Have you been in close contact with a Covid-positive person? Here's what you need to do, from isolation to testing.

Tracking cases is becoming increasingly difficult, and with cases of covid-19 increasing day by day, in schools, offices, families,  we can responsibly trigger immediate alerts through being aware of having had close contact with a positive person. 

What is close contact? 

Close contact refers to a person who has been close to a positive case, in the period from 48 hours before to 10 days after that person developed symptoms.

“Close" is understood to be less than 2 meters away.

It is also important to understand the duration of the contact: contact lasting at least 15 minutes is indicated as close. 

Their are two types of close contact: high or low risk.

High risk close contact is a person who:

• Lives in the same house as a person who has tested postive.
• Had contact closer than two meters distance, and without a mask for more than 15 minutes.
• Had direct physical contact, such as a handshake or even touching the tissue, napkin, etc. of a covid positive person.
• Traveled by car, train, bus or plane sitting within two seats, in any direction, of a positive case of covid. 

Also read: Coronavirus in Europe

Low-risk close contact is a person who:

• Had contact at a physical distance of at least two meters.
• At the time of contact was wearing a mask.

What to do in case of close contact with a covid positive person?

• Quarantine for 10 days.
• Stay isolated in your house.
• Remain isolated even from other cohabitants.
• Do not share personal items with other people living together (phone, mug, computer...).
• Ventilate the isolation room.
• Always wear a mask if you come into contact with other people living with you.
• Always maintain a two meter distance if you come into contact with people you live with.
• Measure your temperature twice a day.
• Do not take medications that lower your temperature two hours before measurement.
• If symptoms appear, the quarantine period of another 10 days starts again.
  

Also read: Coronavirus in Italy

Testing

• After 10 days of quarantine, have a molecular swab carried out, by contacting your doctor or Asl.
• If the swab is positive, you remain in isolation for another 10 days, repeat the swab and, if still positive but without symptoms, on the 21st day isolation stops.
• If the swab is negative, quarantine stops immediately.