A team effort has been launched in Dryden to flatten the curve of COVID-19.
The Dryden Regional Health Centre, the City and the Northwestern Health Unit are out with a joint call to practice social distancing, self-isolation, quarantine, diligent hand washing and proper hygiene.
Locally, the hospital serves a catchment area of about 14,000 people, so an infection rate of 30% may mean that 210 people would need hospitalization and care.
Chief Executive Officer Doreen Armstrong-Ross says they are doing all they can to ensure they are prepared to take care of area residents including working with local, regional, and provincial partners on plans addressing surge, critical care, and personal protective equipment.
Armstrong-Ross stresses resources are limited and the local health care system may become quickly overwhelmed.
Mayor Greg Wilson says this is a key time for our hospital, health care providers and our community and they are relying on everyone to do what they cane to support the hospital in providing quality care for everyone.
He notes unless you are an essential worker or need immediate food or medication, you should be staying at home.
Medical Officer of Health Dr. Ian Gemmill says everyone should assume the coronavirus is circulating locally in their community and take the appropriate precautions.
Dr. Gemmill says “After exposure to the virus, it takes a few days to get symptoms and if tested, a few more days to get test results. Because of this, current lab results show a picture of COVID-19 from a week or two ago. Please keep in mind that the positive effects of physical distancing that residents are doing now, won’t be seen in local lab results for a couple of weeks.”
Information about local COVID-19 test results can be found at http://www.nwhu.on.ca
DRHC, NWHU and the City of Dryden issue joint media release regarding #FlattenTheCurve #COVOID19 pic.twitter.com/EQRZP8dDmU
— City of Dryden (@CityofDryden) April 1, 2020
