GEORGE NEWS - George Hospital and Mediclinic George have confirmed that they have the necessary protocols in place should a case (or cases) of the 2019 novel coronavirus be detected.
Since the outbreak of the disease in December in Wuhan in China's Hubei province, more than 1 100 people have died - all in China, save for one in the Philippines and another in Hong Kong.
The number of confirmed cases in China rose to over 44 000 and almost 400 in 24 other countries by yesterday morning, 12 February.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Tuesday announced a name for the disease caused by the virus: Covid-19. (Co and Vi stand for coronavirus, with D meaning disease and 19 standing for 2019, the year the first cases appeared.)
According to a 31 January statement issued by the Division of Medical Virology at the University of Stellenbosch (US), the risk of infection with the coronavirus in South Africa is very low.
"Possible suspected cases, as defined by the SA National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), are tested and placed in precautionary isolation."
The NICD confirmed that up till Tuesday 11 February, tests have been performed on 61 individuals for the virus and these have been negative.
Western Cape Health spokesperson for the Garden Route District, Nadia Ferreira, said procedures are in place at George Hospital for case detection, isolation and handling of cases for fast diagnosis.
"All health facilities, including George Hospital, will be able to handle suspected or confirmed cases and to refer these to the appropriate referral or assigned hospital. Protocol is in place for following up those who have been in contact with an identified case so as to ensure that the virus is not spread."
Mediclinic said in a statement that a risk assessment is done on all patients during the admission process. "All suspected patients will be isolated and all coughing patients are requested to put on a mask and perform hand hygiene."
It said only people that fit the case definition provided by the South African National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD) will be tested. "In the event of large numbers of ill patients, the Mediclinic Emergency plans will be activated."
The Education Department said it has sent out a bulletin to all schools, emphasising the importance of good hygiene.
World experts and funders set priorities for COVID-19 research
According to a World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday 12 February, leading health experts from around the world have been meeting at the WHO's Geneva headquarters to assess the current level of knowledge about the new COVID-19 disease and work together to accelerate and fund priority research needed to help stop the outbreak, and prepare for any future outbreaks.
WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said, “I appreciate the positive response of the research community to join us at short notice and come up with concrete plans and commitment to work together.”
According to the WHO, major research funders and over 300 scientists and researchers from a large variety of disciplines attended.
Discussions included all aspects of the outbreak and ways to control it including animal and environmental research on the origin of the virus, management measures at the human-animal interface, epidemiological studies, infection prevention and control, including best ways to protect health care workers, and research and development for possible therapeutics and vaccines.
Professor Yazdan Yazdanpanah, chair of GloPID-R (the Global Research Collaboration for Infectious Disease Preparedness), the meeting allowed the identification of urgent priorities for research. “Equitable access – making sure we share data and reach those most in need, in particular those in lower and middle-income countries - is fundamental to this work which must be guided by ethical considerations at all times.”
During the meeting, the more than 300 scientists and researchers participating both in person and virtually, agreed on a set of global research priorities. They also outlined mechanisms for continuing scientific interactions and collaborations beyond the meeting which will be coordinated and facilitated by WHO.
Listen here to an update on the web site of the World Health Organisation.
- Read the Coronavirus update from Stellenbosch University on 31 January 2020
- Read the update on the Coronavirus Western Cape Health 4 Feb 2020
Read a related article: How former Group Editors employee copes in China
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