COVID-19 Basics: What To Keep In Mind
Not a news flash: COVID-19 has surprised most of us. The impact on our daily lives, the length of time we will likely be dealing with it, and the ways we have responded and reacted have been varied – but we have all been affected.
What is it?
Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause illnesses such as the common cold, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS). In 2019, a new coronavirus was identified. The virus is now known as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The disease it causes is called coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). In March 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the COVID-19 outbreak a pandemic.
Symptoms vary widely. You may experience:
- New or worsening cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Temperature equal to or over 38°C
- Feeling feverish
- Chills
- Fatigue or weakness
- Muscle or body aches
- New loss of smell or taste
- Headache
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (abdominal pain, diarrhea, vomiting)
- Feeling very unwell
Children have been more commonly reported to have abdominal symptoms, and skin changes or rashes.
Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19. In severe cases, infection can lead to death.
Evidence indicates that the virus can be transmitted to others from someone who is infected but not showing symptoms.
The only way to confirm you have COVID-19 is through a laboratory test.
What are the current precautions to avoid COVID-19?
- Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds – rinse well and dry off
- Use a hand sanitizer that kills germs when you are not able to use soap and warm water
- Cough and sneeze into the bend of your elbow
- Avoid touching your face
- Disinfect frequently-touched surfaces regularly. Avoid touching surfaces people touch often
- Wear a mask in enclosed public spaces – Halton Regional Council passed By-law 47-20(PDF file), making it mandatory to wear a non-medical mask or face covering in certain indoor public places
Socially distance: make changes in your everyday routines to minimize close contact with others. To socially distance, you should:
- Avoid crowded places and non-essential gatherings
- Greet with a wave instead of a handshake or hug
- Limit contact with people at higher risk (e.g. older adults and those with underlying medical conditions that can affect severity of COVID-19)
- Keep a distance of at least 2 arms-lengths (approximately 2 metres) from others
- Stay home as much as possible, including for meals and entertainment
- Take public transportation during off-peak hours or avoid it
- Conduct virtual meetings
- Use technology to keep in touch with friends and family
- Use food delivery services and online shopping
Stay home when you don’t feel well.The Halton Region Medical Officer of Health issued a class order under Section 22 of the Health Protection and Promotion Act requiring residents with COVID-19, those considered probable cases, and all associated close contacts to stay home for 14 days and self-isolate.
What challenges have there been?
Long term care: we have seen tragic outcomes for many living in long term care homes; once inside the homes, this coronavirus travelled quickly amongst residents, who are more likely to be immunocompromised and/or have medical conditions making them increasingly vulnerable to COVID-19.
Business and employment: so far, layoffs have challenged many. Businesses that relied on regular traffic into their offices, restaurants, and stores have closed, consolidated, or quickly changed their business model. Almost everyone we know has changed their work schedule, their work location, and in many cases, the way they work. Students who gain valuable experience (and funds!) from summer work have in many cases lost the year’s income.
As of July 24, 2020, Burlington entered the Phase 3 stage of reopening; except for particularly high-risk businesses, all others re-opened. Questions still remain, of course. At what point do businesses feel comfortable with the precautions they have put in place for their staff and customers? At what point do customers value and require the in-person experience enough that they get back to in-person services regularly?
Schools: from elementary through post-secondary, decisions about online learning, standards of care, residence accommodation, and family support have been very difficult. Some children and teenagers have thrived with online learning. Many have not. September 2020 saw many students return to their classrooms, wearing masks and with teachers trying their best to keep students 2 m apart, while other families chose virtual schooling – mask not required, though kids do need access to a dedicated computer, tablet, or other device.
Development planning: have we allowed enough room for social distancing on our bike lanes, trails, and sidewalks? Is there enough open space for people to get outside regularly and exercise or enjoy nature? How does high-rise living keep residents safe when they are using elevators every day?
Family and friends: quarantine, your personal social bubble of 10 people, maximum indoor gathering sizes of 10 people, then 50, then 10 again – all have changed the way we interact with each other. Zoom, an online video conferencing service, which was almost unheard of before COVID, seems to be in daily use all around us.
Community: ‘one for all and all for one’ sounds great in a movie, but there have been shocking examples of disregard for others, rudeness, and stereotyping. Some people stockpiled supplies and resold them at exorbitant rates. Be kind has become a regular message from a variety of advertisers and government officials.
Travel and entertainment: public transportation on planes, trains, and boats, and arts and sports outings have been dramatically reduced. You’ve likely read stories about the upside of this on the environment: reduced carbon emissions, and less air pollution in some parts of the world.
A vaccine: Last, but not least, a vaccine is the hope of many, who see its availability as the necessary next step to get back what they feel they’ve lost.
What good has come of this so far?
We’re proud of Joseph Brant Hospital, who developed temporary space for anticipated patient load due to COVID-19. That was reassuring to see, alongside cancelled appointments and additional precautions for patients and visitors to avoid risk of exposure. While cancelled appointments can be frustrating and nerve-wracking for patients, it was important to keep patients and staff safe. To nurses, doctors, and all of the staff who keep hospital services running, thank you.
Technology in the workplace: there are so many examples of adjustments that workplaces have made to protect their staff, continue their business operations, and adapt to the concerns of this virus. From teachers trying to teach via video, to restaurants switching to take out only, gyms offering Zoom classes, and all the workers who had to find a quiet space to work from home (or get some good noise-cancelling headphones): thank you for keeping things going!
Canada proud: with the U.S.-Canada border closed to non-essential traffic, many people have paid more attention to their shopping habits and focused on local and Canadian brands. Though each individual case of COVID-19 is frightening, and each COVID-19-related death a tragedy, we have been happy with the relatively low numbers of COVID-19 cases in Canada compared with most other countries.
Government leadership: locally, regionally, provincially, and nationally, Burlington’s elected officials have worked hard, communicated with us, and tried to keep ahead of our questions and concerns. Thank you to staff who have been visible in guiding our health practices, and continuing public service wherever possible.
Everyday heroes: grocery store, pharmacy, hardware store workers. To all of the staff who figured out how to keep services going, we appreciate you. Delivery people, Canada Post staff, service repair staff, gas station attendants: what would we have done without you? Fire, police, and ambulance staff, we thank you all.
Creativity: businesses who have retooled to provide critical quantities of supplies, companies that have redesigned their operations in anticipation of future needs, researchers who are intensively focused on developing the necessary medical precautions and interventions. Impressive!
Caring: there are so many examples of Burlington residents helping family, friends, neighbours, and people they don’t know. Making and distributing masks is just one example. Burlington proud!
What’s next?
Most of the cases have been in cities. We will likely continue to see movement into less congested smaller towns, where housing can still be purchased at prices lower than within the Greater Golden Horseshoe. We will need to focus on improvements that consider the environment, accessibility, affordability, and safety.
We need to continue taking precautions. Follow the guidance from trusted health professionals.
We need to remember, so we can learn and do even better.
Finding balance: physical health, mental health, community. This is life, just not how we expected it to be right now. Do good, for yourself and for others.
Sources:
Halton Region, COVID-19 (2019 Novel Coronavirus); url: https://www.halton.ca/For-Residents/Immunizations-Preventable-Disease/Diseases-Infections/New-Coronavirus (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
Government of Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada, Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19); url: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19.html (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
Mayo Clinic, Learn About COVID-19; url: https://www.mayoclinic.org/coronavirus-covid-19/public-guidance (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
WebMD, Coronavirus and COVID-19: What You Should Know; url: webmd.com/lung/coronavirus (accessed Sept. 16, 2020).
