With the novel coronavirus being announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organization on Wednesday, local health officials are urging the community to work together to protect one another from the spread of COVID-19.
Dr. James Heilman is the head of the Emergency Department at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital (EKRH). He91裸聊视频檚 been involved in the COVID-19 pandemic planning and medical content on Wikipedia regarding the topic.
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He says that as an emergency physician and someone involved in writing about and looking at this specific disease, communities need to start changing what we do on a daily basis to minimize risk.
91裸聊视频淭here are no cases here yet, but there are to the east, west and south of us,91裸聊视频� Heilman said. 91裸聊视频淭here are a few things we can do to protect ourselves and others. Big ones being wash our hands, and stay at home if we91裸聊视频檙e sick.91裸聊视频�
He says that residents of Cranbrook and the surrounding area should think about avoiding crowds and going out less frequently as well.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e seen success in other areas of the world where they91裸聊视频檝e started these social isolation protocols. Cancelling school and sporting events, for example. It91裸聊视频檚 probably prudent for all of us to begin cutting back. Work from home if you can. Wikimedia, for example, has closed its head office in San Francisco, asking all employees to work remotely,91裸聊视频� Heilman explained.
As of March 12, of the public health risk of COVID-19 in the country remains low, however they do say that the situation could change rapidly.
91裸聊视频淚n order to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, everyone has a role to play,91裸聊视频� reads the Health Canada website. 91裸聊视频淚t takes more than governments and action from the health care sector to protect the health and safety of Canadians. Each of us can help our country be prepared in the event of an emergency by understanding how coronavirus spreads and how to prevent illness.91裸聊视频�
Heilman says that at EKRH, he91裸聊视频檚 asked all of his emergency staff to stay within the region and cancel or avoid planning any holidays in the near future. He91裸聊视频檚 implemented other protocol to keep his staff safe as well, including wearing protective eyewear if they don91裸聊视频檛 already wear glasses.
He says it91裸聊视频檚 also important for schools, sports teams and community groups to start planning for closures.
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a tough call, but the fear is that we91裸聊视频檙e not planning for where we will be in a week, or a month. We need to start acting now and we need to work together,91裸聊视频� he urged.
When asked what would happen to students if local schools were to close and their parents had to continue to work, Heilman replied saying it91裸聊视频檚 time to start thinking about that as a community.
91裸聊视频淲e need to answer those questions. In Italy, China and Iran they have closed all schools. There are over 300 million students not in school across the world right now,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e have regulations here that children aren91裸聊视频檛 allowed to be home alone unless they91裸聊视频檙e 13 or older. We need to re-asses that. In times like these, we can91裸聊视频檛 go by standard practice.91裸聊视频�
Andre Picard, a health reporter and columnist for The Globe and Mail, recently stating that Canada needs to embrace social distancing.
He says social distancing means temporarily closing down schools, restricting access to hospitals and nursing homes, and cancelling mass gatherings like sporting events. He echoed Heilman91裸聊视频檚 advice to only travel if it is essential, and to work from home if you can.
91裸聊视频淪ocial distancing means limiting our public interactions. It does not mean mass quarantine, shutting down our borders and other draconian measures,91裸聊视频� he wrote.
, Dr. Heilman advises that you call 811 or your family doctor and tell them your symptoms. Definitely, he says, don91裸聊视频檛 go into the emergency room or doctor91裸聊视频檚 office without calling ahead.
91裸聊视频淚f you don91裸聊视频檛 have any symptoms, there is no need to get tested,91裸聊视频� he stressed. 91裸聊视频淒on91裸聊视频檛 consider that you have the disease if you don91裸聊视频檛 have any symptoms. If you91裸聊视频檝e travelled somewhere recently, it might not be a bad idea to self-isolate.91裸聊视频�
Heilman adds that Interior Health has set up specific clinics to test for coronavirus in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon.
91裸聊视频淲e are looking at opening such a clinic as well,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 a rapidly changing situation.91裸聊视频�
Heilman says that he91裸聊视频檚 cancelled all of his personal travel plans for the foreseeable future. A meeting he had scheduled in Berlin was also cancelled.
91裸聊视频淚 have no plans to leave the community,91裸聊视频� he said, adding he advises the same for Cranbrook and surrounding residents. 91裸聊视频淵ou definitely don91裸聊视频檛 want to get sick outside of Canada. First of all, your health insurance may not cover you. It91裸聊视频檚 also not fair to expect Canada to pay for your needs. It91裸聊视频檚 not the time to head out somewhere where there are lots of people.91裸聊视频�
He says those who are young and healthy might survive the disease, but the mortality rate of COVID-19 is 10 to 20 times worse than the seasonal flu.
91裸聊视频淭his isn91裸聊视频檛 the flu,91裸聊视频� Heilman said. 91裸聊视频淭he seasonal flu puts our health care system under tremendous stress every year, but COVID-19 has completely overwhelmed a number of health care systems globally.91裸聊视频�
He says that China sent COVID-19 infected patients to a separate hospital which were rapidly built over a couple of weeks and had more than 3,600 additional beds.
91裸聊视频淲e just don91裸聊视频檛 have that kind of capacity, and not only that, but we do not have that kind of staffing capability,91裸聊视频� he said. 91裸聊视频淲e don91裸聊视频檛 have the ability to respond to this in the same way and it will continue to grow unless we are diligent.91裸聊视频�
Picard91裸聊视频檚 article explained how there is a broad range of opinions about coronavirus from 91裸聊视频渢his is no big deal91裸聊视频� to 91裸聊视频渢his is the end of the world as we know it91裸聊视频�. He says the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Health Canada has , so if you do become ill you are prepared. They advise that people stock up on essentials, but avoid panic buying. Things like non-perishable food items, dog food, hygiene products and diapers (if you have children who use them) are good to have on hand.
91裸聊视频淭he reason for stocking up on these items is not necessarily because you will need to self-isolate. Having these supplies on hand will ensure you do not need to leave your home at the peak of the outbreak if you become ill,91裸聊视频� reads the Health Canada website.
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The Townsman asked Heilman if fear is causing panic, and if people really should be worried about the pandemic. Heilman responded saying that people need to absolutely be cautious, but remain calm.
91裸聊视频淔ear is a useful emotion, because it keeps people from doing stuff that gets them into harm91裸聊视频檚 way. We all need to be taking measures to protect ourselves, our families and our community. Don91裸聊视频檛 take inappropriate risks. If you do, you put your whole community at risk. Don91裸聊视频檛 be nonchalant. Be cautious. If fear makes you cancel your flight to New York, then it is the right way to be feeling,91裸聊视频� he said, adding that some people are inappropriately downplaying the severity of the situation.
91裸聊视频淲e need to implement these measures today. We91裸聊视频檙e only going to address this if we work together. Our community, local government, health care system, and all levels up to the federal government need to take this seriously. It has devastated the airline industry. It will continue to impact all kinds of industry as it grows with time,91裸聊视频� Heilman said. 91裸聊视频淚f it continues to grow, there are going to be a lot of hard times ahead, for a lot of people.91裸聊视频�
corey.bullock@cranbrooktownsman.com
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