NATIONAL NEWS - As of 14 February the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) had tested 71 individuals for novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV). All results came back negative.
The NICD and the National Department of Health continue to strengthen surveillance activities through improving the training of health professionals consisting of medical doctors, environmental health practitioners, emergency personnel and nurses.
Last week, the NICD conducted additional training with public and private health care practitioners focusing on surveillance and case definitions including who should be tested, and contact tracing.
The training also covered infection, prevention and control at all hospitals, including patient flow and management, and transfer of patients to designated hospitals.
Case identification plays an important role in detecting coronavirus through symptoms identification.
“We recommend that persons returning to South Africa from an area with community transmission of SARS-CoV-2019, presently mainland China, self-isolate at the first onset of symptoms such as acute respiratory illness with fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties,” said the NICD in a statement.
The NICD also recommended that persons who seek medical attention from their healthcare provider disclose their travel history, seek assistance regarding isolation while waiting to be seen by a clinician to minimise possible infection to others.
Additionally, persons should implement measures to prevent transmission, including meticulous hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene (covering of mouth with tissues or facial mask).
