The chief medical officer of health is advising government to skip all non-essential travel out of province because of COVID-19.
Dr. Janice Fitzgerald is also asking recent travelers to refrain from visiting hospitals, long-term care and personal care homes.
She says elderly residents or patients and those with a weakened immune system or underlying medical conditions are at a higher risk of developing complications from COVID-19.
(Illustration of ultrastructural morphology exhibited by coronaviruses—such as the coronavirus disease 2019 or COVID-19. Image courtesy CDC.)
About 54 people have been tested for the virus with results for 19 still to come.
Nobody in this province has yet tested positive. If a person is tested positive, and Dr. Fitzgerald believes it’s only a matter of time before someone does, treatment protocol would begin immediately.
She says they won’t wait for confirmation from the lab in Winnipeg, they would then trace the contacts and ask that they go under quarantine.
Minister of Health Echoes Chief Medical Officer’s Sentiments
Health Minister John Haggie says the situation around COVID-19 is rapidly evolving daily.
The province’s Chief Medical Officer of Health is now asking recent travelers to refrain from visiting hospitals, long-term care and personal care homes.
Haggie says the most vulnerable to the virus are those who are older and have other medical issues.
He says by and large, the province has that kind of population in long-term care.
Haggie says the move is an abundance of caution. Haggie suggests it would be wiser if those who have traveled out of province would restrict their visiting. If you have any symptoms, and the same goes for the flu, Haggie says stay home, don’t panic, and don’t spread panic.
The Health Minister says his Department and the Department of Education are involved in discussions with public health officials on how to handle the virus in schools. Haggie expects a coordinated response to emerge in the very near future.
Haggie says today’s advice may be different than tomorrow’s. However, when it comes to rumours and misinformation on social media, Haggie provided some witty advice.
He says if you don’t want to catch coronavirus don’t touch your face. If you don’t want to catch coronavirus panic… don’t touch your Facebook.
Alderwood Estates Restricting Visitors
Staff at Alderwood Estates Retirement Centre in Witless Bay has decided to restrict all visitors who have traveled outside the province in the last 14 days.
They are also asking people who feel they may have been in contact with someone who has traveled in the last two weeks to do the same.
In a post to Facebook, owner, Deborah Dunne-Seaward says they have decided to limit their large outings and gatherings and they want to do what is best to protect their residents.
