Ubuntu Family Health Centre

04/01/2021

HOW TO FIGHT MILD COVID ILLNESS AT HOME

Dr Lauren Wise


The following interventions will depend on how unwell you are and which symptoms are worst for you. If you feel uncertain, try to check in with your GP or call the Corona Public Hotline on 0800029999.

FEVER:
If you are generally well, check your temperature whenever you feel sick or feverish (very hot or very cold).
If you are unwell, monitor your temperature once, twice or three times a day (depending on how sick you are) and keep a record of it (this is useful for doctor’s when assessing patients).
Use Panado to help control pain and fever.

RESTING:
Rest as much as you can but try not to get bedridden. Staying in bed for days can cause bedsores, weakening of muscles, dizziness and balance issues, which all delay your return to good health. Even if you can sit in a chair for part of the day, this will help.

BREATHING:
Set your clock every two hours while sleeping on your stomach during the day, then get out of bed and walk around for a few minutes . Try for 15 to 30 min: no matter how tired or weak you feel, it is important to keep your blood and muscles moving.

Also move your arms around frequently, especially while walking, it helps to open your lungs and keep your muscles and skeleton strong.

Do breathing exercises (see guidelines) https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/coronavirus-recovery-breathing-exercises

The more chest symptoms you have, the more important it is to set your alarm every two hours and move yourself around even at night . This helps open your lungs and move any fluid build-up in them.

OXYGEN SATURATION:
If you are having breathing symptoms, try to get an Oxygen Saturation Monitor if possible. They are easy to use. Monitor your blood oxygen saturation levels (sats) for a few minutes at a time, a few times a day, depending on how severe your breathing symptoms are. Record these readings. Normal saturation is above 92% in room air (smokers may have lower ‘normal’ saturation levels). If your sats remain persistently below 90%, let your doctor know or get to a casualty.

MOVEMENT:
Get out of bed every morning and sit upright for a while, preferably in a light, airy place. When watching TV, get up and move during the advert breaks. When you need the loo, walk and move more than just to the bathroom and back.

Try to go and sit outside for some time every day. Sunlight is very good for you and helps increase your vitamin D.

Do not exert yourself or try to exercise until it is safe to do so as this may cause complications. (see article on GGPC page on Safe return to exercise)

FLUIDS:
Keep your fluid intake up. Even if you have no appetite, make sure you are drinking at least 2 litres of fluid a day. Drink Energade, Powerade, diluted fruit juice , Rehydrate etc for electrolytes and glucose. Avoid caffeine and alcohol that may dehydrate you.

KEEP FRESH and CLEAN:
A general nursing rule of thumb is to bathe your body, brush your hair and teeth, moisturise your face and body and change your clothes/pyjamas at least once, if not twice a day. Even if they are not dirty, the fevers and sweats get into the fabric. Try to change your bed linen too when you’ve had bad sweats. Clean clothes and linen go a long way to helping you feel better, generally.

EATING:
Stick to simple, small, nutritious meals, frequently. The proverbial ‘chicken soup’ diet: toast & Bovril/marmite; soup; jelly & custard; a piece of fruit; fruit juice; a biscuit; eggs (any way you like); a piece of fish/ meat/ chicken and some veggies, a smoothie.
If you have no appetite, try to eat a few mouthfuls at least.
Try a shake like Ensure for people who are really struggling to get any nutrition in.

VITAMINS:
Recommended daily vitamins while you are sick are Vitamin B, C, D and Zinc.

Excellent reference:
There are many other useful articles on the GGPC ( Gauteng General Practitioners Collaboration) page which provide information on various topics.

09/12/2020

A friendly reminder on the correct ways to wear your mask😷

06/12/2020

GUIDELINES FOR MATRICS RETURNING FROM RAGE
Dr Sheri Fanaroff


These are our suggestions on how to slow down the spread of COVID-19 with Matrics returning from a superspreading event.
Please confirm all medical advice with your own GP.

1. IF YOU ARE SYMPTOMATIC AND STILL AT RAGE:
⁃ Try to get tested to confirm if you are positive.
⁃ Regardless of the test result, assume that you have COVID if you have any symptoms. Symptoms include sore throat, cough, headache, fever, chills, body pain, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, diarrhoea.
⁃ You need to ISOLATE for 10 to 14 days
⁃ If you want to return to Joburg and have symptoms, you CANNOT board a plane knowing you are positive. You will need to drive home or isolate in Umhlanga. The person driving the car will become a contact. To minimize risk - both the driver and the patient should wear a surgical / N95 mask in the car. Keep windows open. Infected Matric should sit in the back seat on the opposite side of the car to the driver. All car windows should be open.

2. IF YOU HAVE NO SYMPTOMS AND ARE STILL AT RAGE:
⁃ You need to QUARANTINE for a minimum of 10 but preferably 14 days.
⁃ If you have the funds and access to a test, consider having a test to guide your further management and help you notify contacts.
⁃ Regardless of a positive or negative test result, if you have attended Rage parties, you are a high risk contact and need to quarantine for the recommended period.
⁃ If you wish to return to Joburg, the ideal is to travel by car so as not to infect others on a plane. See advice from above for travelling by car.
⁃ If you are not a known close contact and do travel home by aeroplane :-
⁃ • You need to be extremely cautious on the plane and at home in case infected and contagious to others.
⁃ • Wear two masks or surgical mask / N95 mask if you have.
⁃ • Open air vents over seats.
⁃ • Try to stay as far away from people as possible.
⁃ •Sanitise hands often
⁃ •In the car on the way home from the airport, only one person should fetch ; wear masks and keep windows open; Matric should sit in back of car on opposite side to driver.
⁃ Once home, you need to quarantine (in your room to protect your family) for 14 days ideally.

3. IF YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS AND ARE NOW AT HOME
⁃ Contact your doctor and go for a COVID test.
⁃ Assume you are positive anyway and ISOLATE for ten days.
⁃ Symptoms include sore throat, cough, headache, fever, chills, body pain, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, diarrhoea.
⁃ If COVID test is positive, notify your contacts, notify the COVID app, and get advice from your GP regarding any medications, recommended vitamin regime and how to monitor symptoms including temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate and oxygen levels. See our previous post “So You Have COVID Now What? (https://www.facebook.com/104244764651132/posts/122899486118993/?d=n)

4. IF YOU ARE ASYMPTOMATIC AND BACK AT HOME :
⁃ Even if you are unaware of being a definite close contact, you have been at a superspreader event and need to QUARANTINE FOR A MINIMUM OF TEN DAYS (preferably 14)
⁃ If you have access to have a test, Consider testing even if you have no symptoms. A test on day 7 after your last contact will be more likely to be accurate.
⁃ If you test positive, contact your doctor for advice and follow step 3 above.
⁃ NB : Testing should only be done if resources allow and quarantine should be observed regardless of test result

We cannot stress enough the need for Matrics who have been at Rage to take responsibility and take quarantine seriously regardless of having symptoms or positive/ negative tests. While teens are likely to have mild or asymptomatic infections, the impact of this on the broader South African community if they travel around the country spreading the virus as they go is disastrous!

For the entire community:
PLEASE APPLY SAFE PRACTICES BY
⁃ Washing Hands
⁃ Wearing Masks
⁃ Maintaining Social Distance
⁃ Avoiding crowds and gatherings

06/12/2020

*NEWSFLASH MATRIC RAGE*

There are already over 129 confirmed cases from KZN Matric Rage and many more awaiting test results.
The official guideline this morning from NICD is for ALL MATRICS RETURNING FROM RAGE TO QUARANTINE FOR A 14 DAY PERIOD, regardless of test results.

05/12/2020

27/11/2020

30/10/2020

The risk of contagion is highest in indoor spaces but can be reduced by applying all available measures to combat infection via aerosols. Here is an overview of the likelihood of infection in three everyday scenarios, based on the safety measures used and the length of exposure

11/10/2020

Navigating Bars, Restaurants and Clubs during COVID-19
Dr Megan Neudecker


Lockdown levels have begun to ease and we are now all getting back to “normal”. You probably want to get together with your friends or family for a few drinks or a meal.
Should you still be nervous about COVID-19? What can you do?
Before I address the general principles which will help you navigate the social scene safely, I would like to explain why we as doctors are still concerned about public gatherings.

As explained succinctly by Dr. Thomas Tsai, a professor at Harvard University's T. H. Chan School of Public Health. "It's really hard to wear a mask in a bar. It's hard to stay six feet apart. It's hard to constantly wash your hands and not touch surfaces other people have touched,"
These settings, he explains, tend to lead to a breakdown of the very behaviours that help prevent new infections. It's a dangerous mix: socializing in large groups, sometimes in tight spaces, and drinking, which lowers inhibitions and makes people less likely to adhere to wearing masks and keeping their distance. In addition, party-goers end up talking loudly, which increases the chance of spraying virus-laden particles on others, especially indoors.
With the above mentioned in mind,here are some general principles to follow to help you to navigate safely:

1. If you are considered high risk, the best is to avoid bars and restaurants altogether. There are plenty of other social activities to consider, which will not pose as high a risk to you of contracting the virus.
2. Choose a bar/restaurant that has an outside area. It is better than being in a crowded indoor area for the obvious reason of air movement and ventilation.
3. If you do end up indoors , it would be best to assess air ventilation and quality. A well ventilated room has a fresh air supply with good air movement (i.e. open windows/doors). This bears repeating because good ventilation is a very important factor in decreasing transmission of the virus.
4. Try to keep the numbers of your party to a minimum. If you limit your gatherings to a few close friends, the environment becomes easier to control in terms of people sitting too close together and being able to adequately social distance. YES you are still required to social distance -at least 1.5m from one another.
5. Ensure that you have sanitizer on you (a mini bottle in your pocket or handbag will suffice). Use it often!! ESPECIALLY when using shared surfaces. Where possible, wash your hands.
6. DO NOT SHARE YOUR FOOD/DRINK/UTENSILS/CIGARETTES.
7. And as for the most common question asked. “But how do I wear a mask while eating/drinking?” The answer is that you do NOT. It is impossible to eat or drink with a mask on. When your mask is off, be extra-vigilant about social distancing. This is why some countries have instituted rules that enforce being seated at a table when eating or drinking. However when you are not actively eating or drinking, PLEASE WEAR YOUR MASK. Take a clean plastic container or plastic/paper bag to store your mask in when you remove it.
8. Don’t drink excessively.Alcohol lowers your inhibitions, making it less likely that you will end up wearing your mask and socially distancing.

As for night clubs, many are indoors in poorly ventilated spaces and can get very crowded and therefore pose a high risk. If you are at high risk for severe COVID-19 OR you live with someone who is a high risk candidate, clubs should be avoided.

Hopefully these navigation tips will help you have a safe social gathering/event and reduce your anxiety about going out.

27/09/2020

Wishing all our Jewish patients a meaningful fast