As of Saturday, March 28, there have been 77 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Interior Health. There are 884 identified cases in B.C. This includes:
• 396 people declared recovered and released from isolation (45% of cases)
• 444 cases in Vancouver Coastal Health
• 291 cases in Fraser Health
• 77 cases in Interior Health
• 60 cases in Island Health
• 12 cases in Northern Health
• 17 deaths
Friday’s news conference was encouraging that the curve in B.C. is flattening. However, the day after, we saw the most significant increase in new cases reported in a single day so far. The test still takes 5-7 days for results ad the next 14 days will give us a good idea if we’re at a peak or not. We cannot afford to lessen our efforts to isolate and maintain social distancing.
We’ve had many wonderful offers from the public to sew masks for the hospital.
Here is the difference between masks:
N95 mask: this refers to a mask that fits closely to face and can filter out 95% of microscopic airborne particles, including viruses and bacteria. We use these masks only when caring for the very sick. (Every health care worker is fitted individually for an N95, as the shape of your face/beard etc. can influence which one fits best)
Standard Surgical Mask: Designed to provide a barrier to splashes and droplets and protects the wearers mouth/nose and respiratory tract. It’s waterproof (for the most part). Even though this is a single-use mask, we get one mask per shift. If we see a patient with query COVID, we will discard and use a new mask.
Homemade masks: If you are sick, it will potentially "catch" your viral particles and perhaps avoid spread to your family members, but it’s not proven to protect you from infection from others. We are not allowed to use these masks in the hospital at this point, but if we run out of our PPE, we will humbly ask all of you to start a production line!
What does "declared recovered" mean? If you have tested positive for COVID19, you are declared "recovered" if it’s been 14 days since the onset of your symptoms, you are not spiking a fever (at least 24hrs without Tylenol), no respiratory symptoms other than a cough, which might last for a few weeks/months. Then you are out of quarantine, but you still have to self-isolate and maintain social distancing. If you’re an essential worker, you may return to work.
SD8 sent out a helpful email explaining how the next school semester will look. Good luck to all you moms and dads out there! Here’s a link if you’re an essential worker requiring help with childcare.
https://www.sd8.bc.ca/essential-worker-webform
We want the traffic in the Emergency Room to be as light as possible. For Creston and area citizens without a family doctor and a minor complaint/prescription renewal, please call 1 855 411 1630 before coming to the Emergency Room.
You will be connected with a physician by phone. This is a temporary arrangement during the COVID-19 Crisis.
If you have a family doctor, please call their office if any concerns. All the clinics are open, but no in-person visits, unless deemed necessary by your doctor.
It’s lovely that our grocery stores have dedicated shopping hours only for Seniors, as this is our town’s most vulnerable population to contract the coronavirus.
To our seniors: please maintain a distance of at least two meters between you and the people near you. Be aware of your surroundings and stay safe.
Creston Valley physicians and medical staff