{"id":240384,"date":"2020-03-26T10:30:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-26T08:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/germistoncitynews.co.za\/240384\/nicd-gives-answers-on-covid-19\/"},"modified":"2020-03-26T09:48:58","modified_gmt":"2020-03-26T07:48:58","slug":"nicd-gives-answers-on-covid-19","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/develop.citizen.co.za\/germiston-city-news\/news-headlines\/2020\/03\/26\/nicd-gives-answers-on-covid-19\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid-19: NICD gives answers on Covid-19"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the number of Covid-19 cases on the rise in South Africa, health officials have appealed to South Africans to make use of the advice provided to them by authorities.<\/p>\n

The World Health Organisation (WHO) identified Covid-19 as part of the coronavirus family.<\/p>

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\u201cIn humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS),\u201d stated the WHO.<\/p>\n

Who gets tested?<\/p>

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Dr Ahmad Haeri Mazanderani from the National Institute for Communicable Diseases told the NEWS that before being tested, members of the public need to meet certain criteria to be considered a Person Under Investigation (PUI).<\/p>\n

Criteria for a PUI include people with acute respiratory illness with sudden onset of at least one of the following: a cough, sore throat, shortness of breath or fever of 38\u00b0C or higher.<\/p>\n

Mazanderani said PUI criteria were likely to change regularly on account of the dynamic epidemiological and health-care context.<\/p>\n

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He said if uncertain, contact the NICD hotline (080002999) or a health-care provider.<\/p>\n

Patients who require hospital-level care due to symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, stabbing chest pain, decreased level of mental alertness and confusion, should:<\/p>\n

\u2022 Notify the receiving medical facility before arrival.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Avoid taking public transport to the facility \u2013 use private transport (preferably with windows rolled down) or call an ambulance if required.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The patient should wear a medical mask if available.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Social distancing should be maintained where possible, on arrival at the facility.<\/p>\n

He highlighted that only those who meet the PUI criteria would be tested.<\/p>\n

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To minimise the risk of contracting Covid-19 community members must practise good hand and respiratory hygiene and observe social distancing. This is especially important for individuals who develop symptoms of a flu-like illness which includes fever, sore throat, coughing and shortness of breath.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Testing for Covid-19<\/p>\n

Testing for the virus is routinely performed on a respiratory sample.<\/p>\n

This can include a throat swab, a sputum specimen and, in cases of hospitalised patients, a specimen taken from the lower respiratory tract\/ lungs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe most common specimen type is combined nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal \u2018throat\u2019 swabs that are tested together,\u201d said Mazanderani.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe test is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay that detects the genetic material (nucleic acid) specific to the virus that causes Covid-19.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe turnaround time of the result is contingent on the time it takes for the specimen to arrive at the testing lab, as well as other laboratory\/analytical variables like non-negative results that need to be repeated.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Test results are usually available within 48 to 72 hours from arrival at the testing laboratory.<\/p>\n

Mazanderani said there was some home sampling being performed by communicable disease control teams from the various provinces.<\/p>\n

Community members are advised to verify the identities of any individuals before allowing them onto their properties.<\/p>\n

Communities at risk?<\/p>\n

Commenting on communities which could be at greater risk, Mazanderani highlighted the importance of differentiating between the risk of contracting the virus and risk of developing severe disease.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who have a greater risk of contracting the virus include community members in overcrowded areas and those who find themselves with poor access to clean water and sanitation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThose who have a greater risk of developing severe disease include the elderly and those with chronic medical conditions such as hypertension, diabetes and chronic respiratory disease.\u201d<\/p>\n

What can you do?<\/p>\n

To minimise their risk of contracting Covid-19 community members must practise good hand\/respiratory hygiene at all times and observe social distancing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is especially important for individuals who develop signs\/symptoms of a flu-like illness which includes fever, sore throat, coughing and shortness of breath,\u201d said Mazanderani.<\/p>\n

He explained that Covid-19 is a mild respiratory disease in the majority of cases (four out of five persons).<\/p>\n

\u201cLet\u2019s be considerate by trying to prevent unnecessary spread, especially among our most vulnerable populations, and not to overburden the health system by seeking clinical assistance for mild respiratory symptoms in otherwise healthy young persons.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mazanderani said currently it is difficult to determine the impact of Covid-19 on SA\u2019s health systems in the future.<\/p>\n

He pointed out that the situation is dynamic.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs more evidence becomes available, and the epidemiological\/health-care context changes, recommendations for the management of Covid-19 are likely to be updated.\u201d<\/p>\n

Phone the NICD hotline on 0800 029 999 or your health-care provider if you believe you have contracted Covid-19.<\/p>\n

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* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dear reader,<\/p>\n

As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as \u201cfake news\u201d) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.<\/p>\n

Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za<\/a>) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za<\/a>).<\/p>\n

Hav<\/strong>e a story?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor)\u00a0<\/span>germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za,<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>Leigh Hodgson (News Editor)\u00a0<\/span>leighh@caxton.co.za\u00a0<\/a><\/strong>or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist)\u00a0busiv@caxton.co.za.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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