Local leaders say not to panic about COVID-19

By GILLIAN SLADE on March 14, 2020.

gslade@medicinehatnews.com@MHNGillianSlade

Leaders in the community say there is no need to panic about the COVID-19 virus.

Mayor Ted Clugston has distilled his advice into four “Cs”: stay calm, be cautious, compassionate and courteous.

“Things will work out….. I think we are being abundantly careful here in Medicine Hat,” said Clugston.

Pat Dietrich, a local retired RN, says perhaps the sense of panic is due to the pace of change and news regarding the virus. We’ve been hearing about it from all over the world including places with large outbreaks.

“The world is so very small now days,” said Dietrich. “It brings it home that we are a global community now. We are not isolated anymore.”

Italy is perhaps an example of not taking enough precautionary measures early on and ending up with a serious situation and requiring extreme measures.

“We are trying to avoid that,” said Clugston. “People should take comfort in that.”

The former chair of the Palliser Triangle Health Advisory Council, Ken Sauer, says Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical officer of health for Alberta, is the face and voice of “calm in the face of the storm.” Her recent daily press conferences reveal the approach and strategy used to decide measures and restrictions introduced.

Sauer says everyone should make a point of watching those videos and he believes it would have a calming influence. (see link below)

Sauer agrees with Clugston on the need to stay calm and “manage” the situation. Clugston calls it being cautious, which includes following the advice of Alberta Health in terms of protective measures such as personal hygiene, self-isolating when appropriate and calling Health Link 811 if you have symptoms.

Sauer says shaking hands is a greeting and friendly gesture that we need to change.

“Do an elbow bump, fold your hands and bow … You’re helping yourself and helping the other person,” said Sauer.

Dietrich says a good dose of common sense is important. Be aware of your own health and health needs, eat a healthy diet, and watch out for neighbours and those who are more vulnerable.

Clugston says a compassionate approach to neighbours could have a big impact on how we get through this time. An elderly neighbour may need you to deliver a meal, pick something up for them at the store, or shovel their sidewalk if they are nervous about being out and about during the pandemic.

It may be a good idea to tell your neighbours that if they should end up in self-isolation they can call you and you will deliver supplies to them as needed. This could reduce the current desire to panic buy that we are seeing.

Courtesy includes being respectful to others and also not hoarding the shelves at stores, said Clugston.

The city has plenty of experience in handling emergency situations. Many of those have been floods which last for a few days and a virus like this has a longer duration but many aspects require the same organization. Clugston says the community is in good hands.

https://www.alberta.ca/coronavirus-info-for-albertans.aspx

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