Health information

Public health continues weekly update during outbreak

In his third weekly Facebook Live session, Dr. Piotr ‘Peter’ Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health and CEO with Hastings Prince Edward Public Health (HPEPH), updated the public Thursday morning on the novel coronavirus. All videos are posted at facebook.com/hpepublichealth after each broadcast. Dr. Oglaza followed the usual format where he provided a general update, mostly reiterating some of the earlier public health messages, before moving to submitted questions from the public. His message remains the same, where he emphasised all protocols must continue to be followed, but he reinforced the messages saying they are more important than ever. Topics covered included use of masks, selfisolation orders, walks, community spread, and children living in two homes.

Dr. Oglaza noted (as of April 9) 19,289 labconfirmed COVID-19 cases in Canada, 5,759 in Ontario, and 25 in Hastings Prince Edward counties, with one death in HPE (current figures appear at the end of this article). There are 275 probable cases in HPE, where Dr. Oglaza noted those figures are fluctuating, and by way of explanation stated, “Probable cases are someone we suspect of having COVID-19 and some of these individuals are being tested, so if the test comes back negative, that person is removed from the probable case list. If the case comes back positive, then that person joins the lab-confirmed group.” He also noted some of the probable cases have been deemed as resolved.

COMMUNITY SPREAD
Some of the lab-confirmed cases are being linked to community spread said Oglaza. “That’s an indication that it’s just not the returning travellers or close contacts of those returning travellers getting sick with COVID-19, this could be anyone in the community being exposed and developing COVID-19,” he said. “It’s important more than ever to maintain the physical distances and precautions, and the best way to protect yourself and those around you is to stay home and physically distance yourself from others, and use regular infection control practices.” He said infection prevention control practices, which are very effective at preventing infections, include washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer. “We know this virus is not particularly resilient, and if we apply soap and water, it’s fairly easy to inactivate.”

“It is a critical time now to prevent the spread in our community,” noted Oglaza. “If we do nothing, that community spread will likely continue; we want to make sure by physical distancing, we prevent each case from infecting additional people in the community.” He reminded that a person infected with COVID-19 will infect two or three other people, who then go on to infect more people creating exponential growth, thereby spiking the curve.

PHYSICAL DISTANCING
Dr. Oglaza again stressed that people should only leave home for reasons that are absolutely essential, such as replenishing groceries. “If you do need to leave home, stay at least two metres from others, which reflects the method the virus is spreading via droplet and direct contact,” said Oglaza. “Staying outside that two-metre zone will help you minimize any risk.” He again emphasised the importance of coughing or sneezing into the sleeve, or use a tissue, but discard the tissue immediately, and then perform hand hygiene. “Avoid touching your face, especially when you are out in public; you may have touched a commonly-touched surface, and by touching your nose or rubbing your eye, you could potentially be introducing a virus into your own system.”

SELF-ISOLATION ORDER
Dr. Oglaza noted on April 8, he issued a Section 22 Order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act. “It is a Class Order and applies to anyone who has been diagnosed with COVID-19, anyone with signs and symptoms, anyone who has been tested and is awaiting results, and anyone who is a close contact.” For those being asked to selfisolate, that is now being supported by a legal order said Oglaza. For those self-isolating, they must remain on their property and avoid contact with anyone for 14 days or longer, depending on the circumstances. “This is an effort to slow down and prevent the spread in the community.” Failure to comply can come with a fine, if convicted, of up to $5,000 per day.

IF YOU ARE SICK
“When someone is sick (with anything other than COVID-19), they should be staying home and should be avoiding visiting friends and relatives in long-term care facilities, nursing homes and retirement homes until the symptoms are gone,” Oglaza reminded.

ROUTINE IMMUNIZATIONS
Dr. Oglaza said public health is advising people still get their routine immunizations, such as a ‘flu shot and pneumonia injections. “They are not directly going to protect against COVID-19 virus, but they prevent from other pathogens and that’s really important.”

UTENSILS
“We really encourage individuals not to share cutlery, cups or water bottles, even within immediate family,” Oglaza said.

WALKS
Dr. Oglaza said the message has been consistent and encourages individuals to stay home and avoid any non-essential trips outside. “We are encouraging everyone to stay home, but there are no specific prohibitions against walks.” He noted there are a number of locations that have been closed under provincial orders, making it more difficult to practice physical distancing. “Anyone who is not legally required to stay home and remain on their property, they are encouraged to remain active, but to be active in a way than doesn’t expose them to others, and they should maintain the two-metre radius.” He also reminded that it is illegal for groups of five or more to be gathering. “It is unsafe and is diminishing the efforts we are all taking in order to prevent the spread of the virus.”

MASKS
When asked if an individual would be safer using a non-medical or home-made mask, Dr. Oglaza said, “no, not necessarily”. He said the question came up because people were asking what they can do to protect themselves from those who are infected if they went to a store for example. “The use of non-medical masks is not really in order to protect yourself for someone who is wearing a mask, it is an additional measure that could be used in order to protect others from ourselves. It is not a yes or no answer; it is an answer that requires a lot of clarification,” he said.

CHILDREN
Addressing the topic of children staying in two different homes, Dr. Oglaza said these were challenging times with children being out of school and it is really important to maintain consistency and for children to stay with trusted adults. “It’s really important to avoid any disruptions to their regular routine, so every effort should be made by adults in both households to practice physical distancing, as well as limit contact with individuals outside of the two households.” He did say there were two exclusions, such as custody agreements and anyone who is subject to self-isolation.

CARING COMMUNITY
It is very important to work together as a community said Oglaza. “Check on your friends and neighbours, or anyone with health conditions and see if they need any assistance, such as groceries; you don’t have to come into contact with anyone and can just leave them on the doorstep,” he said. “It’s really important to look after one another and help those who might be at much greater risk.”

COVID-19 STATISTICS (AT APRIL 14):
Lab-confirmed cases: 26,163 (Canada); 7,953 (Ontario); 26* (Hastings Prince Edward counties) *(Transmission cause – travel: 10; close contact: 5; community: 11)

Reported probable cases (HPE): 260

Facility outbreaks (HPE in part): Hallowell House, Picton (1 staff member confirmed); Belleville General Hospital In-patient Quinte 5 (2 patients confirmed)

Deaths: 823 (Canada); 334 (Ontario); 1 (HPE – community transmission)

Information, FAQs and local resources relating to COVID-19, including mental health resources, can be found at hpepublichealth.ca. The HPEPH COVID-19 information line operates seven days a week at 613.966.5500.