members via social media or Skype on a regular basis.
• Try and keep to a normal routine as much as is possible
• Exercise at home regularly.
• Talk to your family members about how they are feeling.  Encourage teens to talk to their friends via social media.
• Limit social media and news about Covid-19 to small children who may not understand what is happening.  Reassure them that they are safe.

Fun Things to Do with Your Family

• Enjoy a movie marathon – there are even Pandemic Movies that you can enjoy during your quarantine at home!
• To keep fit and active whilst still at home, put a Youtube video or start an online fitness program with the whole family.
• Have a family barbecue or picnic on the lounge room floor.
• Bring out the board games and cards!
• Get in the kitchen with the family and cook up something yummy.

What if a Family Member Gets Sick:

Better Health Victoria states that if a family member becomes ill, only one member of the household should take care of that sick person.  Try and place the sick person into isolation (ie their own bedroom with their door closed) and if you can, keep the bathroom and toilet they use just for them.

Ensure the sick person wears a face mask if they must leave their room, and for them to try and remain at least 1.5 metres away from other family members.

Keep a close eye on the progression of the illness, and regularly update your family Doctor, or hospital on their condition. You can do this by:

• Monitoring their temperature (check you have a thermometer)
• Ensuring that they are breathing easily
• Keep your medical practitioner updated on their condition.

Our Essential Guide for quarantine at home will be updated regularly over the Covid-19 Outbreak.

Check back regularly for updates.

Are you finding yourself stuck and quarantine at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic? Do you want to make sure that your time is spent as productively and comfortably as possible? If so, this guide is for you! In it, we’ll provide tips on how to quarantine at home, as well as ways to keep yourself and your family entertained and occupied. We hope that you find it helpful!