41 cases of COVID-19 have now been identified on the Isle of Wight, according to figures from Public Health England.
The number of cases has increased by just 3 from 38 on Wednesday. Despite the rise, the Isle of Wight has one of the lowest numbers of confirmed cases in the country, although it is thought there will be many more unconfirmed cases locally as people self-isolate across the Island.
Nationally, the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 stands at 65,077. There have been 7,978 deaths, including 7 locally – the latest death was just yesterday, that of a woman in her 80s.
As of Wednesday, a total of 9 people admitted to St Mary’s Hospital, who previously tested positive for COVID-19, have been discharged.
The British Army has begun work to transform 3 buildings at the St Mary’s Hospital site in Newport into fully functioning wards, increasing bed capacity by 200. It is thought that beds have been removed from the disused Camp Hill prison to assist with the efforts.
For the latest information on coronavirus here on the Isle of Wight visit islandecho.co.uk/category/coronavirus.
Symptoms of coronavirus
Stay at home if you have either:
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] a high temperature – this means you feel hot to touch on your chest or back (you do not need to measure your temperature)
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] a new, continuous cough – this means coughing a lot for more than an hour, or 3 or more coughing episodes in 24 hours (if you usually have a cough, it may be worse than usual)
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] shortness of breath.
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] To protect others, do not go to places like a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Stay at home.
The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. Research shows it takes, on average, around 5 days for symptoms to start showing.
Use the 111 online coronavirus service to find out what to do.
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] Use the 111 coronavirus service for information.
Only call 111 if you cannot get help online.
How long to stay at home
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] if you have symptoms of coronavirus, you'll need to stay at home for 7 days.
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] if you live with someone who has symptoms, you'll need to stay at home for 14 days from the day the first person in the home started having symptoms
[mks_icon icon="fa-exclamation-circle" color="#dd9933" type="fa"] If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days.
[mks_icon icon="fa-exclamation-circle" color="#dd9933" type="fa"] If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible.
Read the NHS advice about staying at home.
How to avoid catching and spreading coronavirus (social distancing)
Everyone should do what they can to stop coronavirus from spreading.
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] Do
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] wash your hands with soap and water often – do this for at least 20 seconds
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] always wash your hands when you get home or into work
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] use hand sanitiser gel if soap and water are not available
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve (not your hands) when you cough or sneeze
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] put used tissues in the bin immediately and wash your hands afterwards
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] avoid close contact with people who have symptoms of coronavirus
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] only travel on public transport if you need to
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] work from home, if you can
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] avoid social activities, such as going to pubs, restaurants, theatres and cinemas
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] avoid events with large groups of people
[mks_icon icon="fa-check" color="#81d742" type="fa"] use a phone, online services, or apps to contact your GP surgery or other NHS services
[mks_icon icon="fa-times" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] Don't
[mks_icon icon="fa-times" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth if your hands are not clean
[mks_icon icon="fa-times" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] do not have visitors to your home, including friends and family
Advice for people at high risk
If you're at high risk of getting seriously ill from coronavirus, there are extra things you should do to avoid catching it.
These include:
[mks_icon icon="fa-times" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] not leaving your home – you should not go out to do shopping, visit friends or family, or attend any gatherings
[mks_icon icon="fa-times" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] avoiding close contact with other people in your home as much as possible
Read the full advice on protecting yourself if you're at high risk from coronavirus on GOV.UK.
Who is at high risk?
You may be at high risk from coronavirus if you:
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] have had an organ transplant
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] are having certain types of cancer treatment
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] have blood or bone marrow cancer, such as leukaemia
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] have a severe lung condition, such as cystic fibrosis or severe asthma
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] have a condition that makes you much more likely to get infections
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] are taking medicine that weakens your immune system
[mks_icon icon="fa-arrow-right" color="#e30f13" type="fa"] are pregnant and have a serious heart condition
If you're at high risk, you will be contacted by the NHS by Sunday 29 March 2020. Do not contact your GP or healthcare team at this stage – wait to be contacted.
How coronavirus is spread
Because it's a new illness, the NHS does not know exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person.
Similar viruses are spread in cough droplets.
It's very unlikely it can be spread through things like packages or food.
Pregnancy advice
If you're pregnant and worried about coronavirus, you can get advice about coronavirus and pregnancy from the Royal College of Obstretricians and Gynaecologists.
Travel advice
There are some countries and areas where there's a higher chance of coming into contact with someone with coronavirus.
If you're planning to travel abroad and are concerned about coronavirus, see advice for travellers on GOV.UK.
Treatment for coronavirus
There is currently no specific treatment for coronavirus.
Antibiotics do not help, as they do not work against viruses.
Treatment aims to relieve the symptoms while your body fights the illness.
You'll need to stay in isolation, away from other people, until you have recovered.
More information
GOV.UK: coronavirus action plan
GOV.UK: information on coronavirus and the situation in the UK
NHS England: coronavirus for health professionals
Stay at home , stay at home stay at home !
Everyone of us wants to go out but , simply put , we can’t ( apart from shopping, key workers and NHS ) if you can’t respect those of us who are staying home for our safety and others then at least have some respect for yourself ,You could be the next victim and may die !!
Act now and stay at home , be safe.
Does anyone no if you can catch corona virus by breathing in someone’s bum fumes?
So,22 active in hospital
oops 25
So 9 have recovered 7 have sadly died that makes 25 active cases why is not mentioned
John, I don’t know, I have forgotten the question but the answer is GIN!
Old obsolete prison beds !
Whilst acknowledging these tragic times we are living in, the figures released would indicate we currently have 25 people in hospital with Coronavirus. This would seem a low number by national figures. Before the reported anticipated rise in admissions in the next number of weeks, could this intervening time be used to test all our NHS and Care workers for the virus?
If we can find out if they have it, or had it, we may be in a better position when the anticipated peak arrives if people know they may be safe.
Just a thought in these terrible times .
I am very concerned about my elderly friend. He has stayed inside for 3 weeks and is feeling he is getting more unfit and unable to do anything, he fears now he may never be able to walk outside again. That is a real worry that no one seems to have addressed.
There are people out there who may never be able to go out again when this is over because of the inactivity that they have had forced upon them to protect them.
I have to wonder what is worse,, I can see that people should be protected from possibility of catching this awful virus, but what about the possibility that some elderly people who just about managed to get out before and walk somewhere are now getting unable to because of having to stay inside for so long and afraid they may never be up to walking out again, my friend is getting very down and despondent and is taking no interest in anything now, he used to go and do little jobs for people he knows, like a bit of gardening which kept him fitter he thinks, but now he doesn’t feel he would be capable of doing it anymore because of being inactive for so long now.
No one seems to have said anything about older people who may never be able to go out again, what sort of quality of life will that be if because of the enforced lock down they have become so unfit they may not be up to recovering from the lock down?