Be prepared for a Covid-19 patient at home – The Wall Street Journal’s emergency kit

The Wall Street Journal asked doctors at top hospitals all over the country what they would include in their ideal Covid-19 home-care kit.

Published on:

14 Apr 2020, 2:50 pm

There are many stories doing the rounds on social media about what steps you could take to prepare yourself should you or one of your family members contract Covid-19 and it is hard to separate scientific evidence from quacks. Some Indian grannies swear by garlic; there is advice to stock up on vitamin C while others see healing powers in mushrooms and tea to name just a few. Judging from what British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said following his release from hospital after a narrow brush with the virus; love or a bit of tender loving care (TLC) is also a very important ingredient in promoting healing. The Wall Street Journal has a handy guide for what you should have in that medicine cabinet if you have to treat a Covid-19 patient at home and although some of the products are not readily available in South Africa like an at-home pulse oximeter to measure heart rate and oxygen; most of the other products are found in food and medicine cupboards. The advice on chicken soup, which is sometimes described as Jewish penicillin will lead to a couple of 'I-told-you-so's'. – Linda van Tilburg