Update… COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
2 March 2020
Dr Tony Holohan Chief Medical Officer Department of Health What has been happening?
Where has it been happening?
What do we know?
What do you need to know?
What are we doing about it? What has been happening? Jan 20 HCW cases Evidence of human-to- Jan 30 human transmission PHEIC Declared
Jan 7 Dec 30, 2019 Jan 13 Jan 29 Feb 12 Novel Coronavirus Cluster of cases of First international 6065 cases 45,171 Cases Isolated pneumonia of unknown case (Thailand) 132 deaths 1115Deaths origin reported to China 15 countries 25 Countries National Health Commission
Jan 1 Case Hunan Seafood Definition Market Closed Jan 12 Jan 25 Changed Named as Chinese New Year ‘2019n-CoV’ Festivities cancelled March 2 WGS shared with WHO 88,930 Cases Lockdown extended to 3,043 Deaths 16 cities – 50m people 65 Countries Jan 23 Public transport ‘lockdown’ Wuhan & other cities in Hubei Outbound flights stopped Information valid on 02/03/2020 Cases to 2 March 2020
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Comparison with previous outbreaks
88,930
3,043
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Where has it been happening? China 80,174 South Korea 4212 Italy 1689 Iran 978 Japan 239 Germany 129 Singapore 106 France 100
Cases 2 March 2020 Information valid on 02/03/2020 Cases in EU/EEA and UK 2 March 2020
Italy 1689 Germany 129 France 100 Spain 45 UK 36 Switzerland 24 Norway 19 Sweden 14 Netherlands 13 Austria 10 Others <10
Information valid on 02/03/2020 What do we know? What do we know about the COVID-19?
One of a family of 7 coronaviruses (MERS, SARS)
Zoonotic – transmit from animals to humans
Transmission – respiratory droplets via Coughing/Sneezing Surfaces
R0 2.2 – an average 2 additional people are infected by each person who is infected Emerging evidence from China - ? Largely within household contacts
Case Fatality Rate ~2% (1 in 50 people) China, outside Hubei Province = 0.7% What don’t we know about COVID-19?
Animal source unclear
Incubation Period (estimated 2-14 days)
No vaccine
No treatment What do you need to know? Who is at risk?
In the 14 days before the start of symptoms you:
• Were in close contact with a confirmed or probable case OR
• Stayed in an area with presumed community transmission
InformationChina, valid Hong on 02/03/2020 Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Iran, Japan, 4 Italian Regions Symptoms to watch out for
Information valid on 02/03/2020 How do you protect yourself?
Hand hygiene
Wash your hands regularly. You should wash your hands: - after coughing or sneezing - before, during and after you prepare food - before eating - after using the toilet - when caring for the sick - when hands are dirty - after handling animals or animal waste
Information valid on 02/03/2020 The value of facemasks
Healthcare workers Yes
In the community If well – no need to use If unwell – use to protect OTHERS
More important: Handwashing Cover mouth & nose with a tissue when you cough/sneeze Information valid on 02/03/2020 Packages from China
No evidence of risk
Other coronaviruses – don’t survive long on objects
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Why are we not performing entry screening? (Temperature Checks at airports)
1. It doesn't work • Thousands of arriving travellers were screened during SARS, but no confirmed case was identified (Aust, Canada, Singapore) • Entry screening measures worldwide during 2009 Pandemic (H1N1) picked up only a tiny proportion of cases
2. It has unintended consequences • Passengers with fever more likely to conceal this by taking anti-pyretics (i.e. paracetamol) • High cost and diverts public health resources from more evidence based measures like contact tracing • Can give a false sense of security
3. It is not recommended by the WHO or ECDC
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Current Travel Advice
Avoid all non-essential travel to China
Ireland vs UK UK: People arriving from Wuhan or Hubei, Northern Italy or areas in South Korea are being asked to isolate themselves for 14 days after arriving in the UK Ireland: Not asking people who arrive in Ireland to isolate themselves, unless they develop symptoms - in line with ECDC guidance
Information* or elsewhere valid in China on 02/03/2020 or Thailand, Macau, Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia if they have symptoms What are we doing about this? Information valid on 02/03/2020
The Response in Ireland: Structures and Governance
Body Level One Body Level Two Body Level Three Body Level Four Body Level Five
22 An Roinn Sláinte | Department of Health The Response in Ireland: Current Risk Assessment
The risk for people from the EU/EEA and the UK travelling/resident in areas with presumed community transmission is high.
The risk of the occurrence of similar clusters, similar to the ones in Italy, in other countries in the EU/EEA/UK is moderate to high
The risk of widespread and sustained transmission of COVID-19 in the EU/EEA/UK in the coming weeks is moderate to high
The risk for healthcare systems capacity in the EU/EEA/UK in the coming weeks is considered moderate to high
‘Containment’ is key The Response in Ireland: ‘Containment Phase’
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Thank you Questions? COVID-19 (Coronavirus)
Coordinating Public Health Communication to Citizens and Staff
Department of Health Communications Approach
• Led by Public Health considerations • Containment Phase • Awareness: what COVI-19 is and the central role for citizens in mitigating the risk and potential spread of this disease. • Building public trust in public health measures through open, transparent communication in national & local media and stakeholder engagement • Co-ordinated through the Department of Health
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Communications Approach - Public
• Public Health advice to be distributed widely • Airports, Ports, Schools, Public Offices, Pharmacies, GP Surgeries etc • Door to door distribution • In print, radio etc • Open, regular and transparent communication through all media
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Communications Approach - Media
• Daily end-of-day press briefing in Dept of Health on Ireland’s Covid-19 preparedness and protocols • Calling on media to respect patient confidentiality • Covid-19 spokespeople from Expert Advisory Group and HSE Public Health Experts available to the media where possible • No information will be provided about individual cases of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) other than confirmed cases. • Weekly press release issuing from National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) every Tuesday evening, confirming number of tests carried out in the previous week and latest decisions
Information valid on 02/03/2020 Communications Activities
• Identifying and addressing concerns - Letter from CMO to schools - RTE Junior video - Social listening • Advice to employers • Stakeholder briefings
Information valid on 02/03/2020