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). HeB次元官网网址檚 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.
B次元官网网址淭here are no cases here yet, but there are to the east, west and south of us,B次元官网网址� Heilman said. B次元官网网址淭here are a few things we can do to protect ourselves and others. Big ones being wash our hands, and stay at home if weB次元官网网址檙e sick.B次元官网网址�
He says that residents of Cranbrook and the surrounding area should think about avoiding crowds and going out less frequently as well.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e seen success in other areas of the world where theyB次元官网网址檝e started these social isolation protocols. Cancelling school and sporting events, for example. ItB次元官网网址檚 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,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淚n order to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19, everyone has a role to play,B次元官网网址� reads the Health Canada website. B次元官网网址淚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.B次元官网网址�
Heilman says that at EKRH, heB次元官网网址檚 asked all of his emergency staff to stay within the region and cancel or avoid planning any holidays in the near future. HeB次元官网网址檚 implemented other protocol to keep his staff safe as well, including wearing protective eyewear if they donB次元官网网址檛 already wear glasses.
He says itB次元官网网址檚 also important for schools, sports teams and community groups to start planning for closures.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a tough call, but the fear is that weB次元官网网址檙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,B次元官网网址� 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 itB次元官网网址檚 time to start thinking about that as a community.
B次元官网网址淲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,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e have regulations here that children arenB次元官网网址檛 allowed to be home alone unless theyB次元官网网址檙e 13 or older. We need to re-asses that. In times like these, we canB次元官网网址檛 go by standard practice.B次元官网网址�
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 HeilmanB次元官网网址檚 advice to only travel if it is essential, and to work from home if you can.
B次元官网网址淪ocial distancing means limiting our public interactions. It does not mean mass quarantine, shutting down our borders and other draconian measures,B次元官网网址� he wrote.
, Dr. Heilman advises that you call 811 or your family doctor and tell them your symptoms. Definitely, he says, donB次元官网网址檛 go into the emergency room or doctorB次元官网网址檚 office without calling ahead.
B次元官网网址淚f you donB次元官网网址檛 have any symptoms, there is no need to get tested,B次元官网网址� he stressed. B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 consider that you have the disease if you donB次元官网网址檛 have any symptoms. If youB次元官网网址檝e travelled somewhere recently, it might not be a bad idea to self-isolate.B次元官网网址�
Heilman adds that Interior Health has set up specific clinics to test for coronavirus in Kamloops, Kelowna, Penticton and Vernon.
B次元官网网址淲e are looking at opening such a clinic as well,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a rapidly changing situation.B次元官网网址�
Heilman says that heB次元官网网址檚 cancelled all of his personal travel plans for the foreseeable future. A meeting he had scheduled in Berlin was also cancelled.
B次元官网网址淚 have no plans to leave the community,B次元官网网址� he said, adding he advises the same for Cranbrook and surrounding residents. B次元官网网址淵ou definitely donB次元官网网址檛 want to get sick outside of Canada. First of all, your health insurance may not cover you. ItB次元官网网址檚 also not fair to expect Canada to pay for your needs. ItB次元官网网址檚 not the time to head out somewhere where there are lots of people.B次元官网网址�
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.
B次元官网网址淭his isnB次元官网网址檛 the flu,B次元官网网址� Heilman said. B次元官网网址淭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.B次元官网网址�
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.
B次元官网网址淲e just donB次元官网网址檛 have that kind of capacity, and not only that, but we do not have that kind of staffing capability,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 have the ability to respond to this in the same way and it will continue to grow unless we are diligent.B次元官网网址�
PicardB次元官网网址檚 article explained how there is a broad range of opinions about coronavirus from B次元官网网址渢his is no big dealB次元官网网址� to B次元官网网址渢his is the end of the world as we know itB次元官网网址�. 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.
B次元官网网址淭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,B次元官网网址� 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.
B次元官网网址淔ear is a useful emotion, because it keeps people from doing stuff that gets them into harmB次元官网网址檚 way. We all need to be taking measures to protect ourselves, our families and our community. DonB次元官网网址檛 take inappropriate risks. If you do, you put your whole community at risk. DonB次元官网网址檛 be nonchalant. Be cautious. If fear makes you cancel your flight to New York, then it is the right way to be feeling,B次元官网网址� he said, adding that some people are inappropriately downplaying the severity of the situation.
B次元官网网址淲e need to implement these measures today. WeB次元官网网址檙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,B次元官网网址� Heilman said. B次元官网网址淚f it continues to grow, there are going to be a lot of hard times ahead, for a lot of people.B次元官网网址�
corey.bullock@cranbrooktownsman.com
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