From Relief to Self-Reliance

Novel Corona Virus 19- COVID19 staff

orientation

10 March 2020

Health Program
©2012 International Medical Corps
 Outline of presentation
• General Information
• Standard Definition
• Clinical symptoms
• Transmission
• Myths about COVID-19
• Prevention methods
• Work place precautions
• COVID-19 Global update
• Preparedness efforts in Ethiopia

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 1. General Information
• Coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that
cause illness ranging from the common cold to more
severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory
Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
• In December 2019, a new coronavirus, not previously
known, was identified in China called Novel
Coronavirus 19 (COVID-19)
• A novel coronavirus (nCoV) is a new strain that has
not been previously identified in humans.
• Coronaviruses are zoonotic, meaning they are
transmitted between animals and people.
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 2. Standard case definition
1.Confirmed case : A person who tests positive has the virus identified by
electron microscopy or viral culture, at a reference laboratory.

2. Suspect case : If the patient satisfies epidemiological and clinical criteria,

they are classified as a suspect case.
Epidemiological criteria
• Travel to (including transit through) a country considered to pose a risk of
transmission in the 14 days before the onset of illness.

• Close or casual contact in the 14 days before illness onset with a confirmed
case of COVID-19.
Clinical criteria
• Fever or
• Acute respiratory infection (e.g. shortness of breath or cough) with or
without fever.Medical Corps
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 3. Clinical Symptoms
• COVID-19 typically causes flu-like symptoms
• A person can start showing symptoms about 14 days after
being exposed to the virus.
• Initial symptoms seem to start with a fever, followed by
fatigue and dry cough.
• After about a week, this can lead to shortness of
breath, with about 20% of patients requiring hospital
treatment.
• More susceptible individuals are patients like the elderly
and those with other chronic health conditions.
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 Clinical symptoms
Common signs of infection include:- for about 80% of cases
• fever,
• cough,
• shortness of breath and breathing difficulties.
• In 5% of cases – runny nose, sneezing, sore throat
In more severe cases, for about 20% of cases
• Infection can cause pneumonia
• Severe acute respiratory syndrome,
• Chest tightness, chest pain
• kidney failure and
• Death.

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 4. Transmission
1. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-
person as follows:

 Between people who are in close contact with one another

(within about 6 feet/1.8m)
 Via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person
coughs or sneezes.
 These droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people
who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
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 Transmission
2. Spread from contact with infected surfaces or
objects.
3. Spread from sick persons
4. Who should use masks
• Health care workers should wear a surgical mask
when entering a room where patients suspected or
confirmed of being infected with 2019-nCoV.
• HWs working at the screening sites at PoE.
• Patients with respiratory symptoms.
• For others usage should be aligned with local health
authority recommendations.
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 Myths about COVID19
• Are hand dryers effective in killing the new coronavirus?
No.
• Can spraying alcohol or chlorine all over your body kill the
new coronavirus? No, as it will not kill viruses that have
already entered your body.
• Do vaccines against pneumonia protect you against the
new coronavirus? No.
• Can regularly rinsing your nose with saline help prevent
infection with the new coronavirus? No. There is no
evidence that this offers protection from infection with the
new coronavirus.
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 Myths about COVID19
• Does the new coronavirus affect older people, or are
younger people also susceptible? People of all ages can
be infected by the new coronavirus (2019-nCoV). Older
people, and people with pre-existing medical conditions
(such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease) appear to be
more vulnerable to becoming severely ill with the virus.
• Are antibiotics effective in preventing and treating the
new coronavirus? No, antibiotics do not work against
viruses, only bacteria.
• Are there any specific medicines to prevent or treat the
new coronavirus? To date, there is no specific medicine
recommended to prevent or treat the new coronavirus.
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 Prevention Methods
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in
the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using
a regular household cleaning spray or wipe.
• Use hand sanitizer after touching these objects.
• Follow CDC’s recommendations for using a facemask.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20
seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before eating;
and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

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 Prevention
Proper hand washing practice

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 Treatment
• There is no specific antiviral treatment
recommended for COVID-19.

• People with COVID-19 should receive supportive care

to help relieve symptoms. For severe cases,
treatment should include care to support vital organ
functions.

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 Work Place Precautions
1. Ensure all employees are educated on and practice
infection prevention and control (IPC) including respiratory
etiquette, hand hygiene and staying home when sick:
• Place alcohol-based hand sanitizers, and tissues for use by
employees and/or ensure adequate soap and water.
• Encourage staff to ensure hand hygiene either through hand
washing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using
hand sanitizers.
• Place IEC materials and posters
• Educate family and friends the same and provide them with
IEC materials.

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 Work place pre….
2. Separate sick employees:
• If an employee has acute respiratory illness symptoms (i.e. fever,
cough, shortness of breath) upon arrival to work or during the day,
they should be separated from other employees and sent home
immediately.
• Sick employees should cover their noses and mouths with a tissue
when coughing or sneezing (or into an elbow or shoulder if no tissue
is available).
• Sick employees, especially those with worsening symptoms and
comorbidities, should seek medical care.
• If an employee tests positive for nCoV, the country health teams will
work with the local health authority on further steps such as contact
tracing, quarantine, etc.

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 Work Place pre…..
3. Encourage sick employees to stay home:
• Employees who have symptoms of acute respiratory illness with
fever are recommended to stay home and not come to work
until they are free of fever.
• Employees should notify their supervisor and stay home if they
are sick.
• Employees should be allowed to also stay at home to care for
sick family members who have symptoms of acute respiratory
illness with fever

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 Work Place pre….

4. Perform routine environmental cleaning:

• Routinely clean all frequently touched surfaces in
the workplace, such as workstations, countertops,
and doorknobs.
• No additional disinfection beyond routine cleaning
is recommended at this time.
• Provide disposable disinfectant wipes so that
commonly used surfaces (for example, doorknobs,
keyboards, remote controls, desks) can be wiped
down by employees before each use.
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 Work Place pre….
5. Travel Advice
• At this time IMC are not implementing any travel
restrictions. But monitoring the issue on a daily basis.
• Prior to implementing travel restrictions, IMC should
confirm if the local Ministry of Health has issued any travel
restrictions or quarantine regulations.
• If IMC staff travel to areas where exposure is possible, the
employee should work from home for 14 days after
returning to their home country.
• If IMC HQ issues travel restrictions, they will be based on
WHO/CDC recommendations
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 COVID19 Global update
As of 08 March 2020
• Total cases – 105,427
• Confirmed cases in China – 80,859
• Total cases outside china – 24,568
• Affected countries outside china – 101
• Total Deaths – 3,583
• Death in China – 3,100
• Deaths outside China – 484
Ethiopia: 34 suspected cases, 31 tested, 0 confirmed
cases. 3 cases at isolation center pending lab result.

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Major COVID-19 preparedness efforts in Ethiopia
• 24/7 Toll-free line established – 8335
• Strict PoE screening & vigilant follow up procedure being
implemented.
• Twice weekly media briefing ongoing by DG EPHI.
• Coordination platform at national and sub national level
strengthened.
• Regular alerting of stakeholders arranged.
• Training and orientation ongoing.
• EOC for COVID-19 established and national preparedness
plan prepared.
• IEC materials prepared and distributed at the screening
centers.
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