What is COVID-19?
"Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.
Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.
The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.
The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).
At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments. WHO will continue to provide updated information as soon as clinical findings become available." - World Health Organization
For more information regarding COVID-19 please visit these resources
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxZVqPS8ApQ&t=6s
Prevention Practices
To prevent infection and to slow transmission of COVID-19, do the following:
-
Wash your hands regularly with soap and water, or clean them with alcohol-based hand rub.
-
Maintain at least 1 metre distance between you and people coughing or sneezing.
-
Avoid touching your face.
-
Cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.
-
Stay home if you feel unwell.
-
Refrain from smoking and other activities that weaken the lungs.
-
Practice physical distancing by avoiding unnecessary travel and staying away from large groups of people.
Health Canada has advised a nationwide social distancing policy until further notice.
This involves staying home unless absolutely necessary (groceries, medicine pickup, solo physical activity). Self-isolating now prevents the virus from spreading further and will allow us to resume daily life quicker. Do your part and stay home.
Possible Symptoms
The COVID-19 virus affects different people in different ways. COVID-19 is a respiratory disease and most infected people will develop mild to moderate symptoms and recover without requiring special treatment. People who have underlying medical conditions and those over 60 years old have a higher risk of developing severe disease and death.
Common symptoms include:
-
fever
-
tiredness
-
dry cough.
Other symptoms include:
-
shortness of breath
-
aches and pains
-
sore throat
-
and very few people will report diarrhea, nausea or a runny nose.
People with mild symptoms who are otherwise healthy should self-isolate and contact their COVID-19 information line for advice on testing and referral.
Click here to do a self-assessment if you're experiencing symptoms
What To Do If You're Experiencing Symptoms
1) Self-monitor yourself
https://www.publichealthontario.ca/-/media/documents/ncov/factsheet-covid-19-self-monitor.pdf?la=en
2) Self-isolate yourself
3) Contact your local Public Health Unit for further advice if you continue to have respiratory symptoms.
*Do not call the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic.
How This Affects The St. Lawrence Medical Clinic
In order to keep our staff and physicians healthy and available to attend to the needs of patients during the COVID-19 Pandemic, we are canceling all non-essential appointments in the office.
Please remember, people without symptoms or with only minimal symptoms may still transmit the virus.
Telephone or video calls can be offered if you need to speak to your doctor but do not need to be seen. Your doctor will determine if your health concern requires a physical visit. Issues that do not put you at risk for hospitalization or death, which is the case with COVID-19, will not be considered urgent.
Routine visits will only be resumed when we are advised by Public Health that it is safe for us to begin rebooking.
We are screening ALL calls and asking patients who may be at risk for exposure to COVID-19 to self-isolate and contact their local Public Health Unit for further advice if they have respiratory symptoms. These patients will NOT be allowed to attend at the Clinic for any reason as we are not equipped to protect the safety of our physicians, staff and other patients.
Life Labs services at the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic have been CLOSED until further notice. A decision to re-open lab services will depend on recommendations from various Public Health agencies. Patients who need lab work done urgently and have not traveled or been exposed to a case of COVID-19 are requested to attend Life Labs in Cornwall or Brockville or Gamma Dynacare in Winchester.