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What

A quarantine is a restriction on the movement of people and goods which is intended to prevent the spread of disease or pests. It is often used in connection to disease and illness, preventing the movement of those who may have been exposed to a communicable disease, but do not have a confirmed medical diagnosis. The term is often used synonymously with medical isolation, in which those confirmed to be infected with a communicable disease are isolated from the healthy population.

Self-quarantine means staying in your home or hotel room, and not leaving for the 14-day period that you are required to isolate for. Only people who usually live in the household should be in the home. Do not allow visitors into the home. Those under self-quarantine should self-monitor their temperature twice daily.

Who

It is now mandatory for all people who have travelled to or transited from the following countries to observe mandatory quarantine for 14 days (i.e. two weeks from the day they departed from these high-risk countries).

The Health Authorities have issued recommendations to people who have travelled to or transited through areas/countries with high sustained transmission of Coronavirus :

1. China, including Hong Kong

2. Singapore

3. Japan

4. Iran

5. South Korea

to self-quarantine themselves for 14 days from returning from these areas. Such people are encouraged to consider their social responsibility and the importance and seriousness of selfquarantine under the current global circumstances. The health and wellbeing of the Maltese population is our top priority

Why

§  There is emerging information that some people may be infectious for a short period before they develop symptoms. While this is believed to be uncommon, it does mean that people with COVID-19 may be infectious before they develop obvious symptoms.

§  For this reason, people returning from overseas must quarantine themselves for 14 days from the date they left the country and monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 (fever, cough, sore throat, difficulty breathing).

§  Close contacts of people who are confirmed to have COVID-19 must also be quarantined in their home for 14 days after their last contact with the infectious person.

How

In these unprecedented times brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, the streets may seem a bit quieter and businesses may be closed. However, things are far from calm. Media outlets are constantly updating us on the latest developments. Government leaders and health officials are persistently meeting to determine what to do next. There are so many things happening simultaneously. And while we are all in this together, it is easy to feel alone. Here are four ways you can self-care while you self-quarantine:

Striking the Perfect Balance

It’s easy to separate your work life from your home life. But finding and maintaining a balance between the two? That’s where things start to get difficult. With the COVID-19 outbreak, you are probably working from home – meaning the line between work and home has been blurred. A healthy work-life balance is especially important to address any stress or anxiety that you may have. In an ASCE Member Voice, a working mother of four shares her experience and offers tips on balancing work and home life.

Read Kelly’s Story: Juggling Work and Family

Expand Your Horizons

While it may seem counterintuitive, taking breaks while working can increase your productivity and creativity. It allows your mind to refresh itself after the stress and exhaustion of being “on” for hours. Similarly, taking time away from your desk can shape you into a more well-rounded professional. In another ASCE Member Voice, one member discusses how taking up a hobby can strengthen your professional skills and renew your passion for the civil engineering profession.

Read Jameelah’s Story : Stepping Away From My Desk Makes Me a Better Engineer

Don’t Sweat It

With everything going on because of the coronavirus crisis – working from home, finding new routines, and a panic buying craze – it’s difficult not to feel overwhelmed. But that doesn’t mean we can’t handle it. Think of this as an opportunity to take control of your stress. While it may impact us all differently, it is important to manage and reduce stress to live a happier and healthier life. Stress is not limited to work, school or family. It is all-encompassing and can be both positive and negative. The best thing to do is to identify the stressors in your life and address them.

Stop Being Perfect, Start Being Human

Civil engineering is a profession built on perfection. While accuracy and precision are crucial, perfection cannot be an expectation. All humans are prone to making mistakes, even engineers. Just like obstacles and failures, mistakes should not be something you dwell on. Instead, you should take those situations and turn them into lessons.

Discover : The Art of Making Mistakes