GP Rockhampton

1. How it is spread:

• Aerosolized droplets (when an infected person coughs and sneezes
• Contaminated surfaces (touched by infected patients)
• Faecal – oral route

CORONA VIRUS CAN BE MORE CONTAGIOUS THAN FLU

2. Symptoms and incubation period:

Following symptoms can occur 2 – 4 days after exposure. (A person who is already infected may keep spreading the virus up to 10 days without symptoms).

Initial symptoms:

• Very severe, dry, sore throat – different to other types of sore throat you get
• Runny nose (may be mild)
• Sneezing
• Fever
• Mild shortness of breath
• Breathing difficulties

Later:

• Pneumonia
• Worsening breathing difficulty and
• Very severe breathing difficulty and death is possible
• Kidney failure
• Death rate, currently is 2 – 4 persons per 100 infected people.

3. Who is at highest risk:

• Anyone who has a weak immune system
• Elderly people
• People who have cancers (on chemotherapy), diabetes, poorly controlled asthma, COPD, kidney failure etc.

4. How to protect yourself and avoid spreading to your fellow community members:

• Avoid air travel and cruise ships as much as possible
• Avoid the crowds as much as possible (this does not mean not going to work or shopping)
• Stay away at least 2 m from the nearest person
• Wash your hands more frequently with soap and water, at least for 20 seconds. DO NOT TOUCH your nose, mouth or face without washing your hands.
• Cover your mouth with inner elbow when you cough.  Wash the hands immediately.  If you are sick, use a mask to protect others.  A mask is not needed if you are not sick.(provided virus  is  still not spreading in the community)
• Avoid touching hand rails, door knobs, and door handles in public places. Also, trolley handles, basket handles. (either use a tissue or clean your hands with hand sanitizer)
• Minimize your time around sick people or even in public places(  less than 15  mins)
• If you have a cough, sneezing etc, cover your nose and mouth with a tissue. Dispose of it to a bin with a lid.
• Do not touch hand rails, trolleys, shopping books, door handles etc until you have washed your hands once you have coughed or sneezed.
• If you feel sick, stay at home, ask the other people at home to stay away from you at least 2 – 3 m. Wash your hands regularly. Be mindful to take all the precautions to not spread the virus to others.

• If you are sick, DO NOT COME to the Practice straightaway.  First  ring us and  explain your symptoms ,then we will take  precautions  before  we see you.

• If you are sick, please ring us, we will try to consult you using ‘WhatsApp’, Imo or Facetime, so that we can notice your condition.
• If you have any breathing difficulty with runny nose, fever or sore throat, please call 000, explain your symptoms and concerns, telling your travel history or contact history for the ambulance staff to ready themselves.
• Please listen to the radio, TV, or in touch with social media(credible sources only) for daily updates
• Even though not a proper treatment, you can use the following things to help fight with the virus: (but there is no guarantee these will protect you or cure the Corona Virus infection)

1. Long restful sleep
2. Fluids (drink warm water frequently, up to 3L per day if there is no heart failure)
3. Panadol to support your symptoms
4. Vitamin C 2 – 3 g/d  (2-3  grams per day)
5. Vitamin D 5 – 10,000 IU /d, and if you are sick,25000 – 50000 IU daily for 5 days (can cause constipation and abdominal pain)
6. Zinc (powder/lozenges/capsules) 25 – 50mg daily until you get better. Zinc lozenges are more effective.
7. Garlic (raw) (chopped and with food). 2 – 4 cloves a day
8. Elderberry syrup/ capsules
9. Echinacea
10. Probiotics
11. N-Acetylaysteine
12. Betadine gargle (if sore throat present)
13. More proteins, less processed starchy foods.