Covid-19   |26 April 2023

Public urged to take personal responsibility 

With the sudden increase in the number of Covid-19 cases – with the 7-day rolling average presently at 49 and the total number of active cases at 569 – the Ministry of Health is urging the public to take personal responsibility towards prevention of illness.

Perseverance has the most active cases (58), followed by Anse Royale (47) and 10 cases on Praslin and 6 on La Digue.

There are presently no hospital admissions with Covid-19 related illness.

The public is being encouraged to continue their routine habits such as hand washing and/or sanitisation often. If someone has any respiratory symptom, avoid public places and wear a well-fitted facemask. Avoid crowded places as much as possible, especially enclosed spaces.  It is mandatory for all visitors and users of health facilities to wear a facemask when accessing the facilities.

If you have these symptoms – headache, sore throat, fatigue, runny nose, body aches, fever, cough, diarrhoea, shortness of breath – please attend your nearest health centre the soonest for further evaluation and testing.

The symptoms of severe illness include chest pain, high, persistent fever (>39°C), persistent, severe cough and shortness of breath.

If these develop, call local clinic and/or 141 urgently for assistance.

The Ministry of Health is once again reminding the public to ensure good control of medical conditions – take all prescribed medications for them. Maintain a healthy lifestyle – have a balanced diet, take regular exercise (150 minutes per week), adequate sleep (7 to 8 hours per night) and adequate sun (20 minutes per day) and fluid intake.

We also have to adhere to public health measures such as correct and consistent use of facemasks, physical distancing, avoiding crowds, respiratory and hand hygiene.

Anyone who has been diagnosed with Covid-19 infection must self-isolate at home for 7 days from diagnosis. He/she must wear well-fitted mask up to 10 days when in presence of others or in public places and inform very close contacts at home and at workplace and advise them to take a fifth day test. It is most important to inform people you have had close contact with within 2 days before onset of symptoms, and first five days after onset of symptoms, as this is the most infectious period, where Covid-19 is likely to spread.

Vidya Gappy