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