Dr Gareth Raman gives tips on Covid-19 as local cases rise

HIGHVELD – With three people in the area who died from Covid-19 complications and the statistics rising daily as the latest number of positive Covid-19 cases that the Department of Health sent on Sunday (12 July) stood at nearly 500, Dr Gareth Raman, family practitioner and occupation medicine physician, in Secunda spoke about this virus.

He said if people are willing to take a few steps and make a few sacrifices for a short time during this pandemic, humanity would be in a better situation sooner.

“People’s defiance to follow rules and guidelines is an insult to so many who have to tirelessly work the front line, and it is leading to a great catastrophe,” said Dr Raman.

“People are still going out together, going on holiday in large groups, going on hunting trips and social gatherings, birthday celebrations and breaking the rules that govern our safety.

“It is this blatant disrespect for others that has dire consequences.”

He said Secunda sees a large number of people travelling across the Mpumalanga/Gauteng border daily to go to work in the petrochemical mining industries.

This makes Secunda and surrounding area a hot spot.

Dr Raman reminded residents that their actions define the fate of others as you could infect them directly and not even know it or if they survived.

He urged residents to follow the rules and respect others.

Dr Raman said the most common Covid-19 symptoms are fever, new continuous cough, shortness of breath, muscle aches and fatigue, loss of appetite, loss of taste, loss of smell and diarrhoea.

“Symptoms and presentations vary greatly between patients, and sometimes patients only report a severe headache.”

People who are at higher risk for Covid-19 are people older than 60 years, people who are overweight and unfit, people suffering from diabetes, hypertension, chronic heart disease, chronic lung disease and uncontrolled asthma, cancer, HIV and TB.

“This in no way means that those with no co-morbidities are safer, it only means that those with underlying diseases are at a higher risk of severe illness.

“Make sure your underlying conditions are well controlled, and that you remain compliant on your chronic medicines.

“Monitor your blood pressure and sugar regularly.

“Do not default on your six monthly chronic consultations with your doctor.”

He urged people to quarantine themselves for 14 days if they have had contact with a person who has tested positive for Covid-19.

He said during this time, a person might test negative, but still needs to quarantine themselves as false negative test results are possible and quite common.

“If you have any of these symptoms, you should consider yourself as contagious, remain isolated, and stay at home for 14 days from the onset of your symptoms.

“This is a new beginning point of 14 days of self-isolation.

“Remain in daily contact with your doctor to advise him of any changes in your health, do not go to work, do not use public transport, do not go to public places, do not go shopping, do not visit anyone or allow any visitors, do not attend religious gatherings and do not leave your home unless you need medical care.

“Remember, if you are a direct contact or if you have symptoms, stay home.

“No testing is needed for this, it changes nothing.

“Remain in quarantine for 14 days, and contact your doctor for any help during this time.”

He advised people who are in self-isolation to eat healthy meals, drink enough water and get enough rest.

He said they should take vitamins such as Vitamin D 50 000 IU, Vitamin C 1000mg daily, Med Lemon daily for three days, Zinc 200mg twice daily for five days and Vitamin B12 Complex one tablet daily.

He also suggested Panados for pain and fever when needed, a home remedy consisting of ginger, honey and turmeric, warm salt water or Betadine Oral gargles twice daily and saline nasal rinses daily.

The South African National Blood Service (SANBS) in Secunda is also feeling the brunt of Covid-19 as people are donating less blood than usual.

“We have experienced a shortage of blood for the past three weeks,” said Ms Dot Prinsloo, donor relations practitioner at SANBS in Secunda.

She urged people to donate blood as they currently only have stock for four days and they should keep stock for seven days.

Ms Prinsloo said if patients have recently recovered from Covid-19 and have been showing no symptoms for 28 days, they can donate convalescent plasma.

Convalescent plasma contains antibodies that can be transfused to another patient who currently has Covid-19.

The neutralising antibodies in the plasma will then fight the virus in the patient’s body while the patient’s body is still developing their own antibodies.

By doing this, the virus is unable to replicate as fast as it normally would and so the patient should get better sooner and have a milder disease.

If you want to donate blood or convalescent plasma, visit SANBS’s branch in Secunda in Horwood Street or contact them first at 017 631 1652 and in Bethal near the Spar or contact them at 017 647 5598.

People complained on social media that the community is not abiding by the rules when going shopping at the mall and walking around in the mall without wearing a mask and not sanitising their hands.

Ms Michelle Nell, General Manager of Secunda Mall, said the mall’s management team wants to thank all its patrons for their continued support as the mall increases its health and safety measures to help curb the spread of Covid-19.

“We kindly ask that all customers take up the responsibility of sanitising their hands when entering the mall as well as by wearing a mandatory face mask and keeping a social distance between each other,” said Ms Nell.

“We can each play our part in reducing the number of Covid-19 infections as the onus rests on each patron to carry out their civil responsibility of adhering to government regulations.

“At the convenience of our shoppers Secunda Mall has designated sanitizing stations at all main entrances as well as kiosks that carry a wide variety of facemasks.

“All of our tenants also provide sanitiser at their doors and may ask customers to do a temperature screening before entering the store.”

She said if shoppers require more information, they can contact the centre management at 010 001 0254.

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