As per Government regulations, the second dose can be taken 4 to 8 weeks after recovery from Covid.

No. As per Government regulations, the second dose can be taken 4 to 8 weeks after recovery from Covid.

It is possible that the child could have the infection too, but studies have shown that most children do well and recover easily. Oxygen saturation monitoring is not recommended.

As long as you and your family are masked and physically distanced from others, and the area is well ventilated, there is no problem.

Yes, you can, but if you are a diabetic, please monitor your blood sugar.

Yes, you can. When platelet counts are over 30000, it is safe to take the vaccine.

The usual protocol of home isolation up to 10 - 14 days holds good. Oxygen saturation needs to be monitored with a pulse oximeter.

Quarantine for 10 days. Monitor yourself for signs of fever, cold or cough. If this happens, contact your doctor for further advice.

Please discuss this with your doctor if factor VIII has to be given prior to the vaccine.

You can take the vaccine 4 to 8 weeks after recovery from Covid infection.

The sense of smell can return any time after a few days to several weeks, sometimes taking upto 6 months after the infection.

Covid infection can increase the risk of clot formation and can lead to heart attacks. Aspirin does not prevent this though.

Antibody tests are not recommended since protection levels are yet unknown. Data on COVID-19 infection is still evolving.

It is believed that protective antibodies will be present for three months at least.

No further action is required. D-dimer test is a marker of inflammation associated with breakdown of blood clots. It is a non-specific test and no course of action is taken unless the person is breathless or has any other symptoms along with an elevated d-dimer.

No. There is no role for either.

Yes. There are no contraindications.

Yes. There are no contraindications.

Home isolation precautions are to be maintained for a period of 10-14 days. Watching the television in the same room with others is NOT advised.

The vaccine is not yet licensed for pregnant or lactating women. Please discuss this with your doctor.

Yes, you can.

Yes. There are no contraindications.

No. This is not required. There is no evidence that this prevents one from getting Covid infection

Yes. There are no contraindications.

Yes, as long as you are distanced from others. If there are people close by, it is advisable to wear a mask.

Yes, they can be reused. You can hang it out in the sun for 3 days and reuse. This can be repeated for a maximum of 5 times if it is not soiled, after which the mask has to be discarded.

If you suspect a heart attack, administering an aspirin tablet will help. Otherwise, taking them to a hospital a soon as you can is the only answer.

No. There is no scientific evidence for this.

Yes, you can. There are no contraindications.

You will need to meet with your doctor if you have any further symptoms. It is definitely good to self-isolate and monitor yourself.

If you have fever or any other symptoms, it is necessary to meet your doctor and discuss this. CRP is a non-specific marker for inflammation. It is not specific for Covid, but it is important to remember that the RT-PCR is only 60%-70% sensitive.

All Covid positive individuals need to self-isolate for a period of 10 days, even if you are asymptomatic to begin with.

Yes, you can. It is, however, prudent to remember that masking and physical distancing should be strictly followed, along with frequent hand washing or sanitizing.

These are classic signs of Covid infection. You will recover them, though this loss may last for a few days to several weeks.

Yes, you can. Contraindications to taking the vaccine exist only if you have had a previous allergy to any other vaccine.

Continue to mask, stay physically distanced and wash your hands frequently. Physical exertion should be limited for a few days.

No. Only masking in the presence of others is required, which means if they come into your room, you should be masked and so should they. Time spent with someone who is Covid positive is to be limited to less than 15 minutes.

No. It is important to take your doctor’s advice prior to doing scans that may or may not be required.

Vaccination is the need of the hour. It is important to take the vaccine since all vaccines have gone through safety studies and are safe to take.

No. Younger women can have a higher risk of clotting following the first dose of Covishield vaccine. This risk is 1 in 250000 to a million. If alternatives are available, they may be recommended.

If your INR is less than 3, you can safely take the vaccine. If higher, please check with your doctor prior to vaccination.

Fever (>1000F), respiratory symptoms: coryza, sore throat, cough or breathlessness, muscle pain, chills, repeated shaking with chills, conjunctivitis, loss of taste or smell, headache, nausea, diarrhea, contact with any sick individuals, any fever >72 h without clinically overt localization

Isolate yourself at home as soon as you identify any of these symptoms

Stay in a single room (preferably with an attached bathroom) well away from others. Do not leave the room. Identify a caregiver who can leave food outside the room. Do not go within 6 feet of anyone; especially do not have food together. Do not share toiletries, towels or other personal items. If anyone enters the room, both you and the other person should wear a mask. All family members of the household should also stay in the house and leave only for essential reasons.

If any of the above symptoms last more than a day, get a nasopharyngeal swab test for PCR done.

Stay calm. Stay isolated. Take paracetamol for the fever and body pains.

Don’t panic. Contact a doctor / hospital. Monitor your temperature and oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter 2-3 times a day. Take plenty of fluids. If the doctor permits, continue home isolation.

Hospitalisation is indicated if the oxygen saturation is < 94% consistently, the person is unable to eat or drink due to vomiting or diarrhoea, if there is persistent high-grade fever or if there is breathlessness, chest pain or severe weakness.

Two weeks.

All household contacts should also be isolated within the house, do not leave the house unless for essential reasons, and always wear a mask. COVID testing is indicated if any of the family members have symptoms. But isolation of household contacts is mandated anyway.

Soak the mask in bleach (0.1% solution) after use before disposing it.

They can be washed in the same washing machine. If hand washed, soak in Dettol and hot water before washing.

Floors to be mopped with 0.1% bleach, bedclothes to be washed as advised. The room can be ventilated for a day before re-use.

A repeat testing is not needed after recovery.

High risk contact refers to household contacts of a proven case, direct contact (eg., sneezed on), at least 15 minutes face to face contact with a suspected or proven case without a mask or spending over 2 hours in the same room even if more than 6 feet away. These persons need home isolation. Low risk contact refers to transient interactions (walking past, brief time in the same room or close exposure less than 15 minutes). Only self-monitoring for symptoms is recommended for these persons, without isolation.

It is preferable to educate all house help on the importance of wearing masks. Please ensure physical distancing and masking with all house help.

Depending on the level of interaction with the maid, ie., low or high risk, one needs to take action accordingly. The maid has to be isolated for 2 weeks.

There is no need to worry. The virus does not spread through air in general in the community. As long you are physically distanced (>6 feet) from infected individuals and always wear a mask outside your house, there is no problem.

Air-conditioners can be used if adequate ventilation of air is present. Circulation of fresh air is essential to minimise risk of transmission.

There is no definite evidence to say that Vitamins and Zinc have a definite role in protecting or treating COVID.

Yes, with a mask. If you are exercising (jogging, cycling etc.) avoid masks, but stay away from others.

5th to 7th day from the onset of symptoms or if the person has worsening cough, breathlessness or drop in oxygen saturation (below 95%)

NO!

NO. Repeat CT to check for resolution is not required, if you are fine clinically. Lung lesions can take 6 to 8 weeks for resolution.

RTPCR is the test of choice ideally to be done after 3-7days of exposure, or earlier if there are symptoms. Not a CT!

If the person is symptomatic with persistent cough or wheeze or any other symptoms, CT can be done ideally after the 5th day of onset of illness.

YES – it is mainly done to know the pattern and percentage of lung involvement. This is mainly done to quarantine the patient so that he or she does not spread the infection in the community.

NO. Although infections in children are reportedly more with the new strain, the recovery is very good in this age group. A chest X-ray will suffice. A CT is not done unless the baby is sick or having tachypnoea,in which case it is important to consult your pediatrician immediately.