Covid-19: Roseacres shares Covid-19 plans
What you can expect when visiting Life Roseacres Hospital during the Covid-19 outbreak.
Many South Africans are understandably concerned about the possibility of becoming infected with Covid-19.
In these uncertain times many residents may make the decision to visit their nearest hospital for testing and advice.
The GCN spoke to Life Roseacres Hospital to find out what the community can expect when they walk through the hospital doors.
ALSO READ: Parkruns across the world halt, Victoria Lake Parkrun no different
“Firstly, we want to assure you that Life Roseacres Hospital, and all our other hospitals, including emergency units, have been briefed and trained according to the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) and World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines and are prepared to manage suspected and positive cases of the virus within specified protocols,” explained Dr Charl van Loggerenberg, general manager of emergency medicine at Life Healthcare.
When entering the hospital, the first point of contact for the community is the screening desk at the entrance to the hospital.
“The purpose of the desk is to identify the reason for the visit to the hospital and to direct people who may potentially have symptoms suggestive of Covid-19, or a travel history relevant to the disease, as quickly as possible to the assessment area and minimise contact with other people,” said van Loggerenberg.
“The screening desk also promotes awareness that the country is dealing with a national emergency in the form of a contagious new disease.
“In the event that a suspected case is confirmed, the hospital and emergency units follow all required procedures as per the NICD, as well as Life Healthcare’s infection prevention protocols.
“A test will be done and the management of patients includes isolation with standard, droplet, contact and airborne precautions.”
To test for Covid-19 a swab will be taken from inside your nose, throat and mouth.
A blood sample may also be taken.
This swab will be sent to the laboratory for testing and results will be received within 48 to 72 hours.
Patients are asked to self-quarantine at home until the results are known.
Testing of asymptomatic community members is not done in hospitals.
ALSO READ: Watch: Dr Manning, Bertha Gxowa CEO speaks on the hospital’s precautionary measures in place in response to Covid-19
“A clinician will assess the patient and confirm if the Covid-19 is mild or severe,” explained Loggerenberg.
“If symptoms are mild, the patient may be sent home to self-quarantine.
“For severe cases, the patient will be admitted to the hospital.”
Treatment is based on supportive measures, which means giving fluids, medicine to reduce fever, and in severe cases, supplemental oxygen.
“People who become critically ill from Covid-19 may need a ventilator to help them breathe,” said Loggerenberg.
Once again the community is reminded of the symptoms of Covid-19:
Some common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, trouble breathing and a sore throat.
It is possible that patients will suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea, before the respiratory symptoms occur.
However, the community should remember Covid-19 is primarily a respiratory virus.
ALSO READ: Your blood is still needed by SANBS amid Covid-19 pandemic
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.
As part of Roseacres’ precautionary safety measures to reduce the foot traffic within the hospital visiting hours have been restricted.
The community is urged to contact the hospital for the revised visiting hours.
The number of visitors permitted during visiting hours has also been limited to two per patient, per indicated visiting hour.
“We urge members of the public who are not sick, but are concerned that they may need Covid-19 testing, to phone or consult with their general practitioner (GP) or alternatively contact the NICD,” said Loggerenberg.
ALSO READ: Rest-a-While take steps to protect the elderly
NICD hotlines for public are 0800 029 999 or 0800 111 132.
“We ask the public to assist our hospitals as we try to limit the number of worried, well people entering the emergency unit and hospital to be tested,” said van Loggerenberg.
* Notice: Coronavirus reporting at Caxton Local Media aims to combat fake news
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).
Have a story?
Contact the newsroom by emailing: Melissa Hart (Editor) germistoncitynews@caxton.co.za, Leigh Hodgson (News Editor) leighh@caxton.co.za or Busi Vilakazi (Journalist) busiv@caxton.co.za.
Also follow us on:
