COVID-19: City of Ekurhuleni calls for calmness
The City has established and activated an outbreak team, which mainly consists of health-care workers.
The City of Ekurhuleni would like to assure its communities that there is no need to panic about coronavirus.
They added they are aware that there is a sense of worry and panic throughout the country following the confirmed cases of Covid-19 in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng and that they appeal for calmness.
The City has established and activated an outbreak team, which mainly consists of health-care workers.
The City is also part of the Joint Operation Centre dealing with the outbreak consisting of officials from all spheres of government.
Thus far the majority of cases have occurred in people with close physical contact to infected persons and health-care workers caring for patients with Covid-19.
Current symptoms reported for patients with Covid-19 includes mild to severe respiratory illness with fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
Reported illnesses have ranged from infected people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. Anyone with any of the symptoms is advised to go to the nearest health-care facility.
Currently, there is no vaccine for Covid-19.
Officials in China have intensified efforts to contain the spread of the virus.
While there are no specific measures currently recommended to prevent Covid-19, the following can provide protection against infection with coronaviruses and many other viruses that are more common in South Africa:
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick and try and keep your distance from others at home.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a flexed elbow or a tissue, then throw the tissue in the bin.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• Avoid contact with farm or wild animals (alive or dead), animal markets and products that come from animals (such as uncooked meat).
Leading the City of Ekurhuleni Outbreak Team is Dr Joseph Sepuya and Dr Ronnel Kellerman, who can be reached on 082 826 1987 and 084 974 6051, respectively.
