Frere Hospital given holding facility status for Coronavirus

While we hope the coronavirus never reaches South Africa, we have to be prepared, even here in East London.  With the advent of the first 2 suspected African cases in Botswana, the Frere Hospital in East London has been giving holding facility status.

What is a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a group of viruses that cause disease in animals.  There are 7 known coronaviruses (including the latest one), that have made the jump from infecting animals to infecting humans.

The new virus named 2019-nCoV or Novel virus (as it is commonly referred to), is a dangerous virus with 15 – 20% of hospitalised patients showing severe symptoms, and with a death rate of around 2%.  In China in Hubei Province, the fatality rate is climbing to around 3%, which they suspect is as a result of the close proximity of the patients in the hospital beds in Wuhan.

Coronavirus Symptoms?

According to the WHO, the symptoms are as follows:

• A cough and/or sore throat
• A high temperature
• Feeling tired
• Difficulty breathing

As these symptoms are very similar to normal flu symptoms, people experiencing the above symptoms should use the following guidelines to help determine whether they are high risk:

• Have you travelled to a high risk area within the last 2 weeks?
• Have you been in contact with someone who has travelled to a high risk area within the last 2 weeks.

Symptoms are believed to show up between 2 and 14 days after contracting the virus.  The WHO is also investigating some evidence that the virus may spread by asymptomatic people i.e. people who are not showing symptoms.  If this is confirmed, it will make the virus very difficult to contain.

When should I seek help?

If you are experiencing the above symptoms and have either travelled to a high risk area or been in close contact with someone who has travelled to a high risk area, you need to following the following steps:

1. Self-quarantine yourself at home, and make sure you remain in contact with family or neighbours daily.
2. Contact your doctor and ensure they know you are exhibiting coronavirus symptoms and make sure they understand that you have visited and/or been in contact with someone who has visited a high risk area.
3. Do not go directly to the doctor or any ‘highly populated’ area.  If you do have the virus, you could spread it.

Advice on how to protect yourself and your family

• Personal hygiene especially hand washing with alcohol based hand sanitisers or soap and water is the number one prevention.
• Carry a hand sanitiser with you wherever you go.
• Carry disposable tissues with you and make sure you dispose of them correctly.
• Get a flu vacine.
• When people cough they shoot droplets out of their nose and mouth which lands on surfaces, which are touched regularly by many people.  Avoid touching your nose, mouth and eyes (something we do +- 15 times per hour) to make sure you are not introducing the germs on your hands to your nose, mouth and eyes, where they will enter the body.
• Wash your hands before you eat.
• Do not share food or snacks from packets or bowls others are dipping their hands into.
• Avoid shaking hands, cheek kissing or normal kissing if you don’t know where the other person has been.
• Clean household surfaces etc regularly.
• Remain calm, the risk to South Africa is low, but it is better to be safe than sorry.