Coronavirus isolation areas to be set up in health centres

Isolation areas are being set up in health centres for any potential novel Coronavirus cases, Deputy Prime Minister and Health Minister Chris Fearne said on Wednesday.

At the end of 2019 China started experiencing multiple cases of people suffering from Novel Coronavirus. Since then, it has spread to the USA, Australia and parts of Europe.

Fearne explained that, “the Novel Coronavirus imitates the flu in the way it is transferred and in symptoms and effects. The difference from common flu is that it there no one has immunity to Coronavirus and till now there is no fix for the virus only assistance.”

Nonetheless, he pointed out that over 95% of the cases have experienced a full recovery. He also said that since this is a new virus, the situation is “fluid” so what is said now could change.

Fearne said that in Malta we have no cases of the virus and since it is transmitted from one person to another we are making sure that there is proper scanning.

“We are in the process of discussion with the airport so that people who come from countries suffering from the virus are scanned,” he said.

Malta has no direct flights to China, however we are making sure that any flights in transit from there they are scanned by personnel, he said. There are also preparations for isolation areas where swabs are taken from suspected people and results are presented in 2 hours’ time.

Such isolation areas will be set up in medical centres, and motions are underway for people to be isolated in their household if they are diagnosed in their home.

Fearne explained that in the case of the results coming out positive; “we will have an isolation unit of 12 beds outside of Mater Dei which will serve for people who are not in a critical situation until they can be introduced back into society. Critical cases will be cared for at the Infectious Disease Unit.”

He explained that until the end of the week, isolation units are planned to be doubled - with the addition of one in Gozo as well, and discussions on Contact Tracing are underway.

Precautions are also being taken for paramedics with the help of the ECDC, and the ministry is making sure that they are well-equipped with protective clothing. “We are planning to have 160,000 protective clothing sets.”

Fearne also clarified some misconceptions that the ministry had been approached with by saying that everyone can eat Chinese Food and parcels coming from China are safe to be handled as the virus can only survive for 48 hours without a host.

Dr Barbara, Clinical Chairperson of the Pathology Department, explained that this Coronavirus was common in animals such as bats and snakes. What happened was that this virus mutated to be able to replicate inside a human being.

Dr Charmaine Gauci, Superintendent of Public Health, explained that human coronavirus most commonly spread from an infected person to others through the air by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact or touching an object or surface with the virus on it then touching your nose, mouth or eyes.

Prevention measures include avoiding close contact from people suffering from it, frequent hand-washing and avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals. Additionally, people with symptoms of acute respiratory infection should practice cough etiquette.

When asked if any arrangements are being taken in ports, Fearne said that there are no ships that come to Malta from infected countries in less than 48 hours time, so the virus would have already died.

He added that there are no travel restrictions in place at the moment but there is communication in place with the Minister for Foreign Affairs for a way forward, especially regarding Maltese citizens currently in China.