Brazil is experiencing a rise in Covid-19 cases driven by the ômicron variant and the holiday season. Reports of people who have tested positive for the disease during or after Christmas and New Year trips are multiplying.
A leaf showed this Thursday (6) that, in the last week, a wave of passengers with symptoms have also traveled by plane to quarantine at home, because they are without money to extend their accommodation or are afraid of getting sick in an unknown or unstructured place. .
The doubts in this situation are many. Understand below what to do if you get sick outside your city or country, in which cases to take the test, what are the risks of traveling by plane, what precautions to take if you need to fly, among other issues.
I had symptoms or tested positive during the trip. What should I do? The recommended thing is to remain isolated for ten days, but it is necessary to evaluate case by case. If the symptoms are mild and there is a possibility of isolation in a hotel or house, for example, one should remain there. On the other hand, if the patient has risk factors for Covid and the place does not have an adequate health network, the best option may be to return home, with all care to avoid transmission. A doctor can help with this decision.
Should I take the test for influenza and Covid, or is the Covid test enough? If you have flu-like symptoms and it is possible, it is advisable to test both for influenza and for Covid, because the viruses of both diseases are circulating in the country and the signs can be similar, such as tiredness, fever, runny nose, headache and body ache. The virus type can also change the isolation time needed.
What is the recommended isolation period for Covid currently? Ten days for mild and moderate cases, according to Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency). Symptomatic patients should count the days from the onset of symptoms, and asymptomatic patients from the examination. Infectologist Eduardo Medeiros, from Unifesp (Federal University of São Paulo), says that the reduction in isolation time to five days, recommended by the American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently, does not apply to the Brazilian reality, where testing is not so widespread.
Should I take the exam at the end of that period? There is no need, according to Medeiros, because studies have shown that from the eighth day onwards, transmission decreases. In turn, more severe patients, hospitalized in ICU or immunocompromised (under treatment for cancer, for example), may shed the virus for a longer time, usually 20 days.
If I need to take a plane when I’m sick, what precautions should I take? Wearing a mask at all times (preferably an N95 type); wash your hands or pass alcohol gel frequently; avoid eating, drinking or talking while traveling; and keep a distance of at least 1.5 meters from other people when possible. You can also try to choose a spot where the seat next to you is unoccupied.
In cases of international flights of many hours, how to eat and drink? This is one of the biggest problems with air travel. To minimize the risks, it is recommended to eat and drink quickly and without speaking, replacing the mask immediately afterwards. Another alternative is to wait for the passengers next to you to eat and only then, when they have already put on the mask, start the meal.
What are the chances of contracting Covid on planes? Very low, according to infectologist Eduardo Medeiros, especially if everyone wears a mask all the time. This is because most aircraft have Hepa (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filter) technology, which renews the internal air every two or three minutes.
If I got sick abroad and I have already completed the isolation, what does it take to return to Brazil? In general, proof of complete vaccination performed at least 14 days before travel and antigen test performed up to 24 hours before boarding, or RT-PCR up to 72 hours before boarding. It is also necessary to complete the Traveler’s Health Declaration (DSV) 24 hours before the flight. Specific cases are detailed on the Anvisa website.
If you are isolated in a hotel or inn, what precautions should you take? The ideal is never to leave the room, receiving meals at the door. Keep the place well ventilated, with the windows open, and go out wearing a mask if an employee or employee has to clean the room. He needs to be warned that there is a risk, to wear a mask and suitable gloves.
Everyone in the same house or lodging tested positive. Can you move freely there, without a mask? If everyone had the same exposure and likely got the disease from each other, yes. But depending on the situation, the variant may be different, so it is recommended to use the mask also inside the isolation place.
I’m on the eve of the trip. Is it worth taking the third dose now? The ideal is to take the booster dose 14 days before traveling, so that it reaches its maximum protection in time. If the trip is very close, it is best to take the vaccination card and take it at the destination, if possible, to avoid having reactions during the journey. The booster dose should generally be given four months after the second or single dose.
Can I take the third dose if I have Covid? No. The recommendation is to wait 30 days after being diagnosed with Covid, regardless of the dose. If the illness has been ruled out and the symptoms are of a cold, for example, it is okay to take it.
Is the omicron, in fact, more contagious and less serious? Yes, there are already studies showing that it is three or four times more transmissible than the delta variant. What healthcare professionals and experts have seen so far in places where the strain has spread longer, such as South Africa and Europe, is that the disease has been milder, with less lung involvement. However, as there are many cases, the chances of healthcare facilities collapsing again are not ruled out.
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