Basic protective measures against the Novel #Coronavirus

Wash your hands frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean, your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

Why?

Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

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Maintain social distancing

Maintain at least 1 metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Why?

When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why?

Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.

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Practice respiratory hygiene

Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Why?

Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene, you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Why?

National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

The above information is sourced from the World Health Organisation website.

Official websites for accurate information:

World Health Organisation

Western Cape Government Health Department

South Africa Government Novel Coronavirus

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Measures announced by South Africa to combat the spread of Novel Coronavirus

On Sunday the 15 March 2020, The President of the Republic of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa announced measures to combat the spread of the Novel Coronavirus (Covid 19)  in South Africa after a special cabinet meeting.

These include:

• Declaring a national state of disaster in terms of the Disaster Management Act.
• A travel ban on foreign nationals from high-risk countries such as Italy, Iran, South Korea, Spain, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom and China.
• Discouraging all non-essential domestic travel, particularly by air, rail, taxis and bus.
• Gatherings of more than 100 people are prohibited.
• Mass celebrations of upcoming national days such as Human Rights Day and other large government events are cancelled.
• Schools will be closed from Wednesday, 18 March, and will remain closed until after the Easter Weekend. (Mid-year school holidays will be shortened by a week).
• Visits to all correctional centres (prisons) are suspended for 30 days immediately.

We are also encouraged to do the following:

• Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or into your flexed elbow when coughing or sneezing.
• Avoid close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.

Read President Cyril Ramaphosa’s full statement on on measures to combat COVID-19 epidemic.

For more information on the coronavirus in the Western Cape visit The WCG Department of Health.

For national information on the Novel Coronavirus visit the SA Government

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Useful information for parents:

Helping children cope with stress during the 2019-nCoV outbreak (via the World Health Organisation)

Related: Up-to-date and official information on the Coronavirus in #WesternCape