Coronavirus (COVID 19) facts, fake news and face masks, and public confidence.
The first casualty of war is truth. This is certainly true with the current Wuhan coronavirus outbreak that has been declared a global health emergency by the World Health Organisation (WHO) a few days ago.
I am not in Wuhan or China. I am currently in Penang, and since 28 December have been traveling between Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang. During that period, there are confirmed cases in countries outside China. At the same time, the number of cases and related death have gone up in China. With statistics changing daily, it is important to refer to a reliable source like the WHO for information and updates.
Facts
WHO1 have provided the following helpful facts on this latest novel coronavirus:
- 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). 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. Coronaviruses can be transmitted from person to person, usually after close contact with an infected patient, for example, in a household workplace or health care center.
- 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.
- Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death.
- There is no specific treatment for disease caused by this novel coronavirus. However, many of the symptoms can be treated and, therefore, treatment based on the patient's clinical condition. Moreover, supportive care for infected persons can be highly effective.
- Steps to take to protect yourself:
- Frequently clean hands by using alcohol-based hand rub or soap and water;
- When coughing and sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue – throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands;
- Avoid close contact with anyone who has a fever and cough;
- If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing seek medical care early and share previous travel history with your health care provider;
- When visiting live markets in areas currently experiencing cases of a novel coronavirus, avoid direct unprotected contact with live animals and surfaces in contact with animals;
- Avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked animal products. Raw meat, milk, or animal organs should be handled with care to avoid cross-contamination with uncooked foods, as per good food safety practices.
On 31 January 2020, the Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease in the US confirmed that individuals could transmit this latest novel coronavirus before they show any symptoms.
CDC has advised that the incubation period, or the time it takes for a person to become ill after being exposed to this coronavirus, is believed to be no more than 14 days.
Fake news
Regrettably, again unscrupulous and irresponsible parties are spreading fake news on this latest global public health emergency. In today's multi-channel social media platforms and applications, it is so easy to post a video, picture, or comment that can spread like wildfire.
On the 2nd day of the current CNY period, there was fake news posted on social media about a person infected with coronavirus living in our Airbnb accommodation complex in Penang. Relatives out of genuine concern for our well-being started sending us texts with attachments to this news. Fortunately, cooler heads and common sense prevail. After a few quick checks, it was established as fake news, and I informed my concerned relatives that it was safe for us to continue to stay at our Airbnb.
Human nature is such that we want to be cautious, especially when it comes to the safety of ourselves and those we care about. However, we all have a responsibility to check whether any information we receive is facts or fake before passing it on. Equally important when we receive fake news, we do not pass it on and inform the person sending it that it is fake news. Otherwise, we become instruments for the spread of fake news.
Face masks - a misconception, panic buying, and a selfless act
In the last week, more and more people in many countries with confirmed cases of this novel coronavirus are wearing a mask whenever they are in public. As a result, there is a rush to buy a face mask. In several countries like HongKong, there are long queues outside pharmacies to purchase face masks. In Penang, one of the more popular pharmacy there are also long queues to buy face masks, and each purchaser is ration to one packet each.
There is an air of heightening anxiety amongst the public of not being able to get hold of these face masks to protect themselves.
There is a commonly held view by the general public that these face masks will protect them when they go out in public spaces from infected people. With the confirmation that asymptomatic people can be infectious, the best advice to protect ourselves when we out in public is still to avoid touching our face before we wash our hands properly.
As each day goes by, more and more people in this part of the world are wearing a face mask when they are out and about. This is resulting in panic buying of masks by the general public, and the supply shortage is starting to become an issue in several countries. The Singapore government has taken proactive steps to provide each household with four face masks, and advice on the proper use of a surgical mask. This excellent briefing2 stresses that these masks are to be used when someone is unwell and rather than for general use when they go into public space.
The face mask is one of the personal protection equipment (PPE) for our front-line responders and health workers. They have to face and care for those infected by this novel coronavirus daily. They and their families worry about their safety, and they deserve to have the first call on safety equipment such as face masks, gloves, etc. This selfless act by a member of the public in China3 to provide 500 face masks for police officers is a timely reminder of caring for those who protect and care for the public.
Public confidence and communication
WHO declaration of this outbreak as a global health emergency and warnings from health experts that reported cases and death have yet to peak could heighten public concern in many countries.
There are still a lot of unknowns about this latest novel coronavirus. While scientists around the world are working overtime, a vaccine is at least six to twelve months4 before it becomes publicly available.
Governments and local authorities around the world are starting to take action (some more justified than others) to try to contain this outbreak. The whole population in Hubei province is under lockdown, and borders sealed off. Countries are repatriating their citizens from Wuhan and placing them under mandatory 14 days quarantine. Flights in and out of China are curtailed, and large public gatherings are either being post-phoned or canceled. Screening checkpoints are popping up not just in ports of entry and hospitals but also in commercial facilities.
In the interest of public safety, anyone will slightly elevated temperature are being pulled aside for questioning. In Italy, 6,000 passengers on a cruise ship where two passengers showed flu-like symptoms (which tested negative for the novel coronavirus), none of the passengers were allowed to disembark by the local authority.
Fake news these days can so easily rattle public confidence. It is incumbent upon the health and civil leaders to step up their communication game. These days merely stating the facts is no longer sufficient, especially if the expert spokesperson is not a communicator. Choosing the right communicator, selecting appropriate channels, and using the correct language for the audience are fundamentals these days. The general release of media statements through TV, radio, print, and holding press conference need to be augmented by multi-platform and digital channels. Likewise, this expanded approach is equally relevant when it comes to public feedback and questions. Any communication vacuum these days is a fair game for fake news.
Final word
Like other recent infectious disease outbreaks such as SARs and Ebola that were declared a global health emergency, things will get back to normal. The chaos and disruption to the usual routines of this latest outbreak will go on for some months yet. The cooperation amongst governments, health systems, peak bodies, and health professionals learning from previous outbreaks is getting better. The world may need to accept a new normal that there could be more of such outbreaks. It is time for a broader global discussion on why this is happening. Such a broad discussion must go beyond looking at the science behind future outbreaks. It must look at the broader determinants of how we, as humans, are living our lives in the 21st century. A simple illustration of this much broader point came from a Red Cross nurse who was giving a presentation of the Ebola outbreak a few years ago. The first slide was a road. She explained, "this road was built to connect the rural areas to the towns and cities. It also became the channels for the spread of Ebola in this part of Africa".