Covid-19 is affecting the entire world. South Coast doctor, Kanaya Maharaj, said it was known that younger people were less prone to developing serious complications of the infection.
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However, he confirmed that people over the age of 65 may commonly be affected more seriously, while those aged over 55 with other illnesses such as diabetes, hypertension, heart failure, ischaemic heart disease and kidney failure could develop serious complications if they were infected with the virus.
“Furthermore, people who have weaker immune systems are more susceptible to falling ill from this virus. This includes people who are HIV positive, diabetics, those on anti-cancer treatment, transplant patients and tuberculosis sufferers,” he said.
Dr Maharaj explained that at this stage, very little was known about how the virus affected the human body.
He said the Ugu and Ray Nkonyeni Municipal areas were unique in that they had a very large ‘aged’ population.
“This is because we are historically the homesteads to many populations. Furthermore, many upcountry people have chosen to retire to this part of the world. We also have the added burden of lower income in our rural areas, with a great dependence on government grants,” he said
“Our people who are living on a meagre income are also hesitant to seek out early health care because of costly travel, multiple trips to hospitals/doctors and downright non-availability of finances,” he said.
He outlined the difference between private and public healthcare:
“Covid-19 is a brand new disease and every physician is as educated as the next, so the playing field is level,” he said.
The public sector and the private sector on the South Coast had made enormous efforts to prepare for the predicted onslaught.
Both sectors had stocked up on personal protective equipment (PPE) for staff.
This effort had been helped by central government efforts to make large amounts of gloves, masks, protective suits and visors available to the state sector and for re-sale to the private sector at cost price.
Special wards had been set up in all hospitals to manage patients suspected of being infected, and those who had tested positive for Covid-19.
In addition, special isolation areas had been set up in each these of these wards.
“In my opinion, there should not be any difference in outcomes of patients admitted to public or private healthcare facilities. However, the burdens of age, immune compromise and chronic diseases may tip the scales in both sectors,” he explained.
Dr Maharaj has given reasons WHY testing should be done:
Presently the ‘case definition’ (of a suspected Covid 19 patient) is:
• Persons with acute respiratory illness with sudden onset of the following: cough, sore throat, shortness of breath, fever above 38ºC (measured) or history of fever (subjective), irrespective of admission status
• No longer a requirement – recent travel history to a high risk country
• No longer a requirement – recent CLOSE contact with a positive Covid-19 patient
The only reason to test was to find an infected person’s close contacts in order to quarantine both them and their contacts to prevent further spread of the disease.
The infection potential of Covid-19 is between two and three. Dr Maharaj said this meant that each infected person would infect two to three other people.
Hence, the disease would spread at an exponential rate throughout the population.
If the infection potential was less than one, then the disease would eventually burn out.
With Covid-19 the disease spread became exponential, making the tracing of contacts vital.
‘Close contact’ was defined as making physical contact, sharing equipment, or being within two metres of an infected person for a prolonged period.
Some studies had shown as little as 10 minutes was sufficient to spread the virus, he said.
Masks, he added, were probably best for people who were coughing and sneezing.
Cloth masks were being advocated more and more, but Dr Maharaj reminded users that these needed to be washed and ironed daily.
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