As the number of coronavirus cases grows in the U.S., we’re hearing a lot about how social distancing, self-monitoring and even quarantine play into containment efforts.
But what do those terms mean and when do they apply?
We asked experts and found out there is some overlap and lots of confusion.
Here’s a quick guide for what you need to know.
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Q. Why is all this happening?
A. In the U.S., testing got off to a slow start, limiting efforts to isolate those with the disease. Public health experts now say the most important goal is to slow the spread of the coronavirus so that the number of people who require medical attention doesn’t overwhelm hospitals.
If evidence holds from experiences to date in countries further along in the outbreak, most people who contract this virus will have mild cases. Still, the data from abroad indicates that 10% to 20% could end up in a more serious condition. That means if tens of millions of Americans come down with COVID-19, potentially hundreds of thousands may need hospital care.
No one wants that to happen.
“That could stress the health system. We’re trying to avoid becoming like Italy,” said Joshua Sharfstein, vice dean for Public Health Practice and Community Engagement at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in Baltimore.
In Italy, the number of cases rapidly skyrocketed from a handful a few weeks ago to nearly 28,000 cases and more than 2,100 deaths as of Monday afternoon. The rapid escalation may be partly attributed to aggressive testing, but hospitals in the northern part of the country are running out of ICU beds.
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Q. What is the difference between self-quarantining and self-monitoring?
A. There’s a bit of overlap, say experts.
Both strategies aim to keep people who have been exposed, or might have been exposed, away from others as much as possible for a period. That has generally meant 14 days, considered the incubation period of COVID-19, although symptoms can appear within a few days of exposure.
Self-monitoring might include regularly checking temperature and watching for signs of a respiratory illness, such as fever, cough or shortness of breath, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It also involves limiting interaction with others.
Say, you attended a large conference where someone was later found to be positive for the coronavirus, even if you were not in close contact with that person. “The person speaking at the podium was later diagnosed and you were in the audience _ you’re not considered at risk. Those people may want to strictly self-monitor,” said Dr. Marcus Plescia, chief medical officer for the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials.
“But if you had a long conversation (with that person) or that person coughed or sneezed on you, that’s different,” he added. You “would then self-quarantine.”
Self-quarantine is a step up from self-monitoring because the person at risk of infection — even though they still don’t have symptoms — had a higher chance of exposure.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, for example, is self-quarantining because his wife tested positive for the virus after returning from a trip to Great Britain.
