146 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed and recorded on the Isle of Wight, according to the most recent figures from Public Health England.
Today’s (Wednesday’s) data shows a further increase in the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases locally by just 1, from 145 yesterday to 146 today.
The opening of a testing facility at Medina has undoubtedly added to the number of cases being discovered and verified. Previously, tests were only being carried out in hospital and therefore the cases represented Islanders who were fairly unwell with the virus. Now, tests are being carried out for key workers who state they have symptoms of coronavirus.
Swab tests will now be sent out to any Islander who shows symptoms following the launch of the new contact tracing app. This will also lead to an increase in the number of positive tests being recorded.
The latest information from the Isle of Wight NHS Trust confirms 25 people have recovered from COVID-19 and have been discharged from hospital.
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
If there’s been a total of 35 deaths including deaths in the community and there’s been 25 recoveries , how many of the remaining 86 confirmed cases are being treated as inpatients at the hospital.
How many of the ‘recoveries’ are FULL recoveries. I have head alarming tales of people being left with serious issues from this.
I wish we were told the full truth as rumours are just as bad as knowing facts even if they are grim.
Cheer up guys, despite having the second highest number of deaths in the world and rising, some bright spark wants to relax the already joke of a lockdown next week.
Ed. surely that will just make it worse, not better. The App won’t stop you dying if someone touches something you do. If cafés open even a cup not washed properly by some careless, low paid, idiot, the edge of a table not cleaned, a spoon, anything could kill you.
It think you will see number rise dramatically within two to three weeks.
That is why the APP is coming, as HMG know many more will spread this, so they feel that to trace the soon to be dying quicker, will be some sort of recompense, in the hope that those then infected can be prevented from infecting larger numbers.
We will be the test bed to see with the eased lock down how many more get infected, just in case hospitals can’t cope, then it will be revised.
Too late though for all the extra dead or bodies broken forever.
Unfortunately this number will only rise, especially when lock down ends, and again,theres nothing we can do about it ,unless we stay in lockdown forever.