Covid cases in Italy are currently at increase and, according to the most recent data from the Istituto Superiore di Sanità, there are mainly two viral strains in circulation: the well-known Eris variant (which comprises as many as 52% of current infections), and the rapidly growing Pirola variant. The hospital situation remains under control, but what should be done in the event of a positive swab?
Covid cases on the rise, experts: «More strains in circulation. Eris variant at 52%, Pirola also grows”
Below are the rules and recommendations currently in force on the management of the disease and the prevention of infections.
Positive swab: what to do?
According to the Ministry of Health circular dated 11 August, people who test positive for a molecular or antigenic swab for Sars-CoV-2 are no longer required to undergo isolation. However, there are some recommendations that the ministry has to respect to prevent the transmission of respiratory infections:
Wear a surgical or FFP2 mask if you come into contact with other people. Avoid crowded environments. If you are symptomatic, stay at home until the symptoms stop. Inform the people you have been in contact with in the days before the swab, especially if they are elderly, frail or immunosuppressed. Contact your doctor if we fall into the most at-risk categories (frail or immunosuppressed people) but also if the symptoms do not ease after 3 days or if we notice that the clinical conditions are worsening. Pay careful attention to hand hygiene. Avoid contact with fragile people, immunosuppressed, pregnant women, and to attend hospitals or RSA. This last recommendation is particularly important for health and social care workers, who must therefore avoid contact with at-risk patients.
What to do if you come into contact with a positive
In the event that there is close contact with people who then test positive for Covid, the August ministerial circular itself does not apply restrictive measures, but a series of recommendations similar to the previous ones.
It is particularly recommended to pay attention to the possible appearance of typical Covid symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, tiredness) in the days following contact. As above, in the days following contact it is best to avoid meeting fragile, immunosuppressed people or pregnant women. If some symptoms are found, an antigen test, even self-administered, or molecular test for Sars-CoV-2 must be carried out, states the circular.
Access rules in healthcare facilities
As regards access to or hospitalization in hospitals and other social and healthcare facilities, or healthcare residences such as RSAs, the provisions are dictated by a subsequent ministerial circular, issued last 8 September.
«For patients who non present symptoms compatible with Covid at the triage carried out when accessing the emergency room, carrying out the test for Sars-CoV-2 is not indicated”. Conversely, obviously, tests are carried out for those who present symptoms compatible with Covid. «Where possible – we read – it is advisable to activate or maintain a broader path of epidemiological surveillance with the search for other viruses, such as: influenza A and B viruses, RSV, Adenovirus, Bocavirus, human Coronaviruses other than SARS-CoV- 2, Metapneumovirus, Parainfluenza viruses, Rhinovirus, Enterovirus».
The ministry establishes the need to carry out a swab for Sars-CoV-2 in the following cases:
For patients whose medical history states that they have had close contact with a confirmed case of Covid, with contact occurring in the last 5 days, diagnostic tests are indicated for For patients, even asymptomatic, who must undergo hospitalization or treatment transfer to high-risk wards (for example RSA, or wards that host immunocompromised and fragile patients) is recommended to carry out temporary treatment. Guests who need to access residential healthcare and social-healthcare facilities, where fragile people are present and other risk due to age or previous pathologies
As regards visitors or companions, those with symptoms compatible with Covid must absolutely avoid accessing the aforementioned facilities. Same thing for social-health workers who present symptoms of respiratory infections, who must naturally avoid accessing care sectors, both inpatient and outpatient, in which immunocompromised and fragile patients are present, respecting the methods and procedures adopted by the management of the structures.
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on Il Messaggero
2023-11-29 08:21:23
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