Home isolation, by design
If you have extra space in the house, it pays to have an isolation room ready these days. This might as well be your contribution to community efforts to stem the spread of COVID-19. But, in the case of many homes and neighborhoods, it can be a challenge to have one in crowded settings. Here are some design guidelines to help you set up an effective isolation room for members of the family.
Sometimes, it takes more than a face mask, face shield and countless sprays of alcohol to protect yourself from the torment of COVID-19.
WHAT MAKES A PERSON ELIGIBLE FOR HOME ISOLATION?
A person who may have been exposed to COVID-19 but remains to have no symptoms can be subjected to home isolation so as to prevent community transmission. This is in support of the Department of Health Memorandum 20200108, dated March 11, which states that persons under investigation (PUI) and patients positive for COVID-19 who are either non-elderly or exhibit mild symptoms should be subjected under self-isolation and strict monitoring by the local health authorities.
The efficiency and practicality of home isolation are undeniable. However, it can be a challenge in overcrowded settings—especially evident in many houses, communities and cities in the Philippines.
CAN YOU CONVERT ANY ROOM INTO AN ISOLATION ROOM?
The main goal of an isolation room is to prevent cross-infection among those living together in a larger space, such as a house. This works by regulating the airflow in an isolation room to eventually reduce the number of airborne infectious particles in the air.
Although any room can be hypothetically converted into an isolation room, the most ideal space for an isolation room is the guest room, more preferably one that has a separate bathroom and adequate windows for ventilation, and which is secluded from the main traffic areas of the house. In the absence of a guest room, you can always opt for a spare bedroom that’s out of the way.
HIGHLIGHTING THE IMPORTANCE OF PROPER ZONING
The first rule in effectively designing an isolation room is to have proper zoning and spatial planning. Architecturally, the design of a home isolation room should meet all the detailed requirements for a single-patient hospital room, which includes a dedicated adjacent bathroom or an ensuite. The isolation room then branches into two auxiliary space requirements: the anteroom and the ensuite, separated with walls and doors.
VENTILATION AND AIR PRESSURE AS CRITICAL KEY POINTS
COVID-19 particles thrive through droplet transmission which, according to the USbased National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is capable of staying in the air for at least three hours. This is where the importance of “negative pressure” is seen.
Negative pressure rooms such as isolation rooms work by having an interior air pressure lower than the air pressure outside. This means that when the isolation room door is opened, potentially contaminated air and other hazardous particles from inside the isolation room cannot flow outside, preventing transmission to the rest of the non-contaminated areas of the house.
Instead, the negative pressure room (which in this case is the isolation room), receives non-contaminated filtered air from its surroundings. The contaminated air is then sucked out of the room with exhausted systems. These exhausted systems are made of filters that clean the air before pumping them outside of and away from the house.
THE ANTEROOM, FOR OPTIMUM SAFETY
Also known as the airlock lobby, the anteroom is a space attached to an isolation room to perform four functions: (1) to initiate controlled transfer of equipment, supplies and persons without contamination impacting surrounding areas; (2) to serve as a barrier against potential loss of pressurization; (3) to regulate entrance and exit of contaminated air, and; (4) to work as a changing area for wearing and removing personal protective equipment (PPE). The anteroom should contain a sink, cabinets, work counter, and a view window in the door to the isolation room.
THE ENSUITE, FOR OPTIMUM HYGIENE
According to a 2020 study by the Elsevier Public Health Emergency Collection, toilets dominate the environmental detection of COVID-19 in a hospital setting. This highlights the importance of a dedicated ensuite when one goes to isolation due to COVID-19. Similarly, the ensuite should also be under negative pressure, and have at least a toilet, a hand-washing station, as well as a bathtub or a shower.
ISOLATION ROOM, FOR OPTIMUM TRANSMISSION PREVENTION
If your home has airconditioning and/or heating, it is important to never choose a room with an air return for either AC or heating system as this could suck in viruses and bacteria before spreading them throughout the house. To increase effectiveness, the isolation room should also have blocked airflow. This can be done by caulking window panes and frames, tightly gasketing the sides and ends of doors and sealing floor and wall vents with duct tape, only leaving a half an inch gap under the door.
THE PERFECT FORMULA FOR EXHAUST SYSTEMS
Since both the isolation room and the ensuite are at negative pressure, not only must the total exhaust for the isolation room and the ensuite exceed their total supply, but the exhaust for the isolation room alone should also exceed its own supply.
REMEMBERING THE BASICS
The finishing touches of a safe isolation room are just as important. These can be as simple as having a digital thermometer, a supply of face masks, a covered trash can and a disinfecting spray by the door; using disposable utensils, cleaning sheets and beddings with hot water and bleach; and covering mattresses with plastic sheets.
A LONG-TERM COMMITMENT
Keeping your household free from COVID-19 with a correctly designed and operating isolation room can be an effective infection control measure. However, it is important to remember that the mechanical elements vital for the effectiveness of an isolation room may also deteriorate over time. This is why setting up a home isolation room should not be viewed as a temporary solution, rather as your household’s contribution to reducing the nationwide spread of COVID-19.