'Wash your hands at least for 20 seconds to curb spread of coronavirus'

5 March 2020 4:31 PM

Professor Karen Hofman from Wits University School of Public Health says South Africans should not panic in the wake of the first case of coronavirus covid-19 being confirmed.

The National Department of Health confirmed on Thursday that a 38-year-old male in KwaZulu-Natal has tested positive for the virus.

Speaking to Joanne Joseph, Hofman says people are panicking because they don't know a lot and there isn't an immunisation shot available yet.

The main thing that people can do and really should be doing is washing their hands for at least 20 seconds. Do this multiple times a day.
— Professor Karen Hofman, School of Public Health - Wits

The other thing to do is to use hand sanitiser and it should compose 60% of alcohol or more.
— Professor Karen Hofman, School of Public Health - Wits

Hofman says people must not panic and should teach others about basic hygiene.

The masks are really useless except for people that already have the virus.
— Professor Karen Hofman, School of Public Health - Wits

Listen to the full interview below...

Written by: Zanele Zama

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