Public Health England has confirmed that there are now 58 confirmed cases of COVID-19 on the Isle of Wight.
The official number has increased by 3 from 55 on Wednesday to 58 today (Friday). Despite the rise, the Isle of Wight still has one of the lowest numbers of confirmed cases in the country.
Earlier this week the number of confirmed cases went from 53 to 56, back down to 53 and then up to 55. According to the authorities, such movements are the result of administrative changes by statisticians linked to updates on the home address of cases – which would indicate some of the latest cases involve mainland residents.
Nationally, the number of people who have tested positive for COVID-19 stands at 108,692 (as of 17th April). There have been 14,576 deaths.
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
And it’s going to keep rising until people realise what the government are telling us….it’s not rocket science or is it
It is Nige for those selfish among us who shall carry on as nothing has changed but then for the majority of them nothing has they still get their handouts while the rest of us just want to get back to work
It must be rocket science for some
Don’t you mean 58 today Friday?
Does this mean St Mary’s Hospital is relatively quiet at the moment as non urgents and routine are not going in and we have a reasonable low amount of confirmed corona patients and presumably hospitalized with such. Possibly the lowest capacity for many years. Would be interested to know if anyone out there got genuine answers.
That’s it Steve o you are starting to work it out yourself. Watching with interest. Wait till you get to the truth . Ha ha
so they is includin mainlanders becos they keeps comin ere bringin there germs wiv em. now we got more cases spect theve gone spredin it to.
wipe us al out befor long
Ha ha, blind! Watching with interest
Who are the ‘spreaders’ of this virus? The DFL or the less intelligent, sellfish who live on the IOW? I know we have some of the lowest infection stats here on the island but the number of infected people keeps increasing, a small amount but nevertheless it’s still going up. If people don’t follow the government guidelines we will still have this virus for many more months to come. Wise up whoever you are and stop being so bloody stupid!
Old people stop going out you stand in groups chatting, you stand close up in the queue, when you come to my wife’s
till you you start ranting and raving when asked to keep your distance. They do not choose to understand the risk
that they are doing to everybody else. The most selfish generation ever.
“The most selfish generation ever.”
Yer, Capin Tom is so selfish, put his life on the line to help save us from the Nazis. Then raises over 22 Million FOR OTHERS @ the age of 99. Yer that is terrible.
Idiots can be of all ages, ron.
Don’t tar us all with the same brush! My daughter and granddaughter both work here at Sainsburys and they say most of the older generation are doing what should be done.
I wonder how many of the people mourning a lost loved one took notice of the lock down before the death. Easy to dismiss when you’re doing well and you don’t know anyone with it.
All we can do is look after ourselves and ignore the Darwin award candidates.
A nurse from st marys has said there are 90 cases. Someones not telling the truth