All-clear from the clinic: None of the four people who were suspected of having coronavirus in the university hospital were infected.
The relief is felt. The laboratory samples were evaluated on Saturday afternoon: “The samples are negative,” says Wolfgang Fürweger, spokesman for the university hospital. The four people can leave the hospital in the afternoon.
In accordance with the prescribed procedure, the University Hospital sent samples to the Center for Virology at the Medical University of Vienna. No infection with the virus called “2019-nCov” was found there. “We can give the all-clear. The four suspected corona cases that were treated at the University Medical Center Salzburg have not been confirmed,” said health and hospital advisor Deputy Governor Christian Stöckl.
The patients were in the isolation ward of the University Clinic for Internal Medicine III. “All units from the university hospital to the state medical directorate, the health authorities in the district authorities and the emergency services were and are prepared and closely networked for such cases. The cooperation and management in suspicious cases worked perfectly,” emphasizes Stöckl.
As a central hospital, the university hospital has an isolation station around the clock. In the past, sensitive cases such as suspected Ebola or MERS infections were treated and cared for there. “The team of doctors and nursing staff is very well attuned. Our specialists can also deal with the corona virus. So the population can be reassured.” In addition, the State Medical Directorate is in constant communication with the Ministry of Health.
Suspected vacation in China
On Friday, a 30-year-old Chinese woman and a 31-year-old Austrian were admitted to a isolation room at the university hospital after their return from a Chinese vacation. Already on Thursday evening, a 57-year-old from Salzburg and her husband had been placed in an isolation room in the university hospital because of gastrointestinal problems after a stay in China.
The City of Salzburg’s Office for Public Order also exercised caution. City officials clarified whether the four people suspected of having coronavirus had contact with other people. “It clarifies how close the contact was and what the health status of the contact persons is,” explained Dr. Michael Haybäck, head of the Public Order Office on Saturday. The authorities observed the so-called movement profile and the contact profile of the data subjects.
The measures of the regulatory office are legally anchored. For example, people were obliged to provide information during the surveys. “However, we are very careful and do not want to trigger hysteria. All that has been done so far is routine work by the authority,” said Haybäck.
Further suspected cases are expected
Salzburg is also preparing for further suspected cases of the new virus, says State Medical Director Petra Juhasz. “All of China is now considered a risk area. And at the moment there are a lot of respiratory infections. We expect that there will be more people who come back from a trip from China with an infection.”
In Austria, the capacities for the tests would therefore also be increased, says primary school Richard Greil. “From Monday onwards, the Food Security Agency will also carry out tests for the corona virus. That should be possible there 24 hours a day. And we are working on being able to carry out a test ourselves in the future.”
Source: SN
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