In a world where every day brings something new and scary, we know you want to protect your kids and ensure they are safe. That’s why we’re sharing this article on Singapore’s COVID Home Recovery Programme, so you can rest easy knowing they’re getting the best care possible.
What Is a Home Recovery Programme
A home recovery program is a way to get the support you need in your own home instead of going to an in-person rehab facility.
This kind of program allows you to receive treatment and help from a professional without needing to leave your family, friends, and job behind.
A home recovery program can vary depending on the severity of your condition. Sometimes, it might be as simple as having someone come over once a week or so to check in with you and make sure things are going smoothly. In other cases, it may be more intensive and require daily visits by a professional.
COVID Home Recovery Programme Singapore
COVID Home Recovery Programme (HRP) is a program that was started by the Ministry of Health in Singapore, and it aims to help people in Singapore recover from the pandemic.
The program is designed to help you stay healthy and safe during this time. It also helps you prepare for when the pandemic ends so that you can continue to live a normal life after COVID-19.
In their website, according to the Ministry of Health (MOH) of Singapore, the following individuals are not eligible for HRP:
- Partially vaccinated or unvaccinated persons aged 80 years and older;
- Children aged less than three months old;
- Pregnant women with gestation age 36 weeks and above;
- Pregnant women with a pregnancy complication(s) or medical condition(s) (e.g., renal failure on dialysis, cancer, immunosuppressed, etc.);
- Low-risk individuals with mild symptoms who are already under the care of their primary care doctor as part of Protocol 2.
Image Source: iStock
What to Do if Baby Has COVID and You’re in Singapore
Babies with COVID are at risk of developing serious complications. If you’re in Singapore, it’s important to know what to do if your baby has COVID. There are lots of things you can do to make sure they stay safe.
First, talk with your doctor about their vaccination status. If they haven’t been vaccinated yet, they’ll need to be. If they have been vaccinated (or had the flu), they should be fine as long as they take care of themselves and don’t go near anyone else who has symptoms of COVID.
Second, keep your house clean! Use disinfectant wipes on all touchable surfaces at least once a day. If you can’t find any disinfectant wipes (sometimes stores run out!), use hot water and soap instead. Also, be sure to wash your hands every time before eating or touching your face or nose (or after touching any surface someone else has touched).
Third, stay home from work or school. This is important because the first few days are when you’re most likely to spread the virus, so it’s best not to risk getting other people sick!
Image source: iStock
COVID Home Recovery Programme for Kids
So, how does one go about HRP if their child is sick with COVID-19?
KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital gathered this information on the Home Recovery Programme for children with COVID. Learn more below:
Isolation Order for kids with mild symptoms
In the face of COVID-19, Singapore’s high vaccination rates enable the Ministry of Health (MOH) to review patient care models. And since data show that fully vaccinated COVID-19 patients have a much lower risk of developing severe disease, this gave MOH a chance to offer the Home Recovery Programme, which is a home-centric care model for that focuses on the management of COVID-19 patients with mild or no symptoms. Those require minimal supportive care.
Through Home Recovery, COVID-19 patients can stay with their families, who can provide support for COVID-19 patients to recover within the comfort of their homes.
Home Recovery is an important part of your kids’ recovery, but it’s also a way for you to get back into your normal life as quickly as possible. That means staying in your own home, with some restrictions.
The kids will be living in a designated room in your home—with an attached bathroom—that cannot be accessed by others. The room should be well-ventilated, but the window(s) should not open into the house or shared areas.
Ensuring safety among other household members
When you’re supporting a family member or loved one, especially your kid with COVID-19, it’s easy to get caught up in the daily tasks that need to be done around the house. But make sure that your household is as safe as possible while managing your children’s care.
So here are some tips that can help keep everyone healthy:
- If you’re using a door flap to keep the room sealed off from the rest of your house, make sure that no one from outside comes near it. Your family should only collect food or other items after the door has been closed again.
- If you’re in a household with more than one person, have each person wear a mask when they come in contact with your child who has been exposed to Covid19. This will help prevent the spread of infection.
- Ensure your double-bagged trash is at the door for easy and safe disposal.
- Make sure everyone washes their hands after handling any infected items.
- Practice good hygiene by frequently showering, changing clothes, and keeping surfaces clean.
- Keep all surfaces disinfected with a bleach solution of 1/4 cup bleach per 1 gallon of water (or one tablespoon of bleach per 1-quart water).
Hygiene. Cleaning Hands. Washing hands.
Health Risk Notice (HRN)
According to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, from 26 April 2022, the Health Risk Notice (HRN) will not be sent to close contacts. There is no need for you to register your close contacts for HRN.
- People in your household should take an ART self-test daily and only leave the house if the ART result is negative over the next five days.
- If tested ART positive while remaining well, the household member should self-isolate for 72 hours and monitor their health. The individual can resume normal activities if ART is negative on Day 4. Otherwise, the individual is expected to continue to self-isolate and self-test. He/she can resume normal activities with a negative ART result or automatically exit self-isolation without a need to test on Day 7, 12 pm onward (for fully vaccinated individuals and children below 12) or on Day 14, 12 pm onward (for partially vaccinated individuals/ unvaccinated individuals aged 12 and above)
- Suppose the household member is unwell and tests ART positive. In that case, he/she should visit a doctor via private transport or request a Telemedicine consult via a telemedicine provider to assess and advise on the next steps. ‘
When to Stop Home Isolation
There are instances when there’s a need for your child to self-isolate immediately for at least 72 hours with an accompanying caregiver. So, when will this be concluded? Here are the following scenarios when they can exit self-isolation:
(a) Your child tests negative on a self-administered ART, or
(b) On Day 7, if fully vaccinated or below 12 years old, or
(c) On Day 14 if unvaccinated or partially vaccinated and aged 12 and above.
Image Source: iStock
Tips to Keep Your Baby With COVID-19 Healthy While on Home Recovery Programme
As a parent, your biggest concern is keeping your baby healthy and happy while on the home recovery programme. Here are some tips to help you care for your baby with COVID-19:
1. Keep them warm and dry
Keep them in clean bedding, and ensure their clothes are clean and dry. They’ll be more likely to get sick if they’re wet or cold.
2. Don’t forget the vitamin C
Ensure your baby has enough Vitamin C in their diet – it will help keep them healthy while recovering from the virus. You can give them a dose of orange juice or another source of vitamin C every hour or so, if needed!
3. Don’t forget about handwashing!
Remember to wash your hands thoroughly before handling your baby’s bottle or food containers, after changing diapers, before feeding your baby… basically as often as possible! This will help prevent infection from spreading throughout the house (and maybe even out into the world).
4. Follow the doctor’s advice about their diet
The doctor will advise you on whether they should continue breastfeeding or take any special foods at this stage of the disease. Still, you must follow the doctor’s advice carefully so your child stays nourished during this time.
Here at theAsianparent Singapore, it’s important for us to give information that is correct, significant, and timely. But this doesn’t serve as an alternative for medical advice or medical treatment. theAsianparent Singapore is not responsible for those that would choose to drink medicines based on information from our website. If you have any doubts, we recommend consulting your doctor for clearer information.
