Northern Health has issued a new public health alert for northeast B.C. warning of potential COVID-19 exposures

Posted on by

From Alaskan Highway News:

https://www.alaskahighwaynews.ca/regional-news/covid-19-alert-issued-after-prespatou-events-1.24193958

 

Northern Health has issued a new public health alert for northeast B.C. warning of potential COVID-19 exposures after recent events and gatherings in Prespatou.

The number of recent cases linked to these events were not immediately available. Northern Health has been asked for comment. A full public health bulletin follows.

COVID-19 testing and contact tracing has allowed Northern Health to identify recent events and gatherings in the Prespatou region where individuals may have been exposed to COVID-19. At this time, Northern Health is unable to identify or follow up with all contacts.

Individuals who may have attended any events, service, or gatherings (however large or small) in the Prespatou region where social distancing or appropriate masking was not in place or being observed since early August are asked to self monitor for symptoms of COVID-19 and get tested if they begin to exhibit symptoms.

Public health contact tracing is under way, and where possible, the health authority is reaching out directly to individuals who may have been exposed. Individuals seeking a test should call their primary care provider (family physician or nurse practitioner) or the NH COVID-19 Online Clinic & Info Line (1-844-645-7811).

Northeast BC residents are strongly encouraged to self-monitor, and to isolate and seek testing if they have any COVID-19 symptoms.

To help stop the spread of COVID-19, NH encourages all Northern BC residents to:

Be Safe:

  • Get tested if you have any COVID-19 symptoms or are feeling sick.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
  • Wear a mask when physical distancing cannot be maintained.

Have Safe Gatherings:

  • Fewer faces in bigger spaces. Limit your gatherings to small groups and hold them outside.
  • Keep gatherings to people you know and keep track of who attends, so we can contact them if someone gets infected. If you host a gathering, you are expected to have the names and contact information of those that attend.
  • Limiting gathering size in private residences to six people.

Be Kind:

  • Maintain the confidentiality of those who are sick or who are contacts
  • Show support and caring to those who are sick or who are contacts

There were 137 total cases of COVID-19 in the Northern Health region as of Aug. 27, with four new cases reported Thursday. Of the caseload, 118 people have recovered, and one is currently in ICU.

The coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 is a new respiratory virus first reported in Wuhan, China, on Dec. 31, 2019, and which causes a disease that has been named COVID-19.

The most common symptoms are dry cough, tiredness, and fever, but it can also develop into a severe and sometimes fatal pneumonia. Scientific research continues for an effective treatment and vaccine.

There were 18 cases of COVID-19 reported in northeast B.C. from Aug. 14 to 27.

New data released by the BC Centre for Disease Control shows 27 total cases across the Northern Health region during the same timeframe, including five in the northern interior, and four in the northwest.

This is a developing story.

Email Managing Editor Matt Preprost at editor@ahnfsj.ca.