Dr. Ali Ghahary | Family Physician

Whether you have a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19, it’s important that you isolate and avoid going out in public. That means no going to work, school, or shopping if you’re sick. If you do happen to have a confirmed case of COVID-19, part of the job of our public health officials is to immediately notify anyone you may have encountered during the time in which you were infectious. This means any stores or restaurants you went to, you co-workers, and any friends you might have spent time with, as all of these people will need to isolate and monitor themselves for any potential symptoms of COVID-19 no matter how minor. Furthermore, individuals in your household (such as a parent, sibling, spouse, or child) is also at an increased risk of becoming infected with COVID-19, too, as they are in direct contact with you on a much more frequent basis and will also need to monitor for symptoms and isolate.

When public health works to notify those you have come into contact with, this is called “contact tracing.” The following are the primary goals of contact tracing:

• Quickly identify new cases of COVID-19
• Assess the severity of the virus in each individual
• Support and manage those who have been exposed to COVID-19
• Prevent ongoing transmission of the virus to other close contacts/within communities

As part of Canada’s contact tracing efforts, the Federal government also recently announced and made available for download a contact tracing app called COVID Alert, which will notify you of any potential exposure to the virus. However, it’s not yet ready for use in all provinces. Here in British Columbia, if you do happen to be a contact of a confirmed case of COVID-19, then a member from public health will contact you to let you know of the exposure and ask you a series of questions, such as whether or not you are symptomatic. If you’re not experiencing symptoms of the virus, you’ll be asked to self-isolate (as it’s still possible to have the virus, even if you are asymptomatic.) If you do have symptoms, you will be sent for testing and will also need to self-isolate once your test has been completed.

If you are a contact of someone with COVID-19, as mentioned previously you should stay home and avoid public areas, work, school, as well as avoid use of public transportation (such as buses, taxis, and other ride-share services.) You should also wash your hands regularly, and clean and disinfect high-touch surfaces. If you happen to need groceries or medication, try asking a friend or relative if they can pick up these necessities for you and drop them off at your front door (you should avoid direct contact.) As an alternative, you may also be able to order your groceries and medications online and have them delivered to you.

As you self-isolate, it’s important that you continually monitor yourself for symptoms as well as take and record your temperature on a daily basis. The average normal body temperature is typically around 37°C, though for some individuals it may be slightly lower. If your temperature exceeds this, you could potentially have COVID-19. It’s also important that, when taking your temperature, you avoid the use of fever-reducing medications as much as possible, as this can change your temperature reading. After 14 days, if you have not developed any symptoms of the virus, then your self-isolation can end. You can find a full list of symptoms to watch for by clicking here. If you are diagnosed with COVID-19, you will be required to self-isolate until at least 10 days have passed since the start of your symptoms, and your fever is gone (and you don’t require the use of fever-reducing medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.)

Part of Canada’s way of keeping individuals informed and up to date on all the latest COVID-19 news and case numbers in their respective regions is by having Province-wide updates on a daily (or near-daily) basis. Typically, these updates will come from health officers in each Province (for example, here in British Columbia, updates come from our Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, alongside Health Minister Adrian Dix); while they also come from a Federal level, too, with updates from Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, and even Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Together, these Provincial and Federal governments provide Canadians with as much pertinent information as possible related to COVID-19, and as soon as they know it. As mentioned, updates include everything from new case numbers (as well as the announcement of any deaths), to information on vaccine progress, Provincial orders (click here to view the list of orders specific to B.C.), and more. The information provided is meant to help Canadians have a better understanding of the virus, as well as what precautions they need to take to keep themselves and their loved ones safe.

While COVID-19 case numbers change each day, here’s what we know about exactly how many Canadians have been affected by the virus – from the beginning of the pandemic up until today, September 3rd, 2020.

In total, and as of today’s date, 129,923 Canadians have been diagnosed with COVID-19 since the first presumptive case was announced back on January 25th, 2020. Canada also recorded its first death related to COVID-19 on March 9th – a man in his 80s, from British Columbia. Since then, our British Columbia has recorded 209 deaths; 242 in Alberta, 24 in Saskatchewan, 14 in Manitoba, 2,812 in Ontario, 5,764 in Quebec, 3 in Newfoundland and Labrador, 0 in Prince Edward Island, 65 in Nova Scotia, 2 in New Brunswick, and 0 in the Yukon as well as the Northwest Territories and Nunavut.

Since September 3rd, Canada has also seen a total of 115,050 individuals fully recover from COVID-19 (although some have reported experiencing long-term effects as a result of the virus.) That being said, even just one case of COVID-19 is one too many; and, as we’re once again seeing an increase in numbers in various Provinces, this serves as a reminder that we need to go back to bases and remembered what worked in flattening our curve here in B.C. back in April – especially as we prepare for the fall (kids being back in school, the upcoming cold and flu season, etc.)

Normally, the beginning of a new school year would be one of the most exciting times for our kids. For younger children, it may be their very first time starting full-time schooling; while others may be moving on from elementary school into high school, or are recent high school graduates now attending College or University, as well as all of the different extracurricular activities that come along with that – such as sports and other after school programs, and making new friends. In these COVID times, however, the beginning of the new school year will also understandable come with much anxiety for both children and parents, as well as educators.

To allow schools time to better prepare for the return to school amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the start of the school year has been pushed back. When schools do re-open, extra protection measures will be in place to keep kids and school staff safe, including the following:

• All middle and secondary school students and staff will be provided 2 masks upon their return to school in September. Masks will be required when travelling through high-traffic areas such as hallways, school buses, and any time they go outside of the classroom or learning group and are unable to safely socially distance from others. Students and staff will also be able to wear masks in the classroom. Exemptions for mask-wearing will be made for students and staff who are unable to wear them due to medical reasons. Masks will not be required for elementary school students.

• Close, in-person interactions will be reduced, and students and staff are encouraged to follow social distancing guidelines (keeping at least 2 metres apart) where possible and limit physical contact. Plexiglass shields may also be used in areas where that 2-metre distance cannot be well-maintained, such as school cafeterias or office/reception areas, and break times (lunch and recess) may also be staggered.

• Learning groups will also be set up, which will consist of the same groups of students and staff throughout one school quarter, semester or year. A learning group can consist of a group of 20 to 30 students, multiple classes that join together (i.e. for music or physical education), as well as teachers, support staff and education assistants.

• In order to control traffic flow, floor markings and posters will be placed in areas throughout the school, such as hallways and classrooms. This may include one-way hallways and specific designated entrances and exists.

• For children who ride school buses, it is recommended that they be loaded from back to front, while offloaded from front to back, and have assigned seating where possible. Buses will also be cleaned and disinfected regularly in accordance with public health guidelines and the BC CDC. School districts should also keep a list of passenger names that they can share with public health officials in the event that contract tracing needs to occur.

• While there is no evidence that COVID-19 is transferred via textbooks and other paper-based items, there are still many high-touch areas and surfaces in schools that should be cleaned frequently. This includes laminated materials, doorknobs, light switches, toilet handles, tables, desks, chairs, keyboards and toys.

• Students are also encouraged to label their personal items and not share them with others.

• As always, regular hand washing is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19, and children should be both encouraged and allowed to do so while at school. Hand-sanitizer is another effective way to clean hands if a sink, soap and water is not readily available.

To learn more about B.C.’s back to school plan, visit:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/education-training/k-12/covid-19-return-to-school

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 limit the spread of COVID-19. Examples of frequently touched surfaces include things such as:

• Counter tops
• Tables
• Handles
• Toilets
• Doorknobs
• Light switches
• Photocopiers
• Printers
• Telephones
• Fax Machines
• Remote Controls
• Computer keyboards

What Cleaning Agents Can Be Used?

As you are probably well aware, many of the common household cleaning agents that we’re used to finding in stores are experiencing shortages. Therefore, if you cannot find any in store, you can also mix your own cleaning solution by combining room temperature water (never hot water) with bleach. Part of the disinfecting process also includes drying. If you’re going to be using bleach, then it is recommended that you clean the surface with a clean, wet cloth afterward. However, high-touch areas, such as toilets and sinks, should be left for several minutes before being wiped down to ensure the area is properly disinfected and no bacteria is left lingering.

If you are going to be using bleach, you should also take certain safety precautions. For example, solutions that are more concentrated can cause irritation to the eyes and throats, which is why it’s recommended that you dilute bleach with water. However, you should never mix it with other products such as vinegar, ammonia, acids (such as lemon juice) or rubbing alcohol, as this can create gases that are toxic. You should also keep windows open and wear gloves when you are using bleach, as well as carefully clean the equipment (such as buckets and sponges) you make and use the bleach with. If you happen to have kids or pets, bleach and other cleaning agents should always be tightly sealed and stored in spots that are hard-to-reach, as they can be incredibly harmful (and even fatal) to children and animals.

If you or someone in your household has been accidentally exposed to a cleaning product (this includes inhalation, ingestion, eye or skin exposure), then you should contact your local Poison Control Centre by calling 1-800-567-8911.

Do I Need to Disinfect Grocery Items?

While you can wipe down grocery items such as cans and cardboard boxes with a disinfecting wipe, you should never put disinfectant directly onto your food. Instead, rinse foods (such as fruits and vegetables) under water before consuming them. It is important to note that there have been no reported cases of anyone becoming ill with COVID-19 as a result of the foods they eat. As for the kitchen utensils you use, such as bowls, mugs, forks/spoons/knives, pots and pans, these also do not need to be disinfected with any harsh cleaners and can instead be washed using warm soap and water.

Clothing

If you live on your own and in your own home, you can safely do your laundry. However, if you live with someone who is sick or have a shared laundry space (for example, if you live in an apartment building where there are other residents), you should take extra precautions, such as wearing gloves and a mask when in laundry rooms, placing your laundry in a basket lined with plastic (i.e. a garbage bag), avoid shaking dirty laundry, and make sure you wash your laundry with soap and water (at least 60 to 90 degrees Celsius.)

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 province, certain restrictions were eased and British Columbians could go back to having some semblance of normalcy in their lives, while remaining cautious and continuing to take all measures necessary to keep themselves and those around them as safe and healthy as possible.

Unfortunately, in recent weeks, we’ve seen an uptick in the number of reported cases of COVID-19 here in B.C. – having gone from seeing approximately 20 new cases a day, to 30+ over the past week or two. As for what’s causing this latest rise in active cases, most of them have been linked to multiple events consisting of large gatherings in Kelowna on or around Canada Day. What health officials have also pointed out as that many of these newest cases are being reported in younger individuals – particularly those in their 20s and 30s – while many of the previously reported cases were in individuals whom were much older, such as in their 60s, 70s, and 80s.

What this rise in COVID-19 numbers shows is that people are starting to have too many close contacts once again – particularly with people they don’t know. While we all want to have a fun summer with our friends, this is, unfortunately, something we cannot do in the ways we were used to from previous summers. Gathering in larger groups also makes it more difficult for health officials to conduct contact tracing efforts. In earlier reported cases back in January through April, someone diagnosed with COVID-19 may have only had contact with three to four people; whereas now, health officials are having to track down as many as 30 different contacts per person, then the contacts of those people, and so on.

While numbers were expected to rise somewhat as we slowly re-entered into each phase of the province’s re-opening plan, all of this serves as a reminder that we need to continue to be as careful and vigilant as we can; and while it’s certainly easy for some to fall into the “it won’t happen to me” mindset, it’s important to remember that it can happen to you – even if you think it won’t. Even without exhibiting any symptoms, COVID-19 is still a virus that can infect individuals, which means that you could potentially be spreading it on to others unknowingly and unintentionally. As such, we all need to act as though we carry the virus. How do we do this? By following the guidelines our health officials continue to remind us of: Keeping our distance from others and wearing a mask in situations where maintaining that safe space of 2 metres is not possible (for example, if you work in a small office or while at the grocery store), avoiding touching our faces, washing our hands regularly with soap and water (or using hand sanitizer when soap and water isn’t readily available), allowing employees to work remote to decrease the number of staff in the workplace at a single time, and by staying home when you feel sick or if you happen to be caring for someone in your household who has fallen ill (even if your/their symptoms are mild.)

The quicker we go back to following these important and crucial measures, the quicker we will start to see a decline in the number of cases being reported in our province again, as the last thing we want to do is fall backwards when British Columbians did such a good job at flattening the curve to begin with.