Keep calm, and carry on, doctors say

JORDAN MOSHE

Though they can’t predict what will happen, they believe that the measures put in place by President Cyril Ramaphosa will give the medical system time to prepare.

They are confident in both the health department and National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD), saying that they have upped their game, and are equipped to deal with the situation.

“Yes, it’s a pandemic,” they say. “It’s severe, but not devastating. The instructions that are being given are grounded in science and need to be respected. This country is unique. We have a certain population that’s immunocompromised, and we don’t know what this virus will do to them. That’s the main reason we need to be so careful.”

On the whole, the Jewish community will be able to self-isolate and access the necessary supplies, they say, stressing the importance of keeping the virus away from the most vulnerable members.

Zinman and Meyberg remain calm and vigilant while being inundated with calls from fretful patients and members of the community, all seeking medical advice in the wake of the spreading outbreak. Their message remains the same: keep calm and carry on.

“The last 72 hours feel like 150,” Meyberg told the SA Jewish Report on Tuesday. “We’re getting harassed, though not in a bad way. People are concerned, and we have an ethical responsibility to help.

“It’s our job to tell people not to panic, to remind them to stop and breathe. There’s no time for mass hysteria.”

They believe the president behaved responsibly in declaring a state of disaster in his national address on Sunday night and implementing strict measures to curb the spread of the virus, though it sent some people scrambling for supplies.

“Ramaphosa addressed relevant points, implemented crowd control, and established a screening process. Everything he has put in place has far superseded what we expected,” said Meyberg. “It makes us feel confident going forward.”

Said Zinman, “He has done the best that can be done at this time, and implemented a protocol that will slow down transmission and improve containment. People around the world are saying that we need to take the explosive peak and spread it out so that the healthcare system can work. He has enabled this.

“Most people are adhering to the distancing guidelines, but I’ve seen people ignore the no touching rule,” Zinman said. “It’s stupid. At the moment, you have to use whatever means you can to prevent transmission. The bottom line is that most people will get the virus in a mild form, and will develop immunity. But you don’t want older people getting this.”

Meyberg agrees. “It’s easy for us to quarantine. We just stay in our houses,” he said. “For someone who lives in a small shack without lights or water, however, it’s a major problem. They can’t quarantine themselves there. This is why the health minister is suggesting institutional quarantine, and it probably will have to be done.”

Younger people who might be immunocompromised are less of a concern, said Meyberg. “They’re otherwise healthy. It’s when one is over the age of 65 and suffers from high blood pressure, emphysema, or a weakened immune system caused by medication (such as for diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis). Those are the people who are at risk.”

With misinformation spreading like wildfire, he and Zinman outline the basic practices that are essential to maintaining not only good health, but some much-needed sanity.

“Cleaning surfaces which are often touched at home is a good hygienic practice, but one cannot become paranoid about it,” said Zinman. “If you go neurotic, you’ll destroy your fingers and every surface in your home.

“Be practical. You don’t have to rub a switch every time you use it. Clean the table before and after meals, wash your hands after interactions, and follow basic hygiene practices. You can drive yourself mad if you’re not sensible about this.”

As simple as it seems, handwashing is a crucial practice that requires nothing more than normal soap and water. “Just wash your hands,” said Zinman.  “You can use normal hand soap, as long as you wash for long enough. You don’t have to use disinfectant soaps nor scrutinise labels for high alcohol content.”

They point out that it’s not practical to wipe down every item you buy at the supermarket. Excessive washing should be avoided, as it can risk changing the integrity of the good bacteria needed to fight the bad.

While there’s no need to stock up on chronic medications, Meyberg and Zinman caution that there is a need to avoid taking certain medications such as cortisone and anti-inflammatory medications as they have the potential to aggravate the virus.

“These should be avoided for infection treatment by those who may have the virus,” they say. “If you’ve been taking it as chronic medication, it’s fine, but you shouldn’t start taking it now.

“Antibiotics don’t work against the virus, and antiretrovirals aren’t a treatment for it at this point, nor is Tamiflu,” said Meyberg. “People mustn’t stock up on it, as it may end up causing resistant influenza.”

While it won’t prevent or cure COVID-19, flu shots should be had as soon as possible, and should be available by the end of March.

“We’re expecting a bad flu season as it is. The Americans had a terrible one, with 18 million people coming down with flu. The weather has changed lately as well, and people are going to get fluey now. It’s normal and to be expected,” said Meyberg. 

Both doctors expressed their confidence in the measures being taken at our hospitals, saying that at Linksfield Hospital, Netcare protocols were being strictly adhered to.

“We have plans in place that enable staff to tackle everything and protect everyone, including doctors, patients, and cleaning staff,” said Meyberg. “We have screening measures in place at casualty to avoid possible infection. Yes, it uses an honour code, but we have to trust people.”

It’s this sense of trust and professional camaraderie that they believe will help see us through.

“South Africans are resilient,” says Zinman. “Doctors can band together in times of crisis. If we must move in here and work around the clock, we’ll do it. We’ll be there for everyone.”

Said Meyberg, “We’re ready for it, and will attack it as a team. Though we’re not G-d and don’t know what will happen, we’re prepared.”