Coronavirus (COVID-19) Key Messages for Seniors in Georgian Triangle
Blog | March 12, 2020
What is COVID-19?
- COVID-19 belongs to the coronavirus family of viruses. Coronaviruses diseases range from the common cold to more severe diseases, such as SARS. COVID-19 is a novel coronavirus, which is a new strain, not previously identified in humans.
How is it spread?
- Coronaviruses most commonly spread from an infected person to others just like influenza or cold by coughing and sneezing, close personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands, or touching an object or surface with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
What are the symptoms?
- Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever or cough, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and even death. There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses.
How is 2019-nCoV confirmed?
- In Canada, a case must be confirmed at the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML).
What is a “presumptive confirmed” or “presumptive positive” case?
- This means the case has been confirmed by the Public Health Ontario Laboratory (PHOL), but not yet by the NML.
What is CGMH doing to ensure it is prepared?
- We continue to update signage at all entrances and care entry points, based on the latest direction from the Ministry of Health (MOH).
CGMH has implemented a number of protocols, as directed by the MOH, which involve COVID-19 surveillance as follows.
Any patient who meets the Case Definition: fever and/or onset of cough, or difficulty breathing, and any of the following within 14 days prior to the onset of illness:
- Travel to an impacted area OR
- Close contact with a confirmed probable case of COVID-19 OR
Close contact with a person with a respiratory illness who has been to an impacted area, including:
CHINA, HONG KONG, IRAN, ITALY, JAPAN, SINGAPORE AND SOUTH KOREA
will be isolated and managed by healthcare workers wearing full personal protective equipment (PPE). Test swabs will be gathered and sent away.
- If an infected patient requires admission, they will be cared for in one of CGMH’s four airborne isolation rooms. If they don’t require acute care, patients will be discharged, in consultation with public health, to recover at home and self-isolate (Guidelines for self-isolation have been developed at the Ministry level and will be provided to patients by ED staff).
Public Health Ontario has added a section to its website with summaries of current literature that answers some frequent questions about 2019-nCoV.
How can the spread of this virus be prevented?
There is no vaccine to prevent the infection, however everyday preventive actions can help to stop the spread of this coronavirus, in fact, any respiratory virus:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue away
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces
- Stay home if you are sick
How can I get more information?
If you have any other questions or concerns:
- The Ministry of Health Website provides detailed, up-to-date information on how individuals can protect themselves, what to do if they’re sick after travel, and how to recognize possible symptoms
- Government of Canada: FAQ
- Public Health Ontario
- Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit
- World Health Organization
CGMH has not had any positive confirmed cases through its testing.
Comfort Keepers® Georgian Triangle Can Help You Understand the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Key Messages
If you are concerned about the health and well-being of your aging loved ones we can help. Comfort Keepers®’s trained caregivers help provide senior clients with the highest quality of life possible to keep them happy and healthy at home. Our Interactive Caregiving™ provides a system of care that addresses safety, nutrition, mind, body, and activities of daily living (ADLs).
What’s more, our trained caregivers are selected with one specific quality in mind: empathy. Care that is empathetic is care that starts in the heart, and it allows us to meet our client’s exact needs. Learn more about our unique service offering Dementia Care and Palliative Care by contacting the Comfort Keepers Georgian Triangle office.
Comfort Keepers Georgian Triangle, is pleased to announce that we are a recipient of Accreditation Canada’s, Accreditation Primer Award. Accreditation is an intensive process in which an organization’s processes, policies, and procedures are examined by industry experts against a set of quality standards. To achieve accredited status, Comfort Keepers offices met or exceeded the rigorous standards for Home Care companies, as defined by Accreditation Canada.
If you live in the Collingwood, Midland, Owen Sound area, contact Comfort Keepers at (705) 293-5553, or email us at georgiantriangle@comfortkeepers.ca. Comfort Keepers Georgian Triangle is here to help you and your loved ones get the best care possible.
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