# 8450
Amid escalating media reports on the cluster of MERS cases in Jeddah, and the recent announced closure of the King Fahd Hospital Emergency Room (see More MERS-CoV Reports From Jeddah), the Saudi MOH has released a lengthy press release detailing their response, and reassuring the public that the situation is `stable’.
Among the points made:
- The closure of the King Fahd Hospital ER is for 24 hours, for disinfection purposes.
- Emergency patients are being redirected to other local hospitals
- The epidemiological investigation is continuing.
- No contacts of the MERS case transferred to King Abdul Aziz hospital have tested positive for the virus.
- Three contacts of MERS cases at King Fahd Hospital (presumably HCWs) have tested positive and are symptomatic, while others have tested positive but are asymptomatic.
- At this point 11 cases have been identified in Jeddah, 2 have died, 6 have recovered (or are asymptomatic), and 3 continue to receive medical treatment.
The statement ends with the obligatory reminder to the public to ignore all rumors, and to get information only from official channels. Conspicuously absent from this statement is any information regarding how these HCWs came to be infected when, presumably, standardized infection control procedures are in place.
(Machine translated)
A press release from Jeddah on (SK)
08/06/1435
Further press releases issued on a coronavirus in Jeddah, the Directorate of Health Affairs in Jeddah would like to reassure everyone that the health situation for the coronavirus is stable and there is full coordination between all the sectors involved and continuous follow-up of his Highness the Emir of Mecca and Jeddah Governor Prince and the Minister of health with epidemiological survey and are continuing to take all precautionary measures to deal with the virus, easing the pressure on King Fahad Hospital-General referred the cases of Red Crescent hospitals which allowed Gradual cleansing action of the Emergency Department and that lasts for 24 hours only, as the Directorate and clarification of the truth surrounding all of what has been done in accordance with the scientific medical practices since the first case of coronavirus in Jeddah, according to the following:
immediately upon receipt of a first case of suspected pathogen King Abdul Aziz hospital has been taking precautionary measures as planned, prepared and is in the following:
- Confirmatory tests were the work of nurse referred to and turned out to be positive for the coronavirus.
- Stimulate and activate the operations room of the Koruna, which has already been determined since the onset of the disease in the Kingdom, which operates 24 hours a day to receive communications in all Government and private health facilities in Jeddah
- Support the operations room of the Corona by 6 teams, and each team consists of (doctors, technicians and nursing technician, epidemiology) to communicate with contacts of confirmed cases, epidemiological and preventive action.
- A full scan of King Abdulaziz hospital in Jeddah and contacts found no positive case.
- Raise awareness and preparedness of all the preventive measures of HIV koruna.
- Communicate with the patient the status and work of the Ardiya tests for all contacts and proved negative.
have suspected for a King Fahd General Hospital in Jeddah and confirmatory tests were confirmed positive for the virus koruna.
- A full scan of the King Fahd Hospital in Jeddah and demonstrated the existence of some cases of contacts where the symptoms in three cases only, while others show symptoms, which means that they are not the source of infection.
- Ease pressure on King Fahd General Hospital to refer cases to other hospitals of the Red Crescent which allowed no sterilization action of the Emergency Department.
- Assigned team communication skills trainer and has information about the disease and how it is spread and dealing with cases to inform patients and contacts to raise awareness and to reduce the spread of liberty.
- Recirculation to all Government and private health establishments concerning AIDS Middle East MERS cov respiratory flu H1N1 and epidemiological surveillance and to raise awareness among health professionals and particularly emergency physicians to report cases of suspected with emphasis on infection control procedures when dealing with all situations.
- Report on all confirmed cases and follow-up of health status as well as the lifting of the Ministry.
- Epidemiological survey was made of all suspected cases and take nasal swabs and ring them and send them to the regional and laboratory follow-up of results and reporting contacts with test results and preventive measures for all contacts.
- Ensure availability of prevention in all hospitals and hospital swabs VTM for tests for the virus.
This brings the number of confirmed cases had been reported in Jeddah province (11) case died (2) two – shows them mercy and recovered (6) and thankfully there are still (3) receive medical care – on their lips.
And Health Affairs in Jeddah that these procedures be followed continuously by HRH Prince Mishal Bin Abdullah bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Mecca, Prince Mishal Bin Majid bin Abdulaziz, Governor of Jeddah and that all sectors to harness all the possibilities to support prevention measures and continue his Ministry's officials with cream to make sure that all procedures are done according to the standards adopted by the World Health Organization also reaffirms the invalidity of rumors about any other casualties in the Hospitals in the province, and the other between workers and Fiat calls upon everyone to obtain information from the official site www.moh.gov.sa which is updated with the number of cases of the virus so that it contains all the information and tips for dealing with the coronavirus.
Giuseppe Michieli has posted an alternative translation on this FluTrackers Thread.
