FAQs on coronavirus: Dr Nicola Spurrier answers your most pressing questions
We asked SA’s chief public health officer some of the most frequently asked questions about coronavirus – from why schools are still open and whether to wear a mask or gloves to the supermarket, to if you can still kick a football in the park. Here’s what she said.
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Q) Why are schools and childcare centres still open if the rest of us can no longer gather in groups of more than two people?
A) Australia’s Chief Medical Officer and the Prime Minister advise that schools and preschools will remain open. This includes out of school hours care (OSHC).
In South Australia, schools and preschools will remain open until national health advice changes. Parents can choose to keep their children at home.
If there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 at a site, the individual school or preschool will close temporarily.
Q) Are playgrounds in schools, kindy and childcare centres also off limits?
A) Studies suggest COVID-19 can survive on surfaces for up to 24 hours and rarely up to several days. This depends on the type of surface, with the virus surviving for longer on metal or plastic surfaces. The Prime Minister has advised that all playgrounds, outdoor gyms and skate parks close.
(NOTE: However, Education Minister John Gardner this week told The Advertiser that school playgrounds could be used provided children were supervised, practised social distancing and washed their hands afterwards).
Cleaning your bag when returning from travel:
— SA Health (@SAHealth) March 31, 2020
(1) Wipe external surfaces with a detergent disinfectant product, using a dampened disposable or launderable cloth. Thoroughly clean handles and grips.
(2) Dry your bag properly in the sun or air dry
(3) Wash hands thoroughly after pic.twitter.com/w93NL1IDwb
Q) Should you wear a mask or gloves to the supermarket?
A) Masks are not required by healthy members of the community.
They are effective when worn by someone with a case of COVID-19 as this can help with preventing the sick person spreading their infection to others.
If you must leave home, take extra care to cover your coughs and sneezes, wash or sanitise your hands, and keep at least 1.5m away from others.
Q) How can you pay safely?
A) It is very unlikely you can get COVID-19 from money, cash or bank cards. However, make sure you follow proper hand hygiene and wash your hands with soap and water or use hand sanitisers after handling money. Try using “tap and go” or “phone pay” options where possible.
Q) Should you wipe down all the items when you get home?
A) Studies suggest that the virus that causes COVID-19 may survive on surfaces for up to 24 hours or in rarer cases up to several days. This may vary under different conditions (e.g. type of surface, temperature or humidity of the environment).
It can be spread by touching objects or surfaces (like doorknobs or tables) that have droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person, and then touching your mouth or face.
To avoid spreading the virus on objects and surfaces:
WASH your hands often with soap and water or use alcohol based hand sanitiser
USE a tissue and cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze.
REGULARLY disinfect frequently touched surfaces with disinfectant or detergent.
Q) Is soap-free handwash, used by people with skin conditions, OK? Should I be using alcohol-based hand wipes instead?
A) The effectiveness of alternatives to soap and detergent in killing the virus will depend on how well they dissolve fats. This will vary between individual brands. It is recommended to check this information further on the soap brand website.
Q) Can we still kick a football in the park if we maintain 1.5m social distancing?
A) People can still kick a football in the park as long as they maintain social distancing and hand hygiene.
Q) Can I have extended family over to my house under the new social gathering rules preventing groups of more than two, eg cousins?
A) It is recommended that gatherings in Australia be restricted to two people in a further attempt to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
The two-person limit does not apply to people within their own household, but gatherings with other friends or family will need to comply with the new restriction.
In South Australia, bans of gatherings of more than 10 people, not including family members, will be enforced.
Individuals who don’t comply with this rule can be fined $1000, while businesses face a $5000 fine.
Q) If a person has the virus (without knowing) and is a smoker, does the smoke they blow out pose a risk?
A) The virus is carried in droplets that typically spread when a person with the infection coughs. It is unknown at this time whether the smoke and air from an infected person can transmit the virus. Therefore it is recommended that you avoid breathing in the smoke from another person where possible.
Q) What are the risks to funeral industry workers from the body of a deceased person who had the virus?
A) The risk of transmission of COVID-19 from handling the body of a deceased person is low. Funeral industry personnel should however employ infection prevention and control measures when handling bodies.