• Cleaning and Disinfecting During COVID-19

    Along with taking all of the necessary precautions that we know we need to take, such as physical distancing (including keeping at least 2 metres of distance between ourselves and others, working remote where possible, and limiting our social bubbles) as well as washing our hands regularly, there are other things that we can do in order to protect against the spread and development of COVID-19, such as regular cleaning and disinfecting of frequently touched surfaces and other high-traffic areas. What Things Need to Be Cleaned? Whether you’re at home or in the office, use of commonly used cleaners and disinfectants (as approved by Health Canada) can help to significantly…

  • Why B.C.’s Curve is No Longer Flat

    The first case of COVID-19 in British Columbia was announced on January 28th, 2020. By late April and into May, we began to see signs that are province was starting to flatten the curve, with fewer active cases reported. British Columbians showed they were able to follow guidelines (such as practicing social distancing, regular hand washing, and staying home when sick) from our local health officials (Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry; and Health Minister Adrian Dix) without going into extreme lockdowns (as seen in other parts of the world, like Italy and the United States.) As the number of new cases continued to be on the decline in our…

  • Can Face Masks Cause Acne?

    In addition to taking certain precautions, such as washing our hands with soap and water regularly and practicing physical distancing, face masks have also been recommended as another type of measure to keep ourselves and others protected and stopping the spread of COVID-19. While many questions have been raised about face masks and other types of face coverings, something else that has been brought up – particularly on social media – is whether or not face masks can cause (or, in some cases, potentially worsen) acne – a type of skin condition that develops as a result of your hair follicles becoming clogged with oil and dead skin cells, leading…

  • Should We Be Worried About a Second Wave?

    British Columbians have worked incredibly hard to continue to flatten the COVID-19 curve (and for that, we should all be proud), with the new number of daily reported cases remaining relatively low – in addition to the number of hospitalizations (including those in ICU) on the decline. While this is certainly good news for our province’s fight against this global pandemic, we also need to remember that just because our numbers are lower compared to other provinces and places in the world (such as the United States), that this isn’t a time to suddenly become passive and think that the easing of certain restrictions means that we can now go…

  • How We’ve All Had to Adapt to Change Due to COVID-19

    In a very short period of time, we’ve all had to make some very sudden (and some very drastic) changes to our daily lives as a result of COVID-19, which has caused a disruption to our usual routines – not just for us as British Columbians, but for all Canadians and individuals worldwide. Life, as we know it, is much different now compared to what it used to be just a few short months ago, and these changes can be quite a shock to the system and difficult for some to adapt to. While we’re all essentially in the same boat, so to speak, it can even be downright anxiety…

  • How to Have a Safe, Socially Distant Summer

    With our Province now into phase 3 of its Restart Plan, many British Columbians are looking forward to getting out and enjoying the summer sun and once again experiencing the many sights that we have to offer – from our beaches, mountain ranges, and hiking and biking trails – and spending more time with friends and family while doing so. However, in our current COVID world, how we spend the summer of 2020 will be much different than summers of the past. While we have more freedom to get back out there, have fun and enjoy the things and places we love, we also need to remember to remain vigilant…

  • COVID-19 and Your Mental Health

    Millions of people, worldwide, suffer from mental illness. Among the most commonly diagnosed conditions affecting mental health are anxiety and depression, which include symptoms such as panic attacks, feelings of hopelessness, restlessness, lack of energy, anger or irritability, loss of interest in activities once enjoyed, social withdrawal, thoughts of suicide, and even things like headaches, stomach aches, and other general aches and pains that are otherwise unexplained. Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can be triggered (or worsened) by life-altering events, such as a traumatic experience, financial problems, and illness – including COVID-19. The uncertainty surrounding the virus combined with increased social withdrawal and potential financial implications (due to…

  • How to Stay Safe as Our Province Reopens

    While COVID-19 should still be considered a risk in all of our communities, many provinces in Canada, including right here in British Columbia, have slowly begun their restart plans. While each phase of the restart plans will vary from province to province, British Columbia is currently in phase 2 which consists of the following: • Restoration of health services including the re-scheduling of previously cancelled elective surgeries; in addition to the restoration of other medical-related services such as dentistry, physiotherapy, registered massage therapy, chiropractors, physical therapy, and speech therapy. • Retail sector. • Personal service establishments such as hair salons and barbers. • In-person counselling. • Restaurants, cafes and pubs.…

  • Testing for COVID-19

    When COVID-19 was first on our radar, only those who had become severely ill or individuals who were close contacts of those already diagnosed with the virus (such as family members or healthcare workers) were being tested for it – and while protocols for testing for the virus vary from province to province, state to state, and country to country, health officials right here in British Columbia are now recommending that anyone who is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 (such as a high fever and/or a dry cough), in addition to those experiencing even the mildest flu or cold-like symptoms (such as a sore throat, runny nose, muscle aches and fatigue),…

  • How to Differentiate Between COVID-19 and Allergies

    Spring is here and so is allergy season, but with COVID-19 also in full effect (and despite the decreased number of cases being reported in our province), this somewhat complicates things even further as many of the symptoms that are commonly associated with this deadly virus can also overlap with symptoms related to seasonal allergies, making it that much more difficult for people to differentiate between the two and leads them to wonder if they should be at all concerned about their health. There are several key ways to differentiate between symptoms of COVID-19 and allergies. For example, fever and chills are two of the most commonly reported symptoms of…