Dr.Dinesh
Corona virus comes from the family of virus which include other viruses such as MERS, SARS, as the milder variance causing common cold, medical consensus at this moment is novel corona virus is more transmissible, but appears less deadly than SARS, evidence suggests that rate of human to human transmission of this virus appears to be higher than that of SARS, for now the evidence also suggest that transmission is mostly via droplets emitted from an infected person over a short distance, such as when a person coughs or sneezes. If these droplets come in contact with eyes, nose or mouth of an individual directly or indirectly through hands come into contact with these droplets the individual may become affected, there is no evidence to suggest the virus is airborne. The novel corona virus is transmitted through surface contact, when a person sneezes or cough the droplets falls into surfaces of tables and chairs and virus may remain alive for up to few days, when someone touches the surfaces, virus can be transferred in his hand and if he then rub his eyes or nose without washing his hands, he may become affected. So we should wash hands. The most effective is to practice good personal hygiene, we should regularly wash hands with soap and water and avoid touching our face with our hands, these may sound simple but they are very difficult to do because all of us touch our faces all the time, so it is simple but extremely difficult but is actually very affective in preventing all kinds of infection, potential infection from asymptomatic person in fact is less likely to be from coughing or sneezing directly because they don’t have symptoms, but more likely by touching contaminated surfaces for which masks offer no protection. Wearing a mask when we are well, often gives us a false sense of security instead and we are more likely to touch our faces when we constantly adjust our masks, which is one way the disease spreads at the same time, we need to protect others our loved ones friends, colleagues that we come into contact with, if we are sick we should rest and recover at home as far as possible, if we need to go out to see a doctor we should wear a surgical mask to protect others so this is when mask is needed. No need to buy masks, unless and until the doctors recommends, do report if the pharmacy charges excess rates for masks or gives duplicate N95 masks.
Any person suggestive of corona virus should be confined at home for a period of 14 days and avoid close contact with public and other members in the family, stay home, preferably isolate himself or herself in a separate and well ventilated room, avoid common areas frequented by other members of the family, avoid close contact, if inevitable, maintain at least one hand distance avoid handshaking and wash hands frequently with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, take plenty of fluids, cover mouth & nose with tissue or handkerchief when coughing and sneezing. Monitor your health for appearance of symptoms like fever, cough and or breathing difficulty. If you develop any of these symptoms. Please do contact government health facility.
All non- essential travel to china to be avoided, if you feel sick on a flight, while travelling back to India, inform the airline crew about illness, follow the directions of airline crew while disembarking. Immediately report facts to airport health office/immigration office & helpline number 011-23978046 also. Follow the direction of airport health officer or as issued by helpline, report the illness to the nearest health facility and also inform the treating doctor regarding your travel history.
Steps taken by Directorate of Health Services & the A& N Administration to combat the Novel Corona Wuhan virus outbreak. A state level advisory committee for out break, two meetings was conducted under the chairmanship of Principal Secretary (Health) on 5/2/2020, and with Chief Secretary on 7/2/2020, intensive mass awareness for general public and to stay away from fake news. Hotel association & Tour operators are sensitized and they are in touch with Health department. State official visited major tourist places for overseeing preparedness. Director, AAI, VSI airport Port Blair has been requested to share data and also to display banner for voluntary disclosure of travellers coming out of china. Chief port administrator has been requested to share details of passenger if found with any contact with traveller or coming out of china, guideline and study materials shared with all health care institution through what’s app and hard copy. One bed in PHC, 2 beds in CHC & district hospital, 5 beds in G.B Pant Hospital has been established with team of Doctors & team of health workers, one ventilator, PPE & N95 masks. Team of Doctors & paramedics formed and posted at airport & port with help desk. Standee has been displayed at Airport, G.B Pant Hospital & seaport, Quarantine from passengers has been sought for travel history. All people/students travelling out of china after 15th January 2020 to be home isolated under vigil. Two students from Chengdu, Schuwan province came to port Blair after 15th January, 2020 are kept under house quarantine & they are asymptomatic.
For general public awareness about preventive measures it will be displayed in cinema halls, bus stands, airport, harbor, use of Radio, TV, Director of Health Service had conducted live phone in programme in All India Radio, Port Blair. A & N Administration has also requested A & N Islands Private Doctors Association to support the administration in surveillance, mass awareness and combating the NCov outbreak. A helpline working round the clock till WHO down the alert levels. It is advised to ensure personals as well as infection hygiene, protect self from infection by keeping a distance from infected person, observe hygiene while eating food and avoid uncooked animal/sea food. Treatment for corona virus will be done only at Government hospital and no private hospital should admit or treat patients with symptoms of disease. If any patients calls private hospital, doctors should direct them to government hospital. Do not touch tables, hand rails of escalators/elevators, airport desk counter unnecessarily and avoid touching nose and face, frequently wash hands with soap and water.
*Member, State Level Advisory committee on outbreak control of Novel Corona Virus.
