In the past few weeks, there has been a rise in the number of persons requiring hospitalisation due to coronavirus infection, the Chief Medical Officer said at the Monday online press conference of the Operational Group responsible for the fight against the coronavirus epidemic.

Cecília Müller highlighted that for ten days the daily number of new infections has been steadily just under a thousand; however, the number of patients treated in hospital and requiring assisted ventilation is increasing. According to Monday data, there are 18,815 registered active cases, including 693 requiring hospitalisation and 44 requiring assisted ventilation.

The Chief Medical Officer stressed that while in the spring typically epicentres had developed, today the coronavirus was spreading over communities. Communal spread can be prevented through the stringent observance of the relevant rules of hygiene, she added.

She said the number of PCR tests had increased significantly, to 697,473 up to Monday morning.

According to her information, the Operational Group introduced extraordinary school breaks in 17 nursery schools and 7 elementary schools, while in the case of 118 classes and three schools digital education was introduced.

She also said educational institutions had been prepared for the introduction of body temperature checking from 1 October. For smaller institutions, contactless thermometers were procured, while larger institutions will receive thermal imaging gates; delivery of the equipment will start on Tuesday.

In answer to a question, she said if a child’s body temperature reaches 37.8 degrees Celsius, after a short break they repeat the check, and if the body temperature still reaches this limit, they recommend that the child should leave the school. Parents will also have to be notified.

She observed that she will set the body temperature threshold value at 37.8 degrees Celsius because there are several natural situations when the body temperature becomes elevated even in the absence of a disease, such as due to the menstrual cycle or when exercising.

In answer to another question, Ms. Müller said among the many relevant symptoms of infection, fever is a basic one which is present in the case of more than 90 per cent of patients. If a child’s body temperature reaches 37.8 degrees Celsius even after a repeated check, it does not necessarily indicate coronavirus infection; however, the child should nonetheless be removed from the community, she observed.

In answer to a further question, the Chief Medical Officer drew attention to the fact that it is the individual responsibility of anyone who has been ordered by the general practitioner to undergo sample-taking due to suspected coronavirus infection not to come into contact with others from that point in time. Until the test result is received, she also asked family members to exercise more caution.

According to her information, residents of social institutions can be sent back from health care institutions to homes with two negative PCR tests; this, however, does not apply to cases where they only undergo examinations in outpatient care.

She also said some of those who have recovered from the disease feel fatigued. They must be helped to recover their old state of health with a rehabilitation plan; they are recommended to take vitamins, in particular vitamin D, to slowly start exercising in a balanced manner, to conduct breathing exercises and, if necessary, to seek psychological help.

(Cabinet Office of the Prime Minister / MTI)