This news story was originally published on this website in Norwegian, and has been translated due to its importance. Canariavisen.no is a Norwegian online publication with news from the Canary Islands.
All sources for this article is linked at the bottom of the article.
> Norwegian version/Norsk versjon
Five German citizens were quarantined on Wednesday afternoon as a precaution on the Canary Island of La Gomera. Authorities suspect a possible infection by the corona virus from Wuhan in China.
All five are quarantined at the Guadalupe Hospital on the island. Two of the five germans had symptoms of respiratory infection, but the symptoms are mild.
The results from the viral tests are expected to be ready within 48 hours.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared the Novel Corona 2019 virus an international health crisis today.
Activated infection control protocol
The Ministry of Health of the Canary Islands immediately activated the infection protection protocol after a notice was received that at least two people could be infected with the potentially deadly virus.
All five Germans stayed at the same hotel, and two of them have been in contact with a person who has been diagnosed with the coronavirus in Germany.
Waiting for answers
The German citizens will remain in quarantine and isolated until the results of the tests are available. These virus tests are sent to the Carlos III Institute, which will determine if any of the Germans are infected with the Novel Corona 2019 virus.
No cases confirmed in Spain so far
The infection protection protocol activated in the Canary Islands is the same that has been activated elsewhere in Spain when the authorities have suspected that people may be infected. So far, no cases have been confirmed, the Ministry of Health writes in a press release.
Neighbors are nervous
A waiter at a restaurant next to the hotel where the Germans stayed tells the newspaper eldia.es that they are nervous.
– We are a little nervous, I won’t lie to you, because they have been to eat in the restaurant, says José, who doesn’t want to come forward with his full name.
He says that emergency personnel arrived at the site wearing contagion suits and that several ambulances were sent to the hotel where the Germans lived.
– The ambulances arrived around 12 in the afternoon with all the equipment: they were covered from head to toe, with hoods and masks, José tells La Provincia.
Sends home Spaniards from Wuhan
As the quarantine of the five German citizens of La Gomera continues, Spain is working with the United Kingdom to bring home Spanish, British and European citizens who are stuck in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the outbreak started.
Health Minister Salvador Illa announced today that these 22 people will arrive in Spain soon, and that all precautions to avoid infection and reduce risk are taken.
When they land in Spain, they will immediately be sent to the Gómez Ulla Hospital, where they will remain in quarantine for 14 days.
The numbers so far
According to the World Health Organization’s latest report on the virus, so far 7818 people have been infected. 7736 of them in China. Another 12,167 people are suspected of being infected in China.
Outside China, 82 have been confirmed so far, in 18 countries, including England, Germany, and Finland.
Protect yourself
The following advice has been published by the World Health Organization in connection with the coronavirus:
- Clean your hands frequently using alcohol-based disinfectant or soap and water.
- When coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth and nose with a bent elbow or paper towel. Discard this immediately and wash your hands.
- Avoid close contact with anyone with a fever and cough.
- If you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical treatment early and share your past travel history with your health care provider.
- Consumption of raw or undercooked meat should be avoided. Raw meat, milk or animal organs should be handled with care to avoid cross contamination with uncooked food, in accordance with good food safety practices.
Canariavisen wants to remind its readers that there is currently also an influenza epidemic in the Canary Islands, and that the chance of you being infected with the coronavirus is extremely low even if you experience these symptoms.
The health authorities have repeatedly stated that there is no cause for concern among the population at this time.