How to Isolate at Home

Stay home except to get essential medical care

• Your child should stay home except to get medical care.
• Call ahead before medical visits to allow the care team to prepare COVID-19 precautions.

Separate your child from other people in your home.

• If possible, pick one primary caregiver for your child.
• Your child should stay in one room as much as possible, away from other household members.
• If possible, your child should use a separate bathroom. If not, clean and disinfect the bathroom after each time your child uses it.

Maintain distance

• Please do not allow any nonessential visitors in your home.
• Everyone should wear a mask in the same room with your child.
• Your child should also wear a mask around other people, even inside the home.
• If your child cannot wear a mask, other people should wear a mask or stay outside the room where the child is under isolation.

Follow precautions with household surfaces, food preparation, dishes, and bedding

• Clean all high touch surfaces (counters, tables, doorknobs, faucets, toilets, mobile devices, etc.) with household cleaning spray or wipes.
• Your child should not prepare or serve food to others.
• All dishes, glasses, cups, utensils, towels and bedding must be washed with soap and water after your child uses these items.

Teach your child the following steps that everyone should follow:

• Cover mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing. If your child cannot use a tissue, have them cough or sneeze into the inside of their elbow.
• Throw used tissues away. Immediately wash hands. Use a trash can lined with a disposable bag.
• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Rub the fronts and backs of hands and the spaces between all fingers the whole time. Then rinse with water.
• If soap and water are not available, clean hands with an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol, covering all surfaces of their hands and rubbing them together until dry.
• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.

Rev. 1/2022. Mass General for Children and Massachusetts General Hospital do not endorse any of the brands listed on this handout. This handout is intended to provide health information so that you can be better informed. It is not a substitute for medical advice and should not be used to treatment of any medical conditions.