Thursday January 30, 2020 ~ NATIONAL/GLOBAL
by Mary Brooke, B.Sc. ~ West Shore Voice News
The World Health Organization (WHO) has today declared a “health emergency of international concern” over the continuing spread of the Coronavirus that initiated out of the Wuhan area of China.
They are *not* recommending travel and trade bans, though several countries including Canada, the US, and France have already begun or executed arrangements for transport of citizens out of China to avoid the illness.
Only people who do not show symptoms of the disease will be allowed to travel home, as no one will be allowed out of China if they exhibit any symptoms of the Coronavirus.
The Canadian government says that now 196 people in China have requested assistance to leave China and come back to Canada, or to receive support for supplies or reconnection with family members within China.
Human to human transmission of the disease is now being seen. The virus was originally from an animal, jumping the species barrier into one or more persons. Now through ‘heavy droplets’ the virus can be spread when people cough or sneeze or touch people while the virus is on their hands or even their clothing (sneezing into one’s elbow/sleeve is fast losing favour with some health professionals).
Frequent hand washing, sneezing/coughing into a tissue which is then properly discarded, and staying home when sick are among the precautions recommended for all Canadians.
WHO representatives indicated that countries where the health care system is not sufficiently robust will be more affected by any spread of the illness. That would include not having N95 masks and negative pressure treatment areas (where fresh air comes into the treatment room but contaminated air is not forced out). Canada, the US and other western countries are well equipped and acting to high protocols that are in large part from lessons learned during the SARS outbreak in 2003.
The main reason for WHO declaring an emergency was to prepare for the spread of the novel coronavirus to poor countries that are ill-equipped to control it or care for those who get sick.
“We must all act together now to limit further spread,” Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said. “Our greatest concern is for the virus to spread to other countries with weaker health systems that are ill-prepared to deal with it,” he said.
Dr. Tedros stressed that the declaration is, “not a vote of no confidence in China.” He praised China for a swift and transparent response to the outbreak.
Dr Tedros posted on Twitter after the formal announcement: “In many ways, #China is actually setting a new standard for outbreak response. Our greatest concern is the potential for the virus to spread to countries with weaker health systems, and which are ill-prepared to deal with it. #2019nCoV “
WHO has been criticized for being slow to act in declaring a global health emergency. They met twice last week and declined to come to that conclusion.
Transmission of the disease is still considered ‘low’ in Canada, and most health care professionals are saying there’s not much benefit in the use of everyday loose-fitting masks.
There are presently three confirmed cases in Canada, with the persons in an isolated hospital setting or quarantined at home.
Across Canada, and locally in Greater Victoria, community leaders are advising against leaning to what amounts to racial bias if people avoid anyone who is (apparently) Chinese. Unless a person (anyone) has had contact with someone who travelled in China during the outbreak of the Coronavirus and has since returned, there is obviously no risk based on visual racial profiling.
The local Sooke School District 62 (SD62) on the west shore of Vancouver Island had been working on a statement about the Coronavirus, for release to parents and the school community, but has for now just posted a summary (and link to) of the January 28 joint statement of the BC Health Ministry and BC Provincial Health Officer on the SD62 website, and a link to the BC CDC website, together with this comment:
“We all play a role in dispelling rumours that may lead to inappropriate discrimination against people. Only people who are experiencing symptoms may transmit an illness, it is not related to race or ethnicity. It is important to check trusted sources for information on coronavirus.”
The disease is spread like any other flu — through droplets from coughs and sneezes. The fact that any persons with suspected or confirmed cases are being isolated or quarantined is one of the best precautions that our health care system in Canada can provide.
==== LINKS
Canada will send a plane to bring Canadians home from the affected area of China (January 29, 2020)
Overview of the Coronavirus situation to January 25 (page 1 in the January 24-25 weekend edition of West Shore Voice News print-PDF edition)
BC Centre for Disease Control – Coronavirus updates
One case of Coronavirus in BC confirmed by Provincial Health Officer (January 28, 2020)
First statement about the Coronavirus by BC Health Minister and Provincial Health Officer (January 25, 2020)