Resources:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthcare Professionals: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
As of March 5th, 2020, 34 cases of COVID-19 have been confirmed in Canada; 13 of which are in BC. Internationally, the majority of new cases are now outside China. As of March 5th, 2020, the following are considered to be affected areas: China (mainland), South Korea, Italy, Iran, Singapore, Hong Kong and Japan. Stay up to date on the affected areas list.
Emergency Department Regional Response Algorithm and Guiding Principles have been created for applicability to all emergency department staff and physicians to provide a plan of response for patients presenting to Emergency Departments with suspected or known COVID-19 infection. ED leadership will need to identify a designated assessment area and establish routes for patient movement to reduce the risk of transmission as per the guidelines as well as share this resource with clinicians.
New developments:
We will no longer be asking clinicians to report when they are testing clients for COVID-19.
Please follow testing guidance or clinical suspicion when ordering tests and continue to contact us with questions.
- If you do test a client for COVID-19, please ensure that you provide the attached patient handout titled’ Information about the novel coronavirus COVID-19 for patients being tested and/or cared for in the community’. Please note that there is no need to ask a client’s asymptomatic contacts to self-isolate.
- Patients may access their test results by calling the BC Centre for Disease Control COVID results hotline at 1-833-707-2792 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm)
- NH has created a new ED algorithm for use in our ED departments (see attached)
- Outpatient influenza swabs that go down to BCCDC are now automatically having COVID-19 added.
All travellers from Iran are now being asked to self-isolate for 14 days regardless of whether they are symptomatic or not.
Important to remember:
PHAC continues to support the use of surgical masks, not N95s, as part of a multifaceted infection control plan to prevent the spread of respiratory diseases including COVID-19 (unless performing aerosol generating medical procedures).
PHAC recommends that multiple tiers of infection prevention and control, already in practice in healthcare facilities, is the best method of reducing the risk of exposure.
Please see the attached letter to BC’s healthcare unions for more information. N95’s continue to be recommended for all Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures.
Internal/health care guidance:
- OurNH (requires NH login) – Coronavirus – Updates, Processes, Resources
- BC Centre for Disease Control – Communicable Disease Control guidance
- COVID-19 facility entry reception poster
External (public):
- BC Centre for Disease Control (updated daily) – Information on novel coronavirus
- HealthLinkBC.ca – Health Feature – Coronavirus
- Government of Canada – 2019 novel coronavirus: Outbreak update
