MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Although many dream of an idyllic boat cruise holiday, things could not have turned out worse for the passengers and crew of the ill-fated Diamond Princess, who on 19 February were allowed to disembark after a a 14-day quarantine period amid the global coronavirus panic.

It is reported that at least 542 passengers and crew on the Diamond Princess have so far been infected by the Covid-19 virus. This is the biggest cluster outside mainland China.

The ship was carrying 3 700 people in total.

On 19 February hundreds of passengers who tested negative for the coronavirus began leaving a quarantined cruise ship in Japan.

Mossel Bay Advertiser sales executive, Elaine Landsberg, a former employee at Princess Cruises, said dealing with a virus aboard ship is no mean feat. "It puts a lot of additional pressure on crew members, since passengers are asked to remain in their rooms, where crew brought them food and supplies."

Landsberg, who still has contact with former colleagues who were aboard the Diamond Princess during the quarantine period, said passengers, confined to their cabins, learnt the Japanese art of origami, and started using this is a means of communicating while in isolation. "From what I gather, origami with notes to commend the crew, was placed on cabin doors during the quarantine period. The morale and spirit aboard seems to have been quite amazing."

Briefing
At a recent briefing hosted by the University of Stellenbosch, Prof Wolfgang Preiser (Medical Virology), Dr Jantjie Taljaard (Adult Infectious Diseases) and Dr Nokwazi Nkosi (Medical Virology) explained the origin and clinical presentation of the disease, and unpacked the measures that are in place to manage and treat the disease, should it present in South Africa.

Coronavirus is a family of viruses that include the common cold, SARS and MERS. The new virus was temporarily named “2019-nCoV" and is often referred to as the novel coronavirus. Any new virus is a concern as health care providers have very limited knowledge of how it affects people or how best to manage it.

As new research about the novel coronavirus is still emerging, it is thought that person-to-person infection occurs via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes – similar to how influenza and other respiratory pathogens spread. Symptomatic patients present the highest risk for infection, but there are also unconfirmed reports of transmission taking place during the incubation period.

Patients with 2019-nCoV have mainly presented with the following symptoms being fever, cough and shortness of breath.

The infection can present as a fairly mild respiratory illness, but in severe cases may lead to pneumonia and even death. Elderly people and those with underlying illness seem to have a higher risk of severe illness and death.

The risk of infection with the novel coronavirus in South Africa is very low at present.

Common hygiene practices to minimise risk of infection or spreading the disease, include:

• Frequently wash your hands using alcohol-based hand sanitisers or soap and water.
• Cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Stay at home if you have a fever or cough.
• Reconsider travel plans if possible to areas that have been affected by the outbreak.

Safety at the port
In line with the World Health Organisation (WHO) efforts to prevent the spread of the Novel Coronavirus, Transnet SOC Ltd has implemented additional procedures for all vessels entering South African ports, including the port of Mossel Bay.

The following additional measures have been implemented to safeguard South Africa’s ports:

• All foreign vessels entering the ports must receive free pratique by the Port Health Department and details of the last 10 ports of call are to be recorded.
• Separate list of vessels calling from affected areas are being recorded.
• During the warning period, all South African Citizens - including marine pilots - are to refrain from consuming foods and liquids on board vessels from high-risk areas.
• Should reports of infection be reported on board a vessel, the vessel may dock. However, no persons will be permitted to go on-board until Port Health has cleared the vessel.
• No crew to be taken off a vessel without obtaining Port Health Clearance.
• A thorough sweep of stowaways will be conducted
• Should stowaways be found, the vessel is to remain at anchor until stowaways are examined and cleared by Port Health.
• All waste from the vessels from affected areas will be incinerated and not accepted ashore
• All yachts arriving in the country from all areas must reported to South African Police Services and Port Health Department. The skipper is to be informed to ensure that he and his crew remain isolated on-board the vessel until cleared by Port Health
• TNPA marine pilots to use appropriate medical masks and gloves when receiving vessels from affected areas
• All employees of TNPA that are interfacing with affected vessels have been made aware of the procedures to be followed and have been provided with appropriate masks and gloves to be worn when going onboard the vessels.

Additionally, Transnet port health employees have been sensitised to government’s national response plan to diagnose infected persons and refer them to designated sites or hospitals.

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