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<\/h1>\n6 February 2020<\/span><\/p>\n NSW Health is asking the public to be wary of false and misleading rumours, posts on social media and inaccurate reports regarding the spread of novel coronavirus in NSW.<\/span><\/p>\n NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said there have been multiple incorrect and alarmist social media posts regarding the spread and severity of the disease, prompting NSW Health to remind all residents to fact check.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI ask the public to be aware of the facts about the novel coronavirus and take a moment to investigate unverified claims before they share them with others,\u201d Dr Chant said. Dr Chant said NSW Health was particularly keen to dispel five common myths about the novel coronavirus.<\/span><\/p>\n 1. You should avoid Chinatown\/shopping centres\/suburbs with high Chinese-<\/span> The best way to protect yourself is the same as you would against any respiratory <\/span>infection. Practice good hygiene by:<\/span> Dr Chant said while there is still much to be learned about this strain, the illness appears <\/span>less severe than SARS or MERS, and many people with the disease may have a mild <\/span>illness.<\/span> NSW HEALTH Media<\/span> Since Sunday 2 February, a total of 7,397 people have been assessed at Sydney International Airport. A total of 39 were sent for testing.<\/span> <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 6 February 2020 BE AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS, BE WARY OF FALSE REPORTS NSW Health is asking the public to be wary of false and misleading rumours, posts on social media and inaccurate reports regarding the spread of novel coronavirus in NSW. NSW Chief Health Officer, Dr Kerry Chant said there have been […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":41855,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"aside","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[20],"tags":[12032,12033],"class_list":{"0":"post-41853","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-aside","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-articles","8":"tag-novel-coronavirus","9":"tag-sydney-international-airport","10":"post_format-post-format-aside"},"yoast_head":"\nBE AWARE OF THE SYMPTOMS, BE WARY OF FALSE REPORTS<\/span><\/h1>\n
\nAustralian populations \u2013 FALSE.<\/span>
\nWhile four cases have been diagnosed in NSW to date, patients have been isolated <\/span>until no longer infectious and there is no evidence that community transmission is <\/span>occurring in NSW.<\/span>
\n2. You can get the novel coronavirus from an imported package of food \u2013 FALSE.<\/span>
\nThe novel coronavirus does not appear to last very long on surfaces. Therefore<\/span>
\nimported products do not pose a risk of transmission of this virus.<\/span>
\n3. Garlic and sesame oil will stop me from contracting novel coronavirus \u2013<\/span>
\nFALSE.<\/span><\/p>\n
\na. covering your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing with tissue or a<\/span>
\nflexed elbow;<\/span>
\nb. making sure to clean your hands thoroughly for at least 20 seconds with soap<\/span>
\nand water, or an alcohol-based hand rub; and<\/span>
\nc. avoiding close contact with anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms.<\/span>
\n4. The virus has mutated into a more lethal strain \u2013 FALSE.<\/span>
\nThis was debunked by the World Health Organization (WHO).<\/span>
\n5. Can I catch novel coronavirus from my pet? FALSE.<\/span>
\nWhile the 2019-nCoV may have come from animals, domestic pets do not pose a risk <\/span>of transmission in Australia.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nAll four confirmed cases in NSW were isolated after diagnosis and pose no ongoing threat of <\/span>transmitting the infection.<\/span>
\n\u201cFurther, anyone departing mainland China from 1 February 2020 is under 14 days home <\/span>isolation, and NSW Health is screening arrivals from mainland China at Sydney International <\/span>Airport,\u201d Dr Chant said.<\/span><\/p>\n
\nTel. 02 9391 9121 A\/Hours. 02 9962 9890 Email. media@health.nsw.gov.au Web. www.health.nsw.gov.au<\/span>
\nhealthdirect AUSTRALIA \u2013 providing expert health advice 24 hours a day to NSW residents \u2013 Tel. 1800 022 222<\/span><\/p>\n
\nThis includes testing conducted yesterday (5 February) where 1,672 arrivals from mainland China were assessed at Sydney International Airport. 13 were sent for testing.<\/span>
\n\u201cClose contacts of the confirmed cases have been contacted by local Public Health Units and appropriate advice has been supplied.\u201d<\/span>
\nHealth workers in NSW public hospitals and community-based GPs have been issued advice to help them identify any cases and apply careful infection control measures to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus.<\/span>
\nFind the facts by visiting NSW Health\u2019s dedicated novel coronavirus page at: https:\/\/www.health.nsw.gov.au\/Infectious\/diseases\/Pages\/coronavirus.aspx<\/span><\/p>\n![\"Media](\"https:\/\/websitedesigns.com.au\/elankanew\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/02\/Media-release.jpg\")
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