People who have COVID-19 should isolate from others so the virus does not spread to others. Your health worker will tell you how many days you should isolate for. Discuss with them if it is possible to isolate at home or in a health facility. Isolation means staying away from other people and not going out at all.
If there is anyone else in your household who can help you (who does not have COVID-19) ask them to help with caring for your children as much as possible.
If you need to look after your children while you have COVID-19 and are self-isolating at home:
General caregiving:
- Avoid kissing babies and children as much as possible. Use eye contact and smiling and play games like peek-a-boo from a safe distance (2 meters or at least two chairs in between you)
- Wear a cloth mask when in contact with your child. Do not touch your face.
- Don’t touch the eyes or mouth of your baby or child
- Don’t blow onto your child’s face
- Take care to keep your eating utensils, towels and face mask separate from your children’s and to wash these separately from those of the rest of the family.
- After coughing and sneezing into a tissue or your elbow, throw the tissue away. Wash hands immediately with soap and water for 20 seconds
- Wash or sanitise your hands before and after touching anything belonging to the baby (like a toy). .
Meal Times:
- Wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds before preparing meals or feeding your children
- Wipe down all food preparation surfaces with soap and water or diluted bleach solution. Keep bleach out of reach of children. It can be very poisonous.
- For babies older than 6 months, prepare meals in advance to feed your child at least 5 times a day
- For older children, try to prepare food so that there are at least three meals a day available
