ARCHIVED - Ninth coronavirus case reported in Murcia

All cases in Murcia so far are traceable to infection in Madrid

A ninth case of Covid-19 has been confirmed in the Region of Murcia, according to Fernando López Miras, the president of the regional government, and although very little in the way of detail has so far been released it appears to be clear that the patient contracted the infection in Madrid, as did seven of the eight previous patients.

The 40 year old woman is showing "mild "symptoms and is believed to have contracted the virus in madrid.

The number of cases reported in Murcia continues to be very low in comparison with most other regions of Spain but at the same time there has been a steady increase in the figure since the first one came to light on Saturday: on Monday evening the total stood at 5, but three more positive diagnoses were made during the night and by mid-morning on Tuesday the total had almost doubled.

It is important to note that at present all of the infections in Murcia have been traced back to Madrid, but at the same time it has to be surmised that this may not be the case for much longer. Those who are now testing positive have been leading normal lives in the Region since their return from the national capital a few days ago and the chances of them not having unwittingly spread the virus are beginning to look rather remote.

However, investigations are continuing in an effort to trace all of the passengers on an ALSA coach which brought at least two of the Murcia coronavirus patients back to the Region from Madrid. The two infected are a 34-year-old mother and her 5-month-old baby who travelled on from the bus station in Murcia to Totana, a fact which caused considerable alarm in the town on Monday and led to the Mayor, Juan José Cánovas, to issue a plea for calm and prudence.

To date the cases are as follows:

A 27 year old female who contracted the virus in Madrid whilst attending the ARCO contemporary arts fair. After receiving treatment in the Virgen de la Arrixaca hospital, she has now been sent home and remains in isolation as her symptoms are considered to be mild.

The second and third cases relate to a 5 month old baby and her mother, both of whom had travelled via bus to Madrid and returned, again via bus, from Madrid to Murcia and then on to Totana by bus. Both patients remain under medical care in El Palmar. The husband of the patients tested negative but remains in isolation.

The fouth case is the 28 year old friend of the first patient who actually lives in Valencia but had gone to Madrid with her friend and was diagnosed positive in Murcia. Her case is considered to be mild and she is at home in isolation.

The fifth case is also at home in isolation with mild symptoms and also contracted the virus in Madrid.

The sixth and seventh, a 70 year old man and a 26 year old male, also travelled to Madrid and are believed to have contracted the virus in the capital, whilst the eighth is believed to have contracted the virus from a contact in Alicante, who originally contracted the virus in Madrid.

To date, the medical services of the region have undertaken more than 200 tests and this week the regional government has extended testing to two further hospitals to prepare for the anticipated increase in demand for tests. The 900 12 12 12 service set up to offer telephone support for those showing sysmptoms has receved more than 1300 calls relating to the virus.

What to do if you are in the  Murcia Region and believe you may have contracted the virus:

The regional government has set up a special helpline to supply information to members of the public (900 121212), and also urges people to call the 112 emergency services line if they suspect that they may have contracted the virus rather than going straight to hospital or to a medical centre. Medical staff will be sent to your home to test for the virus.

The Region’s public hospitals have limited the number of visitors to patients in the region's hospitals to just one visitor per patient.

Sensible precautions

The advice being issued to members of the public by medical authorities all over the world coincides on the following points:

1. Wash hands frequently with either soap and water of a sanitiser gel
2. Catch coughs and sneezes with disposable tissues – and throw the tissues away immediately after use before immediately washing your hands!
3. If you don’t have a tissue, use your sleeve – and wash the item of clothing used at the next opportunity
4. AVOID touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
5. AVOID close contact with people who are unwell

6. Don´t panic.

Symptoms

Although over 110,000 cases have been diagnosed worldwide there is still no definitive description for the standard development of symptoms, but they seem to start with a fever and tiredness, followed by a dry cough. After a week or so these lead to shortness of breath and some patients require hospital treatment.

Muscle pain and headaches can also accompany the early symptoms, along with nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhoea: in short, they are not at all dissimilar to those associated with flu.

These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell. Most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing, this being most likely in older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes.(WHO says that 81% will develop mild symptoms, 14% severe symptoms and only 5% will become critically ill). At the moment, between 1 and 2% are dying from the disease, but at the moment this figure is difficult to corroborate.

Image: Fernando López Miras (L) and Manuel Villegas, the minister for Health in the regional government

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