Travel precautions urged over COVID-19 virus
By GILLIAN SLADE on February 27, 2020.
gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade Alberta travellers returning from five countries in addition to China are required to take specific precautions to protect against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. “Going forward we are expanding our testing protocol to include the following areas in addition to China,” said Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health. “Hong Kong, Singapore, Iran, South Korea, Japan and Italy.” Travellers from these areas are asked to monitor their symptoms for 14 days after returning. If they develop symptoms such as a fever or cough they are encouraged to stay home and call HealthLink 811 to determine if there is a need for testing or follow up, said Hinshaw. Travellers from these areas are “not required to self-isolate” unless they have returned from China’s Hubei Province, she said. This is the same approach being adopted across Canada. “The fact is the global situation is changing rapidly,” she said. “Although China continues to have the highest number of cases, the spread of this virus to new countries is concerning.” Hinshaw says there are still no probable nor confirmed cases of COVID-19 virus in Alberta and the risk is still considered “low.” Across the world there is a high risk for the potential of it becoming a pandemic but we are not there yet, she said. Hinshaw has specific information for employers who may be affected. Each workplace should consider measures to be taken if the virus is identified at that place of employment. People returning to work after 14 days of self-isolation, which is the required protocol from people returning from Hubei Province China, should not be asked to provide a sick note, said Hinshaw, noting it is “not a good use of our health system resources.” They can go back to work and there is no concern that they could be a danger to others. For anyone contemplating travel to other parts of the world, Hinshaw says the Public Health Agency of Canada’s website provides additional information: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health.html “This is a quickly evolving situation and advice can change as more information becomes available,” said Hinshaw. She says Alberta continues to make preparations in case the COVID-19 virus arrives. Albertans are urged to practise good prevention habits: Stay at home when you are sick, cover coughs and sneezes, regularly wash hands, avoid touching your face with unwashed hands and stay one metre away from others who are coughing and sneezing. 14-13
