[imagesource: Henk Kruger / African News Agency (ANA)]

You may be growing tired of hearing about the coronavirus, or COVID-19, but you better get used to it.

There have been mixed accounts of how ready South Africa is for the virus, with Carte Blanche and Bill Gates not seeming all that confident.

On the flip side, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) says it’s on top of things, and remains on high alert, despite the fact that there have been zero confirmed cases of the coronavirus in the country.

As of yesterday, the NCID has tested 116 people for the virus, and all have come back negative.

Below from News24:

“We…continue to work closely in collaboration with international bodies and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to intensify our preparedness for a possible case of Covid-19 that may reach South Africa,” NICD senior communications manager Sinenhlanhla Jimoh said.

“Surveillance activities are ongoing and we continue to provide guidance documents, for the South African context, to public and healthcare professionals in order to strengthen general understanding of Covid-19 and rapid detection.”

Jimoh said people who developed symptoms of respiratory illness – including cough, fever and shortness of breath – during and/or after travel to countries where coronavirus was known to be circulating should seek medical care early and share information about their travel histories with their healthcare providers.

Thankfully for the South Africans currently quarantined in China, there have been no positive tests among them.

Our doctors and medical professionals are also being prepared for any contact with the virus, and the head of the infectious diseases department at the University of Pretoria, Professor Anton Stoltz, spoke about the controls that need to be in place.

IOL reports:

Stoltz advised health practitioners to consider carefully the type of personal protective equipment used.

Studies showed the virus could remain infectious on inanimate surfaces at room temperature for up to nine days, he said. However, at a room temperature of 30°C, the duration of persistence was shorter.

“It is important that when you are treating people with infectious diseases you must make sure you don’t infect yourself. In cases where you are not vaccinated against a novel virus everybody can be a susceptible host.”

Let’s spare a thought for those who prepare to do battle on the front line with something like the coronavirus.

We’ve also listened to cable news drone on about epidemics and pandemics, and the New York Times has an interesting look at what happens next.

To clarify, an epidemic is an outbreak of disease that attacks many peoples and may spread through one or several communities, whereas a pandemic is when an epidemic spreads throughout the world.

Looks like we’re cracking the latter here:

And what should each of us do, beyond staying informed and washing our hands frequently? Keep calm and rational. It might be worth stocking some reserve of critical medications, for example — but not too much, because hoarding could create shortages.

We, as individuals, can also try to plan for basic contingencies. Companies can cross-train key staff members so that one person’s absence won’t derail the business. Family members and friends should be watchful of one another’s health and welfare, and stand prepared to care for the moderately ill if hospitals become overtaxed.

“Pandemic” isn’t just a technical public health term. It also is — or should be — a rallying cry.

That makes it seem like a matter of when, rather than if, South Africa will be affected.

To really deliver a punch to the gut, let’s check out the Atlantic’s story, headlined ‘You’re Likely to Get the Coronavirus’.

Oh, grand:

The more the world enters lockdown and self-preservation mode, the more difficult it could be to soberly assess risk and effectively distribute tools, from vaccines and respirator masks to food and hand soap…

Certain containment measures will be appropriate, but widely banning travel, closing down cities, and hoarding resources are not realistic solutions for an outbreak that lasts years.

All of these measures come with risks of their own. Ultimately some pandemic responses will require opening borders, not closing them.

At some point the expectation that any area will escape effects of COVID-19 must be abandoned: The disease must be seen as everyone’s problem.

We’re still sitting pretty down on the tip of Africa, but maybe not for much longer.

To finish with a silver lining, a study of  72 000 COVID-19 cases reported in mainland China revealed a case-fatality rate (CFR) of 2,3%, with most people suffering only mild cases.

Obviously you’d rather not contract the disease, but it’s far from a death sentence.

Remain vigilant and hope for the best, I guess.

[sources:iol&news24&nytimes]