Keeping an Eye on The Coronavirus

Tuesday, 28 January 2020 09:04

Local health authorities say the risk of the virus spreading to the public remains low but they are taking all of the necessary precautions to manage it.

OXFORD COUNTY - Southwestern Public Health is with the Ministry of Health, Health Canada, and local partners and stakeholders to monitor the novel coronavirus situation.

Public health officials in Ontario have officially confirmed one case as well as a “presumptive”case of coronavirus with possible other cases pending. None of the pending cases are local. Medical Officer of Health for Southwestern Public Health Dr. Joyce Lock says the public health risk at this time remains low.

"The risk for anybody in Ontario is very low right now. At both the Federal level and the Provincial level, they have procedures in place at the airports to carefully monitor anybody who may have come from the infected regions of the world and they are distributing information to these passengers as they arrive and if they are displaying any of these symptoms to stay at home and to call their local public health units."

She notes, that anyone who has travelled in these areas, should already have received this information.

"So I think anyone who has travelled to the at risk areas of the world, should just pay attention to the information they have already received. For the general population, if they are planning to travel, they should head to the Federal Government website where they keep travel advisories on what you should be aware of if you are travelling to any part of the world."

Dr. Lock says if you are worried about contracting this from someone who has travelled abroad recently, to just practice normal guidelines.

"Wash your hands, be sure you sneeze into a tissue and throw it out immediately, cough into your sleeve, if you are sick, stay at least 2 metres away from people if you can and if you are really sick, it is best to stay at home from work and other social activities until you are better."

Dr. Lock says she has been impressed by the level of engagement from the Ministry of Health, to make sure we are prepared.

"The whole health system is very prepared if we do have a case anywhere in our local area, I am confident that we will manage it well and the risk to the general public is low."

Dr. Lock notes they have learned some valuable lessons from previous outbreaks including SARS and MERS.