Thread by @_CatintheHat

HANTAVIRUS OUTBREAK

Following my thread yesterday which criticised aspects of the WHO’s strategy, I’m pleased to see they’ve done a 180° turn in the updated guidance published today:

who.int/docs/default-s…

EVERYONE from the ship will now be treated as HIGH-RISK contacts…

🧵 x.com/_catinthehat/s…

…and ALL high-risk contacts will now be required to ISOLATE in a designated facility or at home (depending on each country’s capabilities) for 42 days from last known exposure…

…and for the MV Hondius passengers & crew, the last day of exposure is the date of disembarkation.

So for the passengers & crew leaving the ship today, the clock for their 42 days in isolation starts ticking TODAY…

…and their isolation & monitoring will end on 21 June.

In another change to previous WHO guidance, I’m pleased to see this:

“In case social interactions are unavoidable, high-risk contacts should wear a RESPIRATOR (eg. FFP2 or N95)”

(Previous guidance had advised surgical masks which do NOT protect against airborne transmission).

Another concern raised was that the WHO had not considered the possibility of PRE-symptomatic transmission.

I’m pleased to see this has now been addressed:

“It is suggested that contacts be identified from 2 DAYS PRIOR to reported symptom onset of a confirmed or probable case.”

I’m delighted that the @WHO have listened to the concerns raised within the scientific community & amended their guidance 👏🏻 

6 weeks isolation will be tough but I just hope those involved follow the rules.

With self-isolation at home, that might be easier said than done… 🙄

@WHO For British nationals returning to the UK from the ship, they will spend the first 3 days in hospital for clinical assessments & testing.

They will then be asked to isolate (either at home or at another suitable location) for up to 45 days from today.

gov.uk/government/new…