Patient in Jersey is tested for coronavirus

Anyone returning from a range of Asian countries, who feels ill, is being advised to seek immediate medical attention.

Jersey’s Health and Community Services confirmed yesterday that an individual was presenting with flu-like symptoms after having arrived in Jersey from a country known to have cases of coronavirus.

The patient is now being held in isolation as a precautionary measure and tests are being carried out.

‘At this stage there is no evidence that this individual is suffering from coronavirus rather than the flu or another ailment,’ a States of Jersey spokesperson said.

‘It will take around 48 hours to get the test results, and in the meantime islanders are being asked to avoid speculation or worry.’

No details of the patient’s identity have been released.

So far 620 tests have been carried out in the UK, with only three coming back positive.

Guernsey’s public health director Dr Nicola Brink said they were putting precautions in place.

‘Guernsey needs to maintain its ability to provide essential public services,’ she said.

‘An outbreak of any viral illness can impact on the staff and resources needed to deliver these services.

‘To do this we need the public to work with us and we are asking that any individual who returns to Guernsey from visiting mainland China within the last 14 days self-isolate at home to reduce the risk of the infection being introduced to the island’s community.’

Self-isolation means a person should avoid physical contact with the rest of the community for a specified period of time. In this case Public Health Services recommend that individuals stay indoors and avoid physical contact with others. These precautions should be taken for 14 consecutive days from the time of departure from mainland China.

The advice echoes similar recommendations which have been made in the UK.

‘Self-isolation for 14 days is extremely difficult for the individuals/families concerned,’ Dr Brink said.

‘We need to work together as a community to support people in these circumstances as they are acting responsibly to protect the island. I would urge all islanders to act compassionately and encourage them to offer support to friends and family by keeping in contact by phone or text, as visiting is not advised. Islanders can also offer help to friends and family in self-isolation by delivering groceries and other essentials and leaving them by the door. Work and other papers can be delivered too as there is no evidence of the virus being shared on paper or cardboard.’

Anyone returning from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Republic of South Korea, Singapore, Taiwan, or Thailand in the last 14 days who has a fever, cough or shortness of breath should seek immediate medical advice and attention by contacting their GP, the emergency department at the Princess Elizabeth Hospital, the Infection Prevention and Control Team or Public Health Services. These services are available through the Princess Elizabeth Hospital switchboard - 725241.

Anyone feeling ill should phone ahead before attending the doctor or hospital.

There has been a rush on face masks across the world.

A spokesperson for Pharmacy Locale at the bottom of Smith Street said they had run out of masks two weeks ago and had been warned it could take months to get more into stock. Similarly sanitising hand gels had also sold out and there were none delivered this week.

Jersey’s deputy medical officer of health and consultant microbiologist Dr Ivan Muscat said that good hand hygiene and the use, and proper disposal, of tissues were much more effective in protecting against any virus.

‘Wearing masks if you are not unwell is of very limited, if any benefit, compared with good hygiene,’ Dr Muscat said, explaining that masks quickly become damp and would then allow infection to pass through from hands which carry the virus.

Full details about self-isolation can be found at www.gov.gg/coronavirus.