Renfrew County and District Health Unit continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation daily and there are currently no cases in Renfrew County and District. The risk for Renfrew County and District remains low for COVID-19.
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause illness ranging from a very mild, cold-like illness to a severe lung infection such as pneumonia. The most common symptoms include:
- fever;
- cough;
- difficulty breathing (shortness of breath).
Additionally, a person must also have one of the following to be considered a suspect case of COVID-19:
- Travel to an impacted area (visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/health-professionals/covid-19-affected-areas-list.html),
- Close contact with a confirmed or probable case of COVID-19, or
- Close contact with a person with acute respiratory illness who has been to an impacted area
If you believe you meet this criteria, please call Renfrew County and District Health Unit (RCDHU) at 613-735-8654 extension 577 or Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000.
Individuals who may be at higher risk include:
- People 65 years of age and older;
- people with chronic diseases.
RCDHU recommends following a containment strategy in regards to travel and social gatherings. This includes social distancing measures such as:
- Avoiding non-essential travel and travel with children.
- Maintaining a two-metre distance between yourself and others if possible.
- Any gatherings over 250 individuals be cancelled or postponed.
- Any gatherings with high risk populations such as persons 65 years of age and older, should consider cancelling or postponing with participants between 50-100 persons.
RCDHU recommends the following measures to reduce the spread of germs including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19):
- Clean your hands frequently with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze, then clean your hands;
- If you don’t have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve and then clean your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
- If you are ill, stay home.
- Avoid contact with people who are sick.
- Get your flu shot.
Keep yourself up to date on the changing COVID-19 situation by visiting:
- Government of Ontario: The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (https://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus). Information is updated everyday, seven days a week at 10:30 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET.
and
- Government of Canada Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Outbreak Update (https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novelcoronavirus-infection.html)
For more information, visit the RCDHU website at https://www.rcdhu.com/novel-coronavirus-covid-19-2/ or call RCDHU at (613) 735-8654 extension 577.
Botz,M. Communications and Emergency Preparedness, Renfrew County and District Health Unit (2020,Mar.13) 2020_March_13_COVID-19 [media release]