Jigsaw Service updates

With the rapidly changing situation surrounding the Coronavirus/ COVID-19, our priority is to protect the families we support and our staff as far as we possibly can, so that we can ensure continuity of service. In response to the developments and updated advice from Government, Jigsaw (South East) have:

The information below has been published by the BBC 

How do I protect myself?

Regular and thorough hand washing is crucial in the fight to avoid picking up the disease, health agencies say.

It is not yet known exactly how coronavirus spreads from person to person. However, similar viruses are spread via droplets, such as those produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.

So, coughing and sneezing into tissues, not touching your face with unwashed hands, and trying to avoid close contact with infected people are important.

What should I do if I think I have coronavirus?

The NHS says the risk to individuals in the UK remains low.

But people who think they may be affected by coronavirus need to call the NHS 111 phone service for further advice. They should not go to their GP, or A&E.

If you have come into contact with somebody who may be infected, you may be told to self-isolate. People needing to do so should take “common-sense” steps to avoid close contact with other people, says Public Health England.

Advice for people who have travelled back to the UK from the main affected areas and some other countries has been issued by the government. Full details of the countries concerned and whether you need to self-isolate are available here.

Other countries have their own measures in place. For example, the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention advises people showing symptoms to call their healthcare provider, and those who are mildly ill to self-isolate.

The World Health Organization has also issued advice for the public.

How fast is it spreading?

Hundreds of new cases are being reported worldwide each day. However, it is thought health agencies may be unaware of many cases.

After starting in China, coronavirus is now spreading fast in countries like South Korea, Europe, Iran and the United States. View the latest global figures here:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-51235105

How deadly is coronavirus and will I get better?

Four out of five people who contract coronavirus will only experience mild symptoms, a WHO examination of data from 56,000 patients says. It suggests:

• 80% develop mild symptoms
• 14% develop severe symptoms
• 6% become critically ill

The proportion dying from the disease appears low (between 1% and 2%) – but the figures are unreliable.

Thousands are still being treated but may go on to die – so the death rate could be higher. But it is also unclear how many mild cases remain unreported – so the death rate could also be lower.

To put this into context, about one billion people catch influenza every year, with between 290,000 and 650,000 deaths. The severity of flu changes every year.

Right now, treatment relies on the basics – keeping the patient’s body going, including breathing support, until their immune system can fight off the virus.

However, the work to develop a vaccine is under way and it is hoped there will be human trials before the end of the year.

Hospitals are also testing anti-viral drugs to see if they have an impact.