Public health directors give advice on coronavirus prevention

Local public health administrators are keeping close tabs on a new virus that has made headlines around the world.

The novel coronavirus disease COVID-19 has caused respiratory illnesses in countries all over the globe since it was identified in 2019. The virus began in China, and according to Johns Hopkins University, worldwide cases of the virus number nearly 90,000, with about 3,000 deaths linked to the virus as of Tuesday, March 3.

The virus has killed six people in the United States, four in one nursing home near Seattle, Washington, and two more in the same county, according to CBS News. There are just over 100 cases nationwide in 15 states.

While most COVID-19 cases are associated with travel to and from China, person-to-person spread is now being reported in places such as Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand. In fact, the Iowa Department of Public Health is requesting Iowans returning from those countries to 'self-isolate” for 14 days following their return.

Individuals returning from affected areas are asked to stay home and monitor their symptoms for 14 days and if they become ill and need to seek medical care, they should call ahead to their doctor's office and inform them of their recent travel.

'We recognize staying at home for 14 days is an inconvenience, but it is an important way to limit the spread of a variety of illnesses, including COVID-19. The department urges employers to work with staff to consider flexible leave policies and tele-working options,” said IDPH Medical Director Dr. Caitlin Pedati.

The state's public health department said there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iowa yet, but it expects the virus to reach the state eventually. Cases have been reported in the neighboring states of Wisconsin and Illinois, according to Henry County Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin.

Symptoms of the COVID-19 in people who have been exposed can include fever, cough and shortness of breath. The symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure. Reported illnesses have ranged from people with little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying.

According to the IDPH, there are seven coronaviruses, four of which are common and cause mild symptoms similar to the common cold. Most people will be infected with at least one of these in their lifetime. The other three are rarer: SARS, MERS and COVID-19. Because COVID-19 is a new virus, there is no vaccine for it. Washington County Public Health Director Danielle Pettit Majewski said a vaccine won't be ready for a year or perhaps 18 months. She said the most effective way to avoid contracting the virus or spreading it to others is following good hygiene, like you would to stop the spread of any other respiratory illness, such as:

* Cover your coughs and sneezes with a tissue or your upper arm/elbow.

* Clean your hands frequently with soap and water.

* Contain germs by staying home when ill.

Pettit-Majewski said scientists will have to create antibodies that can fight the virus first, which is actually the quick part of the process to create a vaccine. The part that takes time is testing the vaccine on a small group and then a larger group of people to ensure it is safe and effective to give to the general public.

'Since there will be such a large demand for it, [the scientists] want to make sure they're putting out something that will work,” she said. 'Because this is a novel virus, our bodies don't have any antibodies built up for it. Even for influenza, we have some antibodies we've built up over time through exposure or vaccination, and that helps our bodies fight it.”

Pettit-Majewski suggested additional steps the public can take to prevent contracting the disease, such as trying to avoid touching your face to prevent the virus from going from your hands to your mouth.

'Sanitize things that are high-touch areas such as your desk or phone,” she said. 'If you go to a public restroom, open the door with a paper towel or use your sweater or coat. That's what I do. You don't want to pick up germs on the knob after you just washed your hands.”

Jefferson County Public Health Director Chris Estle briefed the Jefferson County Board of Supervisors on the coronavirus during its weekly meeting Monday, March 2. Estle said that three Iowans have been tested for the virus thus far, all negative. She said that testing can now be conducted at Iowa's state hygienic lab as opposed to having to send test kits to other states. She said being tested requires getting a nasal swab, which is an unpleasant experience but well worth it if it allows for early detection of the disease.

Estle said those at greatest risk of falling ill from the virus are the very young, very old and those with compromised immune systems.

Estle echoed Pettit-Majewski in calling on the public to be vigilant about hygiene, and specifically hand-washing. Estle said she wants to rewrite those signs in restaurant bathrooms that say 'employees must wash hands before returning to work” and have them say 'everyone must wash hands before leaving the bathroom.” Furthermore, she said that good hand-washing technique involves scrubbing hard for 20 seconds.

'It's the friction that makes the difference,” she said.

If soap and water are not available, an alcohol based hand sanitizer containing at least 60 percent alcohol is a good substitute, the IDPH said.

Estle encourages local employers to be understanding about the need for their employees to stay home if they have the disease or suspect they do. She also informed the public that, since COVID-19 is a virus, it cannot be treated with antibiotics, so people should not expect to receive antibiotics from their doctor.

The supervisors asked Estle about the use of masks. Estle and other public health administrators have said that the use of masks is not being encouraged at the moment, partly because they are worried about running out of masks for those who really need them, such as physicians treating an outbreak.

'It's creating a shortage for us in health care,” Estle said.

Jefferson County Engineer Scott Cline said his employees need to wear masks to perform certain operations, and suggested that those operations might have to be delayed if masks are not available.

Pettit-Majewski said she understands the public wants to use masks when they hear about the outbreak of a new disease.

'The most important thing is just covering your cough,” she said. 'I know there is a lot of fear around something we're not sure about, and people have a tendency to do things they wouldn't normally do. But the things you need to do during the flu season are what will protect you from this. It's not sexy, but that's what you need to do.”

If you believe you may have contracted COVID-19, Pettit-Majewski recommends contacting your doctor over the phone as opposed to entering a hospital waiting room where you could spread the virus to others.