Message from South East Health Care Partners
April 13, 2022
MESSAGE
From South East Health Care Partners
For immediate release
Wednesday, April 13,
2022
Joint Message Addressing Increased Transmission
of COVID-19 and How Individuals Can Protect Themselves and Others.
This is a joint message from the South East Region’s hospital
Chiefs of Staff and Medical Officers of Health
Kingston
– The South East region is still experiencing increased COVID-19
activity with some communities noting record high levels of the virus.
In response the Chiefs of Staff at
Kingston Health Sciences Centre, Providence Care, Quinte Health Care,
Brockville General Hospital, Perth and Smiths Falls General Hospital, and
Lennox & Addington County General Hospital; and Medical Officers of Health
at Hastings Prince Edward Public Health, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and
Addington Public Health and Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit are
coming together to highly recommend actions residents can take to protect themselves,
their families, and their communities to help manage the impact of the virus
and reduce severe illness and hospitalization.
- Get all COVID-19 vaccines you are eligible for,
including booster doses.
- Stay home if you are sick - even if your
symptoms are mild.
- If you have symptoms take a Rapid Antigen Test
(RAT) if possible, or a PCR test if eligible.
- Practise respiratory etiquette (like coughing
into your elbow) and wash your hands frequently.
- Wear a well-fitted, three-layer mask in all
public indoor settings.
- If you are hosting or attending a social
gathering please allow for physical distancing, outdoor gatherings are best.
· If you test positive or have symptoms, even if
they are mild, you should stay home for at least five days or as otherwise advised by current
isolation guidance. Individuals can be infectious for up to 10 days,
so it is important that for an additional five days you wear a mask when
outside your home and avoid those who are most vulnerable and high-risk settings
like hospitals and long-term care.
As we head into the holiday weekend, it is recommended that
individuals screen for
symptoms before leaving their home, and if you have any symptoms stay home.
If you have plans to attend or host a gathering, consider being outside or
opening windows for increased ventilation, think about who will be present and
consider masking to protect vulnerable people.
These protective measures, while not mandatory, are strongly
recommended as part of the multi-layered approach to reduce the impacts of COVID-19
on our communities.
Today, Ontario will expand access to Paxlovid, a free COVID-19
antiviral treatment. Treatment with Paxlovid must begin within five days of
symptom onset and a health care provider needs to determine whether antiviral
treatment is right for an individual, including for individuals who do not
belong to one of the eligible groups, based on individual circumstances. To get
assessed, individuals can visit a clinical
assessment centre or contact their primary care provider. Even if you
do not have symptoms, please speak to your health care provider to find out if
you are eligible for antiviral treatment ahead of time.
If you know or suspect you have COVID-19 and are experiencing
worsening symptoms book a clinical assessment appointment at the location
closest to you:
- Beechgrove Assessment Centre - Book online or
call 613-548-2376.
- Brockville Clinical Assessment Centre - Book
online or call 613-704-1441.
The pandemic is not over, and the latest wave is challenging,
but with your continued efforts to make responsible choices and respect those
at higher risk of complications of COVID-19 we can reduce the impacts. Help us
protect our local hospitals who are experiencing very high patient volumes,
combined with critical staff shortages and high numbers of staff of sick with
COVID-19. Thank you for your support in continuing to keep our communities as
safe as possible.
- Dr. Andrew Hamilton, Chief of Staff, Chair of
the Medical Advisory Committee - Brockville General Hospital
- Dr. Michael Fitzpatrick, Chief of Staff and
Executive Vice-President Medical and Academic Affairs - Kingston Health
Sciences Centre
- Dr. Colin MacPherson, Chief of Staff, Chief of
Department of Psychiatry, Medical Director of Mental Health Program - Quinte
Health Care
- Dr. Simon O’Brien, Chair Medical Advisory Committee -
Providence Care
- Dr. Kate Stolee, Chief of Staff - Perth &
Smiths Falls District Hospital
- Dr. Kim Morrison, Chief of Staff - Lennox &
Addington County General Hospital
- Dr. Ethan Toumishey, Medical Officer of Health at
Hastings Prince Edward Public Health
- Dr. Piotr Oglaza, Medical Officer of Health Kingston,
Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Public Health
- Dr. Paula Stewart, Medical Officer of Health Leeds,
Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit
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