Creston, BC November 10, 2020: Creston, it is essential that we follow the Provincial Health Officer’s Orders to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Over the past eight months we have worked together to keep each other safe and supported amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with confirmed cases in the Creston Valley we need to practice all we have learned to protect our friends, family and vulnerable community members. Each and everyone of us has a responsibility to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Here’s what we need to do:
Stay home if you are unwell: If you have any cold or flu like symptoms, even if those symptoms are mild, stay home, check your symptoms on the BC COVID-19 Self Assessment Tool https://bc.thrive.health/, and call HealthLink BC at 811 or your healthcare provider for direction.
Get tested: Testing is available for anyone with cold, influenza or COVID-19 like symptoms including fever, chills, cough or worsening of chronic cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, runny nose, loss of sense of smell or taste, headache, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting or muscle aches. To book a COVID-19 test in Creston, contact the Community Collection Centre at the Creston Valley Hospital online: https://interiorhealthcovid.secureform.ca/index.php or call 1-877-740-7747.
Wear a mask in all indoor public spaces: Wearing a non-medical, cloth mask, or face covering is now expected in all indoor public spaces, including grocery stores, community centres, businesses and on transit. Wearing a mask can help protect you and those around you by containing your own droplets when talking, laughing, singing, coughing, or sneezing. For more information on masks please see http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/masks
Practice excellent hand hygiene: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Using soap and water is the single most effective way of reducing the spread of infection because soap actively destroys the surface of the virus. If soap and water is not available use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth. http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/prevention-risks/hand-washing
Maintain physical distancing: Practice physical distancing outside your home by keeping two meters (six feet) away from one another.
Have safe social interactions: It’s recommended that your social group be limited to no more than six people outside of your household. Your social group are the people that you can interact with indoors but should still maintain a physical distance of two metres between households. For more information on having safe social interactions visit: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/social-interactions
Stay Informed: The Town of Creston has compiled a list of resources from the BC Centre of Disease Control, the Province of British Columbia, the Interior Health Authority and the Government of Canada to support easy access to reliable and relevant information. For more information please visit: https://creston.ca/2412/COVID-19-Trusted-External-Resources
These actions, taken together, are the best tools we can use to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the Creston Valley. As always, thank you for your continued support, care and kindness.
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