Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1219206
3 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 8 MARCH 2020 NEWS first to contract coronavirus Coronavirus: who to contact for help and how to avoid catch- ing the virus As the first case of coronavirus is confirmed in Malta, the government is urging people to avoid visiting the emergency department except in cases of genuine emergencies. It is also highlighting the need for the public to take measures to pre- vent contracting Covid-19. A specialised testing hub will start operating on Tuesday, negating the need for people to go to health cen- tres or hospital to get tested for the virus. Who to call if you require assistance or advice • Call 111, a specialised Cov- id-19 helpline which has been set up • Avoid calling 112 unless it's a real emergency • Avoid going to GP clinics, health centres and hospital emer- gency departments • Visit www.covid19.gov.mt for latest updates • Test hub to open on Tues- day where people can go to be test- ed for Covid-19 WHO guidelines on protective meas- ures to take • Regularly and thorough- ly clean your hands with an alco- hol-based rub or wash them with soap and water • Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth • Practise good respiratory hygiene – cover your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Dispose of the tissue immediately • Maintain at least one metre (three feet) between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneez- ing. Coughing or sneezing by those infected with Covid-19 leads to small liquid droplets containing the virus being sprayed into the air The coronavirus has, to date, in- fected more than 102,000 people globally since the first reported case in Wuhan, China at the end of 2019. Over 3,400 people have died, the vast majority in mainland China, and around 450 in other countries. More than 57,000 people have recovered from the disease. Major outbreaks have taken place in China, South Korea, Iran and Italy. rubs and wipes, and the cover- ing of the mouth when cough- ing or sneezing. There have been 101,601 in- fections and over 3,400 deaths registered globally to date. There have been more than 101,000 infections and over 3,400 deaths registered globally to date. In comments to MaltaToday, virologist Chris Barbara said that the risk of the coronavi- rus being transmitted is high- est once the person concerned starts displaying symptoms. It takes a minimum of 15 minutes in close proximity – under two metres – to transmit the in- fectious dose necessary for in- fection, Barbara told the press conference yesterday. Health Minister's Chris Fearne, speaking at an Europe- an Council meeting on Friday, said the EU had to focus on containment and mitigation of the virus. He underlined member states had to focus on assisting each other, especially in regions where capacity could be stretched. Fearne said that although a coronavirus vaccine was not yet available and could be months away, the draft procurement process of the EU to purchase a vaccine once it is made availa- ble should be initiated now. DEPUTY prime minister and health minister Chris Fearne called on Prime Minister Robert Abela to temporary stop flights from northern Italy, as a precaution against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus. The call was made in a Cabinet meet- ing, MaltaToday has learnt. But Abela disagreed with Fearne, reportedly saying he would assume responsibility for the decision not to stop flights from the north of Italy, where there is the highest concentra- tion of conoravirus cases in the whole of Europe. In Cabinet Fearne has been discord- ant with some of Abela's arguments, and in the case of the Steward hospital deal, he has made it clear that he will not be burdened with the de- cisions of Joseph Muscat, Keith Schembri and Konrad Mizzi. With the announcement yesterday of the first conoravirus case, a 12-year- old Italian girl who had holidayed in Trentino with her family of four, the pressure is on the government to take swift action. Fearne said yesterday that the singu- lar case should be a cause for alarm and reassured the public that protocols are in place. He said that the self-imposed quarantine of the family encouraged the health authorities not to feel the need to impose restrictions on events such as cinemas, weddings and dance clubs. Cabinet clash: PM and deputy disagree over flights Chris Fearne (left) and Robert Abela IN a joint statement, the Medical Association of Mal- ta (MAM) and UĦM Voice of the Workers said that all local health experts had made it very clear that with- out stopping the 20 flights a week from northern Ita- ly, combined with a dubi- ous voluntary quarantine, would make Malta's pre- paredness against Covid-19 "destined to fail". They appealed to the gov- ernment to now heed the advice of health authorities and stop with immediate effect all flights from the high risk areas in northern Italy and implement man- datory quarantine meas- ures where necessary ac- cording to quarantine law, so as to avoid an epidemic with grave consequences on the health of the people and on the national econ- omy. UĦM said it had – for the past weeks – been insisting with the health authorities to provide training and protocols to all its health employees. "While this has worked well in some departments, there are others where it has fall- en behind, the union said. "UHM requests immediate training and preparation to minimise the risk to work- ers and to avoid industrial action." Global cases surpass 100,000 There have been more than 101,000 infections and over 3,400 deaths reg- istered globally to date. In comments to Malt- aToday, virologist Chris Barbara said that the risk of the coronavirus be- ing transmitted is highest once the person concerned starts displaying symp- toms. It takes a minimum of 15 minutes in close proximity – under two metres – to transmit the infectious dose necessary for infection, Barbara told the press conference yes- terday. Health Minister's Chris Fearne, speaking at a Euro- pean Council meeting on Friday, said the EU had to focus on containment and mitigation of the virus. He underlined member states had to focus on assisting each other, especially in regions where capacity could be stretched. Fearne said that although a coronavirus vaccine was not yet available and could be months away, the draft procurement process of the EU to purchase a vac- cine once it is made avail- able should be initiated now. UPE teachers union The Union of Profes- sional Educators said its directives issued on the 26 February 2020 are still in place, calling on UPE mem- ber-teachers not to assign or correct any homework to sick students; to not at- tend any mass gatherings organised by the school such as, Cope sessions, SDPs, Mass or Assemblies; to report students who exhibit flu-like symptoms and to refrain from keep- ing them in class; to not accept any students who have been away or who have been sent home from school, in class, unless they are in possession of a valid medical certificate declar- ing them fit for school; for LSEs not to accept the responsibility of supervis- ing any child exhibiting flu-like symptoms while waiting to be picked up from school by parents or legal guardians; and to use surgical disposable gloves when handling students' materials or technological devices. Unions: stop all flights from northern Italy