From Thursday, persons, including children, teachers and other staff, are only allowed to enter nursery school and school premises after body temperature checking, the Chief Medical Officer said at the online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the fight against the coronavirus epidemic on Thursday.

Cecília Müller recalled that 37.8 degrees Celsius is the threshold above which the suspicion of a fever could arise for some reason. This does not necessarily mean coronavirus infection because a number of other illnesses could cause an elevated body temperature, but body temperature checking is a simple option to filter out possible infections. She indicated that this threshold equally applies to children and adults.

The expert said the virus is present in twenty-five social institutions, including four institutions where the number of confirmed positive cases is above twenty.

Greeting the elderly on the International Day of Older Persons, the Chief Medical Officer said they will do everything they can to help them get through the epidemic more easily and with fewer restrictions as “there is a lot of pressure on them which must be difficult to bear over an extended period”.

“We must prepare for a difficult and challenging period, and so preventing the spread of the virus is our common responsibility. We must be alert and observe the rules,” she stressed.

Outlining the latest epidemic data, the expert said the number of confirmed positive cases has risen by 848, and 757 persons are being treated in hospital, including 52 requiring assisted ventilation. In the past 24 hours, sixteen patients have died, this is the highest fatality data to date, she said, adding that the youngest patient was aged 44, while the eldest 83; however, they all suffered from underlying chronic diseases.

Ms. Müller asked everyone not to panic if they observe coronavirus symptoms. In this case, they must notify the general practitioner who must be informed of the body temperature and symptoms. If the suspicion of coronavirus infection emerges, the general practitioner will order a PCR test. She highlighted that three hours before the test appointment agreed with the ambulance service, patients should not eat or drink anything as that could affect the result of the PCR test.

In the case of mild symptoms or no symptoms at all, persons are required to retire to compulsory home quarantine, as part of which they receive a decision from the authority stating the initial and end dates of quarantine. They may leave quarantine on the 10th day after the initial appearance of symptoms; in this case, there is no need for another PCR test.

If symptoms become more severe during quarantine, patients must not leave their homes; the general practitioner must be informed of the deterioration in their condition.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister / MTI)