Current information about the new coronavirus, Covid-19 is rapidly evolving. Be advised to check the current status of the disease at the CDC website and World Health Organization website.
On March 16, 2020, the president of the United States published new guidelines to contain the coronavirus 10. Read the guidelines here.
Medical interpreters are in close contact with patients who are potentially infected or infected with diseases such as Covid-19, just like healthcare workers.
Medical interpreters are not usually members of the healthcare staff of clinics and hospitals. Healthcare staff are trained and provided with personal protective equipment as part of their work.
Medical interpreters need to know about protecting themselves against infection and need training on infection and transmission-based protocols and PPEs for their own protection, for their families, and for the community.
Coronavirus Course for Medical Interpreters
A 2-Hour Course for Medical Interpreters is available at Culture Advantage. You may register here.
https://cultureadvantage.org//courses/coronavirus-course-for-interpreters.html
Learning Objectives
1. Define what is the new (novel) coronavirus, the medical term for the virus and the infection caused by the virus.
2. Describe signs and symptoms of infection.
3. Explain recommended precautions for the public to prevent infection.
4. List people who are at risk for infection.
5. Explain precautions for healthcare workers and medical interpreters (PPE, Droplet and Airborne Precautions) - Coronavirus Webinar. (Register here.)
6. Demonstrate understanding of concepts by completing a translation and interpreting exercise and self-evaluation.
What is coronavirus?
Corona is a Latin word that means crown. It has spikes around the surface that resemble spokes of a crown.
According to World Health Organization (WHO), coronaviruses (CoV) are a large family of viruses that cause illness ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS-CoV).
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a new strain that was discovered in 2019 and has not been previously identified in humans.
The coronavirus pandemic
On March 11, 2020, coronavirus-19 (Covid-19) disease was declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Covid-19 was originally classified as an epidemic in January 2020.
To understand what is a pandemic, let us define the different terms related to disease.
What is an epidemic?
An epidemic refers to a sudden increase in the number of cases of a disease that has spread beyond the local geographical area.
What is a pandemic?
A pandemic refers to an epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents, usually affecting a large number of people.
As of March 21, 2020, number of people infected in the world: Click here for Map of the 2019–20 coronavirus pandemic (as of 21 March 2020).
According to WHO:
- Find, isolate, test and treat every case and trace every contact
- Ready your hospitals;
- Protect and train your health workers.
Old name:
2019-nCoV An old name for the virus that causes COVID-19. It is now called SARS-CoV-2.
"N" means novel (new). It means the virus has never infected people before.
Coronaviruses have caused respiratory diseases in the past.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS)
Viral respiratory illness caused by a coronavirus called SARS-associated coronavirus (SARS-CoV)
SARS was first reported in Asia in February 2003.
The main way that SARS seems to spread is by close person-to-person contact.
The virus that causes SARS is thought to be transmitted most readily by respiratory droplets (droplet spread) produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
Since 2004, there have not been any known cases of SARS reported anywhere in the world.
https://www.cdc.gov/sars/index.html
Coronaviruses
Coronaviruses are common in people and many different species of animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.
Animal coronaviruses can infect people and then spread between people
Example: MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV.
MERS-CoV
Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome
It was first reported in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and has since spread to several other countries, including the United States.
Most people infected with MERS-CoV developed severe respiratory illness, including fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Many of them have died.
Direct contact with camels is a risk factor for human infection with MERS-CoV.
The World Health Organization has posted a general precaution for anyone visiting farms, markets, barns, or other places where animals are present.
Travelers should practice general hygiene measures, including regular handwashing before and after touching animals, and avoiding contact with sick animals.
Travelers should also avoid consumption of raw or undercooked animal products.
The new (novel) coronavirus disease is also believed to have spread from animal coronaviruses.
Zoonotic: A disease that infects humans but originally came from other animals.
Early on, many of the patients at the epicenter of the outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread.
Later, a growing number of patients reportedly did not have exposure to animal markets, indicating person-to-person spread.
Symptoms of Covid-19
About 99%* of people who have the virus will have symptoms. People may experience:
cough
fever
tiredness
difficulty breathing (severe cases)
On average, symptoms appear five to six days after infection, but may appear as few as two days or as long as 14 days after exposure to the virus.
How is Covid-19 spread?
The disease is spread from person-to-person through respiratory droplets when a person coughs or sneezes.
It may be possible for a person to be infected by touching a surface that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose or eyes.
Who are at risk?
Older adults
People who have serious chronic medical conditions like:
Heart disease
Diabetes
Lung disease
Close contacts of people who have the infection are at risk for getting the disease.
However, new reports regarding the spread of Covid-19 in France suggest that the virus affects people younger than 60 years old. More than half of intensive care patients in France are under 60.
A physician who is in his 40's is in critical condition in Washington State, the epicenter of the Covid-19 infection in the US.
CDC Report: As of March 16, a total of 4,226 COVID-19 cases had been reported in the United States, with reports increasing to 500 or more cases per day beginning March 14.
Among 508 (12%) patients known to have been hospitalized:
9% were aged ≥85 years
6% were aged 65–84 years
17% were aged 55–64 years
18% were 45–54 years, and
20% were aged 20–44 years.
Less than 1% of hospitalizations were among persons aged ≤19 years.
How is the coronavirus spread?
The virus is believed to be spread by respiratory droplets when the person coughs or sneezes.
Viruses and bacteria droplets can travel up to 4 meters (13 feet) when a person sneezes without covering his or her mouth.
One study has found that an average sneeze or cough can send around 100,000 contagious germs into the air at speeds up to 100 miles per hour. The droplets would ultimately fall onto surfaces that people would touch.
Some studies have shown that asymptomatic people (people with no symptoms) may carry the virus and able to infect other people who can then become ill depending on the individual person's immune system status and other health conditions.
Close Contacts
People who are in close contact of patients with Covid-19 are at high risk for contacting the diseases.
Close contact can occur while caring for a patient, including:
being within approximately 6 feet (2 meters) of a patient with COVID-19 for a prolonged period of time.
having direct contact with infectious secretions from a patient with COVID-19. Infectious secretions may include sputum, serum, blood, and respiratory droplets.
If close contact occurs while not wearing all recommended PPE, healthcare personnel, or any other person, may be at risk of infection.
While working as an interpreter in the healthcare setting, interpreters are exposed to potential and actual contagious diseases and they are at risk for contacting the disease and spreading the disease to others.
How long do coronavirus live on surfaces?
New research shows that the virus can live up to:
2 to 3 days on stainless steel surfaces
According to a study on SARS-CoV-2 was more stable on plastic and stainless steel than on copper and cardboard, and viable virus was detected up to 72 hours after application to these surfaces.
SARS-CoV-2 can live up to 24 hours on cardboard.
SARS-CoV-2 can stay in the air for up to 3 hours.
Prevention of Covid-19 for the General Public
If you would like to take the Coronavirus Course for Medical Interpreters, please register on the page below. Learn about Standard Precautions, Personal Protective Equipment and Transmission-based Protocols to protect yourself, your family, and your community. (If you are not a medical interpreter, keep reading and take the quiz at the end.)
https://cultureadvantage.org//courses/coronavirus-course-for-interpreters.html
Handwashing
According to WHO and CDC, handwashing is one of the most effective ways to prevent disease. Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
While the WHO and CDC recommends washing hands with soap and water for 20 seconds, or using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that is at least 60% alcohol, they do not explain what does effective handwashing really mean.
According to a study by WHO, the most frequently missed areas of the hands are: the fingers, the areas in between the fingers, the thumb, and the creases of the palms.
Follow these 5 steps to handwashing to ensure that all surfaces of your hands are washed well. If you have long fingernails (extending more than 1/4 inch beyond the fingertips), you should clean under your fingernails when washing your hands.
1. Palm to Palm. Rub both hands together. Rub in between the fingers. 5 times.
2. Palm to back of hand. Rub together. Rub in between the fingers. 5 times. Repeat with the other hand.
3. Curl fingers and rub the fingertips in the opposite palm, making sure to get into the creases of your palm. 5 times. Repeat with the other hand.
4. Grasp the thumb in the opposite hand and rub in a rotating motion. 5 times. Repeat with the other hand.
5. Clasp the wrist in the opposite hand and rub in a rotating motion. 5 times. Repeat with the other hand.
Rinsing is just as important. Keep your hands below your wrists while rinsing. Do not allow your hands to touch any part of the sink. Gently glide your hands palm to palm and palm to back of hands while running your hands under water. Rinse until you no longer see soap bubbles or lather. This should take another 10 to 15 seconds. Use a clean paper towel to dry your hands. Discard if the paper towel gets wet. Use a clean dry paper towel to turn off the faucet.
Developed by Culture Advantage 2020.
Social Distancing
Avoid close contact (within 6 feet of another person)
Avoid close contact with people who are sick (having symptoms of Covid-19)
Stay home if you are sick.
Wear a face mask if you are sick.
Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily.
For more information, please visit the CDC FAQ website.
What is social distancing?
Keeping 6-feet away from others to prevent spread of contagious diseases.
Covid-19 Information in Other Languages
Covid-19 Information in Other Languages Available from Washington State DSHS.
Culture Advantage is looking for volunteers who speak these languages to record an audio of the Covid-19 Information to be posted as a public service to limited English individuals. Please contact me if you would like to record any of these audios.
Or simply go to this page to record.Individuals who record the audios may request access to the Coronavirus Course for Medical Interpreters and receive a Certificate of Completion of 2 Hours.
https://www.doh.wa.gov/Emergencies/NovelCoronavirusOutbreak2020/FactSheet
English: Novel Coronavirus Fact Sheet (PDF)
Amharic: COVID-19 የህዝብ ጤና ምክረ ሀሳቦች (PDF)
Arabic: COVID-توصيات الصحة العامة الخاصة ب 19 (PDF)
Chinese Simplified: 新型冠状病毒 (PDF)
Chinese Traditional: 新型冠狀病毒 (PDF)
Hindi: COVID-19 Public Health हिदायते (PDF)
Japanese: COVID-19（新型コロナウィルス）に関する公衆衛生上の推奨事項 (PDF)
Khmer: វីរុសកូរ៉ូណាប្រភេទថ្មី (PDF)
Russian: Новый штамм коронавируса (PDF)
Somali: Caabuqa Xalfaafka Wadnaha (PDF)
Spanish: Nuevo coronavirus (PDF)
Tagalog: Mga Rekomendasyon ng Pampublikong Kalusugan sa COVID-19 (PDF)
Thai: ไวรัสโคโรนาสายพันธุ์ใหม (PDF)
Vietnamese: Vi-rút Corona Mới (PDF)
Thank you for viewing this brief presentation. Be safe and keep interpreting! The medical community and the patients need you!
Culture Advantage
https://www.cultureadvantage.org
References: CDC, WHO, Washington State DSHS
Credits:
Created with images by Fusion Medical Animation - "New visualisation of the Covid-19 virus" • H Shaw - "北京合众齿科总院的牙科医生看诊中~" • Martha Dominguez de Gouveia - "untitled image" • CDC - "This 1975, digitally colorized transmission electron microscopic (TEM) image, depicted four avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) virions, which are Coronaviridae family members. IBV is a highly contagious pathogen, which infects poultry of all ages, affecting a number of organ systems, including the respiratory and urogenital organs. IBV possesses a helical genome, composed of non-segmented, positive-sense single-stranded RNA ((+) ssRNA). This is an enveloped virus, which means that its outermost covering is derived from the host cell membrane. The coronavirus derives its name from the fact" • Markus Spiske - "Coronavirus disease outbreak (COVID-19) – warning alarm message statistic. Made with Canon 5d Mark III and analog vintage lens, Leica APO Macro Elmarit-R 2.8 100mm (Year: 1993)" • Markus Spiske - "Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak – warning alarm message. Made with Canon 5d Mark III and analog vintage lens, Leica APO Macro Elmarit-R 2.8 100mm (Year: 1993)" • Artur Kraft - "Sunny day on Glasgow Buchanan Street https://kraft.photo" • CDC - "This 2013 image depicts a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) scientist harvesting H7N9 virus, grown for the purpose of sharing with partner laboratories for research purposes. Note that he was wearing appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), which included gloves, a full body smock, and a head covering, consisting of a face shield, and a head covering, providing him with clean, filtered air. " • Michael Rivera 🇵🇭 - "untitled image" • Mariam Soliman - "untitled image" • Atharva Tulsi - "City Life" • Joshua J. Cotten - "I loved exploring all the different marketplaces in Hong Kong. They were all over the place and so full of people." • Brittany Colette - "I sometimes think if Bill’s nose were the fountain of youth, if the world waded in his mucus, it would grant the population everlasting life. The struggle is real." • CDC - "untitled image" • Francisco Venâncio - "Infermeiro - Saúde" • Ashim D’Silva - "untitled image" • Matthew Henry - "untitled image" • Hush Naidoo - "A woman getting her blood pressure tested"