About COVID-19

COVID-19 is a respiratory illness. Symptoms of COVID-19 may include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Fatigue
• Runny nose
• Joint aches

Physical distancing is an important measure we must take to reduce the spread of COVID-19. This means: stay home. Do not go out unless you have to, such as to get groceries once per week.

If you must go out (e.g. for your weekly grocery haul), keep a six-foot distance from others. That’s about the maximum distance that droplets from a person’s cough or sneeze can travel, which is one of the ways the virus is spread.

If you are ill (even with mild symptoms) it is especially important that you stay home to prevent the risk of spreading your illness to others. Ask someone to purchase groceries for you, or use a delivery service.

Other ways that we can prevent the spread of COVID-19:

• Hand washing: Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer to help prevent exposure to, and transmission of, illness.
• Practising proper cough and sneeze etiquette: By coughing/sneezing into a tissue, or into your sleeve or arm (and immediately washing your hands afterwards)
• Not touching your face: A virus’s port of entry is your eyes, nose, mouth
• Cleaning your hands before eating/drinking
• Cleaning frequently touched objects and surfaces: Like bathroom sinks, kitchen counters, etc.

The COVID-19 pandemic is a concerning time for our community, and in particular for those who are immunocompromised, elderly or pregnant. Researchers are still studying this novel coronavirus and how it affects people who are vulnerable.

NBRHC’s Infection Prevention and Control team has these reminders to help reduce your risk of catching this or other infectious illnesses:

• Do during the COVID-19 pandemic what you routinely do to protect yourself: wash your hands, keep them away from your face, stay away from people who are unwell.
• Practice physical distancing: We’ve been hearing this a lot. It means limit your close contact with others, stay away from crowds, and keep 2 m physical space from others. Stay at home as much as possible. This helps reduce the spread in the community, thus protecting you further.
• Carry hand sanitizer if you must go out, and clean your hands frequently.
• If someone in your home is ill with a fever, cough, cold or other infectious illness, spread out if possible. Designate some space for each of you. Sleep separately if you don’t already and you have the space to do so. The person who is sick with cough, cold, fever, etc. should wear a mask when they are with you.
• Wipe down high-touch surfaces daily.
• Physicians in Ontario are encouraged to move to virtual visits. Ask your doctor if that’s possible for your next appointment.
• And lastly, have a conversation with loved ones and friends about what they can do to protect you and how important it is: wash their hands, keep their hands away from their face; stay home when unwell; practice physical distancing — this means stay home as much as possible.