Coronavirus: ‘measured and proportionate’ steps for HSC

And checks have been made on stocks of antibiotics, in the event that virus victims have secondary bacterial infections.

Public Health director Dr Nicola Brink said the precautions are similar to those taken during the swine flu outbreak of a few years ago.

Following the outbreak of the virus in Wuhan, China, more than 7,711 cases have been confirmed and yesterday lunchtime the death toll stood at 170.

Signs are set to appear in the PEH emergency department and primary care practices giving advice about how to avoid infection and Dr Brink said it was possible that posters aimed at travellers in particular will also go up at the ports.

But while some people have said the actions and subsequent media reports were ‘scaremongering’, Dr Brink said that Health & Social Care is taking measured and proportionate steps at this stage, when the world is still learning about the virus’ properties.

‘It’s important to balance the message we’re giving between the message of prevention and a prepared and proportionate response,’ she said.

‘I think the next five to six weeks are going to be critical because we will see if we get a sustained transmission outside of China.

‘At the moment, it’s fair to say we don’t know the level of the threat.’

If there is a case in Guernsey, the patient would be isolated in a negative pressure room at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital.

Advice would also be sought from Public Health England.

‘We have looked at the ways we would manage an infected person, where we would care for them in the PEH, and how we would make a diagnosis,’ said Dr Brink.

‘Management [of a case] is based on what we call supportive management, so if someone is seriously ill it would be keeping them isolated, keeping their temperature down and providing oxygen,’ she said.

Scientists have begun working on a vaccine and Dr Brink said that some existing anti-viral treatments are also being tested.

The most common symptoms of the virus are fever, cough, shortness of breath and in some cases a runny nose.

It is spread through large droplets, when people cough or sneeze, but also by direct contact, so it is important that people wash their hands regularly or use an alcohol rub.

Currently it is estimated that about 20-25% of cases will be severe.

The mortality rate is around 2%, said Dr Brink, compared to a 1% mortality rate for influenza. By far the majority of fatalities so far have been among the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions.

Another of the unknown factors is how many asymptomatic cases there might be – people who have the virus and do not show any symptoms but can still spread it to others.

Dr Brink repeated the message that people who fear they might have the virus should phone the Emergency Department at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital or their GP and tell them about recent travel and their symptoms. They should not go to the GP or the PEH unannounced.

‘If a person is really ill we would want them to phone 999,’ she said.

n A dedicated page on the States’ website has been set up to keep islanders up to date about the outbreak – www.gov.gg/coronavirus.