21 March 2020
The Medical Officer of Health (MOH) Dr Ivan Muscat has issued updated information regarding: travellers and self-isolation, guidance on use of Ibuprofen, guidance on the Jersey clinical definition of under-lying health conditions and updated definition of a fever.
Up-date regarding travellers and self-isolation:
- solo travellers, who live alone, should immediately go into self-isolation
- a family or group travelling together should all immediately go into self-isolation
- where a solo traveller is returning to a shared or family home and is not showing any symptoms of infection, they should separate themselves from others in the home in accordance with self-isolation advice for 14 days. Family members should strictly follow social distancing advice
- where a solo traveller is returning to a shared or family home and is showing any symptoms of infection, they should separate themselves from others in the home in accordance with self-isolation advice (for a minimum of 14 days and until a 48hr period of being symptom free)
- household members who have had any contact with the symptomatic patient whilst symptomatic or in the 3 days before symptoms appeared should self isolate as well.
Ibuprofen update: The MOH has issued the following advice, following a question regarding the use of ibuprofen:
“There is currently no conclusive evidence that ibuprofen can make the coronavirus illness worse. However until there is more information, it is recommended that one should take paracetamol to treat symptoms of coronavirus unless the doctor has advised that paracetamol is not suitable for you and/or has told you that you are to avoid non-steroidal like ibuprofen.
People who are already taking ibuprofen on the advice of a doctor, should not stop taking it, but must check with their doctor. Paracetamol must be taken strictly according to the recommended dose because too much of it can damage the liver.”
The MOH has issued the following advice to clarify the Jersey clinical definition of under-lying health conditions and other vulnerabilities:
Those aged 65 or older (regardless of medical conditions)
Those under 65 with an underlying health condition listed below (i.e. anyone instructed to get a flu jab as an adult each year on medical grounds):
- chronic (long-term) respiratory diseases or severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis, severe asthma*, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), emphysema, bronchitis or bronchiolitis
- chronic heart disease, such as heart failure
- chronic kidney disease, such as kidney failure
- chronic liver disease, such as hepatitis
- chronic neurological conditions, such as Parkinson’s disease, motor neurone disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), a learning disability or cerebral palsy
- diabetes type 1 or type 2 requiring insulin or oral hypoglycaemic drugs or diet-controlled
- problems with your spleen – for example, sickle cell disease or if you have had your spleen removed
- a weakened immune system as the result of conditions such as HIV and AIDS, people who have received an organ transplant and remain on ongoing immunosuppression medication or medicines such as steroid tablets or people with cancer who are undergoing active chemotherapy or radiotherapy
- people with cancers of the blood or bone marrow such as leukaemia who are at any stage of treatment
- being seriously overweight (a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or above)
- those who are pregnant
* Severe asthma is defined as asthma that is hard to treat, with symptoms are not well controlled, even with high doses of medicines (Asthma UK)
Updated advice from the MOH in relation to the definition of a fever:
- signs of a fever include feeling hot to touch on your chest or back (if unsure ask a household member to check). You may also feel hot, cold or shivery
- if you have a thermometer you can check and monitor your temperature
- a temperature of 37.8 degrees indicates that you have a fever (a normal body temperature is 37 degrees)
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