China is at a crucial time to prevent and control the novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior health official said Sunday. Here's our updates of the related media reports and infos about the strict measures taken.
First thing first, here's a brief of what we know so far according to Chinese health authorities by the end of Sunday:
Confirmed cases: At least 2,744 in China, 33 abroad
Deaths: 80, in Hubei, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan and Shanghai
Recovered cases: 51
Human-to-human transmission confirmed
Incubation period: 14 days
UPDATE OF SITUATION
China is at a crucial time to prevent and control the novel coronavirus outbreak, a senior health official said Sunday. Check here to read our previous article.
△ Passengers line up to have body temperatures measured at a station in Zhengzhou.
Chinese health authorities announced Monday that 2,744 confirmed cases of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV), including 461 in critical conditions, had been reported in the country by the end of Sunday.
By the end of Sunday, the pneumonia situation had resulted in a total of 80 deaths, a total of 51 people had recovered and there were currently 5,794 suspected cases.
A total of 32,799 close contacts have been traced, the commission said, adding that among them, 583 were discharged from medical observation on Sunday, with 30,453 others remaining under medical observation.
Overseas, confirmed cases were reported in Thailand (7), Japan (3), the Republic of Korea (3), the United States (3), Vietnam (2), Singapore (4), Malaysia (3), Nepal (1), France (3) and Australia (4).
△ The number of cases has kept rising, here's an updated data as of Monday morning © Image | SHINE
At a press conference on Sunday, mayor of Wuhan said the cases in the city is expected to rise by around 1,000 as more cases are being confirmed. He also said there will be more recovering patients. China has announced the extension of the Spring Festival holiday for three days to Sunday, Feb. 2, amid its efforts to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. Universities, primary and secondary schools, and kindergartens across the country shall postpone the start of the semester, said a State Council General Office circular. The specific time for the semester start will be unveiled by respective education authorities. - Compulsory Anti-virus Masks
Chinese provinces and cities have ordered citiens to wear face masks in public to help control the spread of the novel coronavirus. The measure is required in Guangdong, Nanjing, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Wuhan, Huanggang, Xinyang, Sanmenxia, Suyang, and Ma'anshan.
△ A supermarket appeals to citizens to wear masks in public.
Some trains between the Yangtze River Delta region and cities in Hubei Province have been suspended as preautions against the spread of coronavirus. The suspensio will last at least until February 25 for some trains. China's railway operator will allow passengers to cancel their tickets nationwide without charging fees from Jan 28, 2020. Under the policy, passengers who have previously purchased train tickets at railway stations, online railway ticket-booking platform 12306 or other channels may cancel their tickets and get refunds for free. - Voluntary Health Disclosure
Outbound and inbound travelers should voluntarily report to customs officers if they feel sick with the symptoms of fever, cough and difficult breathing, according to China's customs and health authorities.
△ A security inspector measures a passenger's temperature at Lanzhou railway station.
Passengers, once feeling sick in transit, should also timely report their situations to passenger crew. The persons in charge of the relevant vehicles should provide personal protection gear to passengers and report timely to the customs authorities at the entry and exit ports. Chinese health authorities said on Monday that the control and monitoring of the flow of people is the top priority of the community-based efforts to prevent and control the spread of pneumonia caused by the novel coronavirus. Authorities across China will intensify health monitoring of migrant workers who have returned to rural areas - especially those from Wuhan - to prevent the novel coronavirus from spreading to rural areas.
△ A staff checks a passenger's body temperature at a highway exit in Yuping Dong Autonomous County of Guizhou Province.
Grassroots medical institutions will set up special fever clinics to provide convenient services for patients and send suspected cases of the virus to designated hospitals for diagnosis and treatment in a timely manner.
△ A makeshift examination station is set up to check the body temperatures of the patients outside a hospital in Guizhou Province.
- Other Measures Taken in Countries
To curb the spread of the coronavirus, multiple countries have rolled out measures.
Screening measures have been put in place at border entries such as airports and harbors in a number of countries, including Laos, Bangladesh, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Turkey, Bahrain, Uganda, and Zambia, to check for signs of infection from the virus. We summerize infos about the novel coronavirus from recent interviews of national experts and press conferences. Check the Q&As to know more:
- Does the novel coronavirus only transmit through the respiratory tract?
The transmission through the respiratory tract is definite. Meanwhile, transmissions via blood, excrement and contaminated objects need to be verified. - Do people get infected during the incubation period of novel coronavirus?
Li Lanjuan, a member of the high-level expert team convened by the National Health Commission, has found that the virus is able to transmit during the incubation period. Therefore the authorities put those having contact with infections within 14 days under medical observation and quarantine. - How do we distinguish between the common cold and novel coronavirus pneumonia?
The early symptoms of the two are similar, including fever, dry cough, respiratory symptoms, and fatigue after fever. Some even showed up in the digestive tract. The most important way to distinguish it is by taking samples from throat swabs to test for the virus. The report clearly tells whether the tester is infected with H1N1, type B influenza or novel coronavirus. The reagent test kits are supposed to be accessible in designated hospitals. - Can patients with milder symptoms stay at home for quarantine?
Recently a doctor reported he was cured by taking therapies at home on his own. However, it's safer to go to hospital if you are lacking medical knowledge and equipment. If you are not medical personnel with a clear awareness of your physical condition and the inflammation develops quickly, you should go to a hospital for treatment. The epidemiologist Li Lanjuan also suggested in the interview that people should avoid large gatherings, frequently wash their hands, wear masks and make sure their indoor air is circulating during Spring Festival. So we are going to repeat again. To prevent catching the infection, here's what you can do:
• Wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to protect you from getting infected as the virus is predominantly spread in droplets.• Make sure to wear it properly by tightening up the nose clip and pulling the bottom of it over your chin so that your nose and mouth are both covered.• If you're not feeling well or have symptoms such as cough, fever, fatigue and trouble breathing, a mask is also needed to prevent you from spreading germs to others.• Medical masks used by medical workers are not recommended for common people as they may lead to oxygen deficient if worn for long periods. - Cover your coughs and sneeze with tissue
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, or you can cough or sneeze into your sleeve, but avoid covering with your hands directly.(A healthy adult can release around 300,000 microbes including bacteria and viruses when coughing or sneezing.) - Wash your hands frequently and properly
Wash your hands with soap and running water thoroughly for at least 15 seconds, especially after:• Touching trash or garbage• Contacting with animals or handling animal wastes - Strengthen your immune system and exercise regularly
• Exercise regularly is one of the most important ways to help you stay away from catching any infections.• Make sure that shared spaces have good air flow and avoid going to crowded places such as hospitals, railway stations and airports. Wear a mask if transport or movement is necessary.• Seek prompt medical attention if you have symptoms of fever and respiratory infection.• Avoid close contact with people who have flu or cold-like symptoms.• Eat thoroughly cooked meat and eggs. Avoid contact with wild animals or farmed livestock without any protection.
EVENT
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SOURCE | Xinhua / ECNS / China Gov