WHAT IS CORONAVIRUS?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a new virus. The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing.
HYGIENE & HEALTH TIPS
-
Wash your hands thoroughly and often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds and rinse. Use a clean towel or paper towel to dry.
-
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer when entering public places and when soap and water are not available.
-
Do not touch your face, eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed or un-sanitized hands.
-
Use a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing.
-
Keep a clean and sanitary work and home environment i.e. wipe your desks, workstation, phones, door handles and taps on a daily basis.
-
Do not shake hands and give hugs. Practice social distancing and limit physical contact. Try maintain a distance of 2 meters apart.
-
Avoid unnecessary large crowds and should this be unavoidable immediately wash your hands.
-
Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated and eat plenty of fresh fruit and veges to support your immune system.
-
Reduce stress and have a minimum of 8 hours sleep
-
Stay home if sick.
WHAT IF?
-
If you feel you have been exposed to COVID-19, or are showing slight symptoms, please avoid contact with other people in your community and self-isolate.
-
If you feel you are ill and need non-urgent medical care, call your doctor to ask how to be tested. They will need to follow certain steps to get you the specific care you need.
-
If you are feeling very ill and need care immediately, call your emergency services or go to the emergency department.
WHEN SEEKING CARE, FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
-
Call your healthcare facility and tell them that you have, or are being evaluated for, COVID-19.
-
Put on a face mask before you enter the healthcare facility.
-
Ask your healthcare professional to inform the NICD (National Institute for Communicable Diseases
FURTHER IMPORTANT NOTES
-
If you have returned from international travel or family that has returned from high risk areas, isolate for 14 days.
-
Avoid unnecessary COVID-19 testing as this will place strain on the resources of the health system. Only test if the systems communicated by national health are present.
-
Add the number 0600 123456 to WhatsApp and message for the latest, official information and statistics.
-
Don’t panic buy or hoard groceries.
-
If your work environment allows, work remotely.