As the pandemic continues, it may be possible that you or a member of your household tests positive.
The Milwaukee area’s North Shore Health Department offers some guidance to prevent the spread within a shared household and protect those who are most vulnerable. The tips are:
- Provide a separate bedroom and bathroom for sick person. If this is not possible, try to keep the sick person as far from other household members as possible – especially those who are most at risk.
- Designate one person as the caregiver (cleaning, bringing food, etc.) for the sick person. This person should also limit contact with other household members as much as possible.
- Maintain at least a 6 feet distance between the sick person and other members of the household.
- Prevent the sick member of your household from preparing food for others and they should eat separately.
- If you need to share a bedroom with someone who is sick, make sure the room has good air flow, maintain at least 6 feet between beds, sleep head to toe, place a physical divider between beds.
- If you need to share a bathroom with someone who is sick – the person who is sick should disinfect frequently touched surfaces. If this is not possible, the person who does the cleaning should use ventilating fans to increase air circulation and wait if possible before entering room to clean and disinfect or to use the bathroom
In addition to the tips above, if you or household member is sick, the health department recommends that you limit trips outside the home (have your groceries and other necessities delivered or dropped off by a friend or family member if possible); the sick individual should wear a mask if they are near other members of the household; wash hands frequently; avoid touching your face; and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
You or other members of your household must self-quarantine for 14 days after the last contact with the COVID-19 positive person, regardless of a negative test, as it may take up to 14 days for symptoms to develop, according to the health department.
The North Shore has 1,671 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 21 deaths. For all of Milwaukee County, it’s 41,747 cumulative confirmed cases, with 576 deaths. Wisconsin is at about 212,000 cases, with 1,825 deaths.