A group of local physicians has launched a steering committee structured for dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic, with action being taken throughout the community.
In the steering committee’s first report to the community, through an interview with the Peak, Dr. Barrie McDonald and Dr. Charles Van Zyl outlined a number of measures local residents can take with regard to COVID-19.
Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) had indicated on Monday, March 16 there are confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the Powell River region in a staff memorandum to physicians and staff. Matt Kieltyka, VCH public affairs specialist, has since stated the memorandum is erroneous.
McDonald said that as a matter of course there are going to be cases. However, it is not going to change what the medical community in Powell River does in response to the outbreak, and that is to provide comprehensive care to the community. The steering committee continues to meet regularly and monitor the situation provincially and internationally.
In terms of information for the community, the first important point is that colds and coughs do not need to be seen at doctors’ offices, said McDonald.
For those in serious condition who need to see a physician, McDonald said things will look different, and they may look even more different going forward.
“The first thing you’ll notice is very intense screening at doctors’ offices doors,” he said. “There will be big signs saying, ‘stop if you’ve got respiratory symptoms.’
“What we are trying to do with people with colds or coughs, is we will triage them. If we think they are at risk and need a test, we will refer them for a test. If we think they don’t need a test, and they are well [enough] to be at home, then we will ask them to stay at home.”
The objective is to screen people and make offices and the hospital as safe as possible for patients and for the staff, McDonald said.
He said procedures might change going forward. This may include video visits, it may include more phone calls and it may come to a point where older patients are kept out of offices as much as possible. He said there will be contingencies going forward based on what is happening in the community.
Van Zyl said, from a hospital or acute care facilities point of view, the steering committee has been in effect for three weeks and it has been working at preparedness, including setting up a testing site, running simulation drills, getting the hospital’s over capacity protocol looked at, and fitting clinicians with personal protective equipment.
In terms of the physicians’ advice for patients, people may experience symptoms of a cold, a sore throat, fatigue or some other non-emergent symptom.
“The goal of our message is if you’ve got those symptoms, stay at home,” said McDonald. “Don’t come to the doctor, stay at home. If you think you are sick enough to require a hospital assessment, then calling the hospital before you show up is important. If you’re feeling sick and you feel you need to be seen by your general practitioner, again, call the office. We will triage you. The other option is for patients to call 811. They are doing a good job of triaging patients.”
McDonald said if people have a mild cold or flu, they don’t have to call anyone. They should just self-isolate, he said.
If people think they need hospital admission, the hospital is set up to see people.
“We are just asking for people to call ahead,” said McDonald.
When patients are tested for COVID-19, they are given an information sheet in terms of how to behave with regard to isolation, and to call a number in 72 hours to get the results of that test. The tests are not processed in Powell River, but are taken to the Lower Mainland to be analyzed.
If people do not have symptoms they will not be tested. If people have mild symptoms, they will not be tested either. People who are returning from travelling are not tested, they are just asked to self-isolate for two weeks.
The only people who are being tested are those with moderate to severe respiratory symptoms.
“It boils down to the discretion of the clinician,” said Van Zyl. “The bottom line is people should not expect to be tested when they have mild symptoms because it will absolutely make no difference. Isolation is the only really solid recommendation.”
McDonald said people can only be tested by referral from a health care worker. People cannot just show up and be swabbed, he said, because resources are limited.
COVID-19 is difficult to diagnose without testing.
“I would say the symptoms of COVID-19 overlap sufficiently with the flu or other respiratory viruses that we see every winter,” said McDonald. “There is not enough difference to have any confidence that you are making the right diagnosis. People should stay at home and stay out of public places, do their handwashing, social distancing, covering coughs and sneezes.”
Van Zyl said the term is “flatten the curve.” People are urged to take precautions and avoid exposure.
McDonald said this is a global pandemic and Powell River is going to be part of it.
“There are examples in the world of places where things haven’t been done well,” he said. “There are examples of places where things have been done better, and the outcomes are completely different.
“I’ve often asked myself where I would like to be if a pandemic hit and Canada would be near the top of my list. We’ve had time to prepare, we’ve got a public health system, we have people who are leading the public health process who are scientists and are delivering clear messages. We have a population that listens to them.”
McDonald said Powell River, because of its isolation, provides an opportunity to keep the virus in check if the advice of public health officials is followed.
“It’s a time not to be panicking but it’s a time to be resolute,” said McDonald.
For information on COVID-19, readers can access the BC Centre for Disease Control website at: http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19
Readers can also access updates from the Vancouver Coastal Health website.
