Covid-19: Life Fourways Hospital answers frequently asked questions
FOURWAYS – Life Fourways Hospital answers some frequently asked questions concerning Covid-19.
Fourways Life Hospital wishes to educate the public concerning the coronavirus by answering a number of frequently asked questions.
Q: What is the incubation period (time between being infected and showing symptoms) for the coronavirus?
A: Current information suggests that symptoms of Covid-19 usually appear on average after five days from infection. The incubation period can be as short as two days or as long as two weeks before the infected person show symptoms.
Q: What are the symptoms?
A: Fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, body aches, chills, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue and weakness.
Those who have the virus may have no obvious symptoms (be asymptomatic) or symptoms ranging from mild to severe. In some cases, the virus can cause pneumonia and be potentially life-threatening.
Most people who get sick will recover. Eighty per cent of positive patients will have mild symptoms which are flu-like and will not require hospitalisation. Recovery time varies with some recovering within days and others who develop pneumonia taking months to recover. People who are already severely ill and contract the virus have the highest risk of being fatally affected.
Q: Can people who are asymptomatic spread coronavirus?
A: Yes, however, the risk of catching the virus from someone with no symptoms is low.
Q: Can the coronavirus live on surfaces such as fabrics and carpets or hard surfaces?
A: Available evidence suggests it can be transmitted less easily from soft surfaces than frequently-touched hard surfaces such as a doorknob or the elevator button. According to WHO, coronaviruses may survive on surfaces for just a few hours or several days. Many factors will influence this period including weather conditions and surface material. Life Healthcare advises taking hygiene steps such as frequently washing your hands with soap and water or alcohol-based sanitiser and wiping down frequently-touched surfaces with disinfectants etc.
Q: What is the treatment for coronavirus?
A: Treatment is based on supportive measures such as giving fluids, medicine to reduce fever and, in severe cases, supplemental oxygen.
Q: Can people who recover from the coronavirus still be carriers and therefore spread it?
A: People who get coronavirus need to work with health providers and public health authorities to determine when they are no longer contagious.
Dear reader,
As your local news provider, we have the duty of keeping you factually informed on Covid-19 developments. As you may have noticed, mis- and disinformation (also known as “fake news”) is circulating online. Caxton Local Media is determined to filter through the masses of information doing the rounds and to separate truth from untruth in order to keep you adequately informed. Local newsrooms follow a strict pre-publication fact-checking protocol. A national task team has been established to assist in bringing you credible news reports on Covid-19.
Readers with any comments or queries may contact National Group Editor Irma Green (irma@caxton.co.za) or Legal Adviser Helene Eloff (helene@caxton.co.za).
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