Egypt’s Ministry of Health on Saturday distributed guidelines on dealing with the coronavirus viral contagion amid fears of the disease’s spread worldwide.
Egypt is one of the first countries to prepare a comprehensive strategy to fight back against the spread of a new coronavirus that is believed to have originated in Wuhan, Central China which has killed over 50 people so far and infected nearly 2,000.
The head of the ministry’s preventive medicine sector Alaa Eid said that dozens of people in China have died in the past few days due to the virus, and that the methods of infections are still unclear, urging travelers to adopt the ministry’s instructions.
The ministry asked to avoid people suffering from acute respiratory infections.
The ministry asked people to avoid touching any live, dead or wild animals and to avoid traveling to China – especially the capital of the Hubei province Wuhan.
People must wash their hands frequently, especially with soap and water or to sterilize their hands with antiseptics, following any direct contact with patients infected with the coronavirus.
The ministry stressed that travelers suffering from the symptoms of acute respiratory infection must cover their mouth when coughing or sneezing and wash their hands.
The ministry warned anyone infected to avoid crowds, especially in markets which sell animal products.
Infected persons must wear respiratory and protective masks while outdoors.
People must visit the nearest hospital or medical center, or inform the consulate to provide healthcare in case they suffer any symptoms of fever or coughing.
The virus causes respiratory infections which are typically mild but can also potentially be lethal. The virus is thought to have emerged in 2019 from wildlife that had been illegally traded in an animal market in China’s Wuhan.
Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm
