The number of active Covid-19 cases in Nunavut has surged to 127 with 40 new infections announced Friday, including in Pond Inlet.
The case in Pond Inlet is still awaiting confirmatory testing, according to the Department of Health. That’s also true for Cambridge Bay.
“The need to immediately respond to the arrival of Covid-19 in a new community means we must announce presumptive positive results in communities before we have confirmatory results,” said chief public health officer Dr. Michael Patterson “We’re doing this to be proactive in our response to possible introductions of Covid-19 and to ensure we are able to track, trace and isolate the virus quickly. As a result, Nunavut’s case counts may look slightly different for a few days, as we will formally post only confirmed case numbers moving forward.”
Iqaluit remains the community with the most cases, at 39. However, the case count in Arviat has jumped to 23. There are 30 infected individuals in Rankin Inlet, 14 in Pangnirtung, nine in each Iglulik and Sanirajak, two in Qikiqtarjuaq and one in Baker Lake.
Patterson and Premier P.J. Akeeagok are scheduled to hold a live update at 11 a.m. EDT on Jan. 6 about the Government of Nunavut’s ongoing response to Covid-19.
Strict territory-wide public health measures are in place until at least Jan. 17. Travel restrictions are in place for Arviat, Igloolik, Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Rankin Inlet and Sanirajak. Travel to and from those communities is restricted to essential purposes only, as well as residents returning to their home community or travelling to Southern Canada. Non-essential travel, especially between communities in Nunavut, remains highly discouraged.
First off: There are no secret at-home cures for COVID-19. There is no evidence that taking vitamin C supplements, for example, is of any use
Author of the article:
Tyler Dawson
Publishing date:
Dec 30, 2021 • 4 hours ago • 4 minute read • 55 Comments
Plenty of rest and plenty of fluids is the best treatment for mild Omicron symptoms, however, "the most important thing is to keep your antennas up and get medical attention promptly if it starts behaving like a not-mild illness."Photo by Getty Images
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The latest wave of COVID-19 is ripping through Canada, with record-breaking case counts being reported in some provinces.
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With 207,418 active cases in Canada as of Dec. 29, and just over 1,201 in hospital as of Dec. 20 (the most recent available data from the Public Health Agency of Canada), plenty of people are at home, recovering from an infection. So what’s the best way to get better?
First off: There are no secret at-home cures for COVID-19. There is no evidence, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health, that taking vitamin C supplements, for example, is of any use. Nor is there sufficient evidence to recommend vitamin D or zinc as curative supplements.
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This means, if you come down with Omicron, you’re left with the tried and tested methods that any doctor at any walk-in clinic or on any telehealth line is going to give you: plenty of rest and plenty of fluids.
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Lee Green, the chair in the department of family medicine at the University of Alberta, said most people who are vaccinated can expect a mild illness — but that won’t be the case for everyone.
“The most important thing is to keep your antennas up and get medical attention promptly if it starts behaving like a not-mild illness,” Green said.
There are various legal requirements to isolate if you’re sick, and public health agencies across the country are recommending isolation for COVID-like symptoms and exposure to those who have COVID-19, even if you, yourself, aren’t feeling ill.
The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) suggests eating well and exercising while in isolation and using video calls to stay in touch with friends and family.
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The symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to those for other illnesses. Someone who’s contracted the virus may be asymptomatic, but if they do show symptoms, according to the Canadian government, they’re likely to see the following: a new or worsening cough; temperature of 38 degrees Celsius or higher; chills; body aches; weakness and fatigue; and/or shortness of breath.
Just as the symptoms are similar to other illnesses, so too are the treatments .
“Your immune system will get rid of this … so the important thing there is support your immune system,” said Green. “Eat sensibly, eat healthy food. Your body needs good nutrition to support your immune system. This is not the time to skip your fruits and vegetables.”
The tried-and-tested mom strategy of sitting in a steamy bathroom can help alleviate congestion and vaseline can be a comforting balm for a nose rubbed raw from Kleenex.
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Over-the-counter pain medications, such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, can be taken to alleviate discomfort, says the National Health Service in the United Kingdom, which maintains an extensive website about treating COVID-19 at home. (PHAC suggests avoiding painkillers if you are in quarantine from a possible exposure, but have not been confirmed COVID positive, as they “could hide an early symptom of COVID-19.”)
“It’s not going to make you better, but it’ll help you not suffer as much until your immune system makes you better,” said Green.
Early in the pandemic, social media posts claimed ibuprofen could make COVID-19 worse. A March 2020 notice from Health Canada says “there is no scientific evidence that establishes a link between ibuprofen and the worsening of COVID-19 symptoms.”
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The Alberta government says those with COVID-19 should get plenty of rest and drink lots of water to avoid dehydration from fever. A good gauge of whether or not you are well hydrated is whether or not your urine is light yellow or clear.
“Extra rest can help you feel better,” says the Alberta government . “Water, soup, fruit juice, and hot tea with lemon are all good choices.”
Plus, fluids can help with a sore throat and thin out mucus. So, too, can a hard candy or lozenge designed for that purpose.
If a person has a cough, they might take a spoonful of honey to sooth the symptoms — but don’t give honey to babies. The NHS suggests avoiding lying on your back, instead sitting upright or lying on your side.
Alberta, cautioning against using cough medicines for those under six years of age, says they can help alleviate symptoms in older people.
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The Alberta government, noting, “this is good advice anytime,” suggests that one not smoke or breathe second-hand smoke while sick with COVID-19.
Green said you don’t need to be constantly monitoring your temperature if you’re feeling relatively OK.
“It’s a good idea to take your temperature if you feel badly…. If you’re feeling terrible and if you feel like you might have a fever, make sure to check,” he said.
There are some symptoms that shouldn’t be managed at home, and if you have them, you should seek medical care. The federal government recommends you call 911 if you have significant trouble breathing, chest pain or pressure, new onset of confusion or difficulty waking up.
Noel Gibney, a professor emeritus at the University of Alberta’s school of medicine, said the risk is for those who start out with a mild illness, but then it gets worse. He suggested purchasing a pulse oximiter, which can tell you your blood oxygen level, and provide a warning sign of when to seek medical care.
“You don’t want to miss it when somebody is getting to the point of needing oxygen or specific therapies for COVID that are only available in a hospital setting,” said Gibney. “And so there is value, particularly in the older and people that have comorbidities, to monitor their own health more closely in terms of temperature, maybe check your heart rate, your breathing rates, and seriously think about getting a pulse oximeter.”
The Yukon government is reporting 27 new cases of COVID-19 in the territory over the past four days.
The total number of active cases, however, remains the same as it was the last time figures were updated on Christmas Eve day, with 49 active cases of the virus in the territory. That means several cases have also resolved themselves over the last few days.
According to figures reported by the government, 1,641 people in Yukon have recovered from the virus. Meanwhile, 36,762 people have had their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, 34,095 have had their second dose, and 11,161 have had their third.
Exposure at Whitehorse daycare
The Yukon government has also issued exposure notices for a daycare, a school, and two bus routes.
The territory posted an exposure notice for the Learning Tree Daycare to its website Wednesday, a week after a letter appears to have been sent to parents and staff about a positive case at the Whitehorse child-care provider.
It says all children who attended the toddler group on Dec. 15 and Dec. 20 are considered close contacts of the positive case, and provides direction for isolation and self-monitoring requirements, depending on vaccination status.
A separate letter, dated Dec. 25, tells parents and staff at Whitehorse Elementary School that anyone who attended the Grade 2B class Dec. 14-16 is considered a contact of a positive case. It directs people who are fully vaccinated to monitor for symptoms until Dec. 30, and to isolate and arrange for testing if unvaccinated.
Another pair of letters, also dated Dec. 25., say school bus route #11 with morning pick up from Dec. 14-16 and route #25 with afternoon drop off from Dec. 14-15 are impacted by exposures as well. People impacted by the school bus exposures are being told to monitor themselves for symptoms for 14 days, and to arrange for testing if symptoms develop.
The territory says it's only providing exposure notices for schools, child-care facilities and early learning programs, because there's community transmission within Yukon.
At just 38 years old, Matthew Bennett has already had two deadly encounters in his lifetime.
“In 2001, I had a crazy car accident where I lost a third of my intestine, tore my aorta artery and broke my back in three places,” Bennett said.
The crash happened in Kelowna when Bennett was just 17 years old and was a passenger in the vehicle. He was cut in half internally from a lap belt injury and, after several painful surgeries, had to learn to walk again.
“My health has always been compromised, but that certainly came into play and I really have to watch my digestion,” he said.
Years later, Bennett once again finds himself hyper focused on his health and healing.
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Earlier this year, he was diagnosed with Stage 4 lung cancer and had a tumor removed from his brain. He said doctors told him he may only have five years to live.
“So they took the tumor out… and then I did six rounds of radiation and then I went on Tagrisso (Osmiertinib) which is a really brilliant lung cancer drug,” he explained.
“I had to readjust all my beliefs about what cancer is and make them more empowering.”
Along with this medical treatment, Bennett said he’s also been taking alternative therapies and has transformed many of his previous habits.
“I changed my entire diet, exercise regime, meditating and yoga. (I want to) bring the body to a state of balance and harmony.”
Bennett’s long-time friend Christine Williams said while it was very upsetting to learn of Bennett’s diagnosis she’s proud of how he’s faced his challenges head-on.
“I haven’t ever seen him without his spirits lifted… or being a really positive force of energy,” Williams said. “That’s the Matt I’ve always known and it’s even more impressive that he’s done it considering he could just lay down, put his head in his hand and that could be it.”
Despite Bennett’s optimistic nature, there have been several setbacks over the last year.
Bennett said he had to quit his job to focus on his health. Due to financial hardship, he also had to sell the family home in the summer and this past October he said he ended up in the hospital again.
“I went to stand up after a nap and my whole right side of my body was just completely offline, like, 99 per cent offline,” he said. “I could feel it if I touched it but I was basically paralyzed.
“It felt like I had a stroke on one side but it was connected to the where the tumor was pulled out of my brain.”
Bennett continues to raise money to pay for his costly therapies which include IV vitamin C and Artesunate, among others. He’s also started adding content to his own website and is working on making free videos to help others who find themselves in a similar situation.
“You either decide to live today… or just get comfortable and start to die.”
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After a year of surprises and unprecedented challenges, I am not sure why I thought my COVID-19 test would be any different.
To say I was ready or prepared for my test result to come back positive would be an understatement. It happened so quickly and I am thankful to be vaccinated and healthy.
It all started on Dec. 13. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling out of sorts. By 6 a.m., I felt intense body aches and had a pounding headache. I shrugged it off at first as just a bad sleep. I also had a hard workout the day before. But as the day continued and the pain didn’t subside, I worried I might have contracted the virus.
I keep my contacts small, always wash my hands, wear a mask and follow the pandemic orders. The symptoms I experienced in those 24 hours felt mild compared to my symptoms after getting my two COVID-19 vaccines earlier this year (AstraZeneca and Pfizer).
I broke my fever in my sleep the night of Dec. 14 and woke up feeling “normal.” My gargle test was scheduled the following day in Victoria. Because I was feeling “normal,” I felt some reassurance that maybe I didn't have the virus.
Then at 6:02 p.m. I received an automated message from the BC Centre for Disease Control that my COVID-19 test result was positive and to self-isolate immediately.
Frantically, I started cancelling holiday plans. I called all my close contacts and felt immense fear that I could have spread the virus unknowingly to someone close to me.
Over the next few days, my symptoms remained mild: I had a headache every day and was tired. Roughly after five days of the virus, I lost my sense of taste. Since then, I don’t appear to have any long-term symptoms, but my taste has not come back fully.
It took public health three days to contact me; once they did, we determined there was no way of knowing where or how I got the virus. I then learned that contact tracing was to be conducted by me and that I had to alert everyone. All of my close contacts tested negative.
The next step was figuring out how long I needed to isolate for. Two nurses told me over the phone that because I was double vaccinated and had mild symptoms, I only needed to isolate for seven days. People who are not vaccinated or are immune-compromised are supposed to isolate for 10 days.
Following up on this information, Glacier Media contacted the Ministry of Health and was told the different isolation timelines reflect emerging information on how COVID-19 and its variants behave.
"We have learnt that people who are double vaccinated tend to shed [the] virus for a shorter duration of time,” says a spokesperson. "In a vaccinated person, by seven days after symptom onset, they are very unlikely to transmit infection."
In contrast, people who are not vaccinated shed the virus for about 10 days after symptoms start.
"Omicron has been found to spread more easily between people than previous COVID-19 variants. People can spread Omicron to others even if they have been vaccinated,” says the spokesperson. "Current vaccines provide good protection against severe illness and hospitalizations for Omicron."
Meanwhile, the two public health nurses told me I would not be able to get a PCR test once my isolation period finished. Ministry of Health staff echo this and tell Glacier Media that people can continue to test positive for weeks.
Ministry staff say PCR tests will remain positive for 20 days or more, so testing by PCR in a public setting is not helpful.
"Theoretically, this might imply that dead virus can be transmitted but it is unclear if this is protective,” says a spokesperson. "The best protection is to be vaccinated.”
Out of an abundance of caution for those closest to me, including an immune-compromised person, I purchased a box of rapid tests online to see if I would continue testing positive.
Thankfully, my results came back negative.
One scroll through social media tells the story of many people coping with COVID-19. I hope my story finds you healthy and safe this holiday season.
In the U.S., the Omicron variant is spreading like wildfire, testing sites are swamped, hospitalizations are up and now the Centres for Disease Control has cut quarantine guidelines in half for positive asymptomatic patients. It comes as airline and health-care worker shortages grow. Jennifer Johnson has the latest.
Availability for a COVID-19 test in Windsor is slim, just after the holidays.
The Windsor Regional Hospital COVID-19 assessment centre — which is by appointment only — had very limited slots for the week, as of early Tuesday afternoon
The hospital's Paediatric Urgent Medical Assessment youth clinic at the Met campus had two slots available Tuesday with more on Wednesday of this week as of Tuesday morning.
"Demand is high for tests and resources are stretched right now," said director of communications, Steve Erwin, adding the hospital can only increase testing availability so much.
"The hospital is waiting to see if this week if there will be any changes from the province around who can be tested or who can't."
The Medical Laboratories of Windsor which provides free symptomatic COVID-19 testing by appointment, showed a wait time of until Sunday as of Tuesday morning for its Windsor location. There is some availability for walk-ins.
Vice-president of operations, Jennifer Yee, said they are expanding slots across their locations to meet the demand. Capacity will increase by 35 per cent on weekdays and approximately 40 per cent on weekends.
Medical Laboratories of Windsor vice-president of operations, Jennifer Yee, said staffing shortages due to the holidays are also creating a challenge when it comes to opening more testing appointments. (CBC )
"We're seeing a lot of concerned patients," Yee told CBC News on Tuesday. "We're fully booked, all our appointments are being snatched up right away ... I think there's just such a big concern out there."
Yee explained some patients are worried they may have contracted the virus over the holidays, or due to the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
"Every appointment that we have has been taken, and we're also dealing with [human resources] issues," said Yee, explaining staff shortages are also due to the holidays.
Medical Laboratories has locations in Windsor, Lasalle and Leamington and Tecumseh offering symptomatic COVID-19 testing free of charge.
Local data on hold while Ontario sees 8,825 new cases Tuesday
The province reported another 8,825 cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday.
Ontario Health Minister Christine Elliott said as of Tuesday there are 491 people hospitalized with COVID-19, and 187 of them are in intensive care units.
Elliott shared the figures on Twitter Tuesday but government websites did not publish updated numbers of virus-related deaths or patients on ventilators because of the statutory holiday. Health experts warn that the real number of COVID-19 cases is likely to be much higher as a number of hospitals and centres have reached testing limits.
The Ministry of Health will be updating its website on Wednesday to include all COVID-19 data that had not been reported since Dec. 24.
Samjoe James receives a COVID-19 test in this file photo. Officials in Windsor say they're seeing a spike in demand for testing. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Meanwhile, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit also put a pause on its daily updates until Wednesday, due to the holiday.
Last Thursday, the health unit reported 105 new cases and another death due to COVID-19. There had been two cases of the Omicron variant reported in the region at that point in time.
That was the final data released by public health until Dec. 29, when the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit (WECHU) will hold a COVID-19 media briefing.
Erie Shores HealthCare in Leamington has no testing slots until the weekend, as of Tuesday morning for the general population. Paedeatric testing slots are still available for Thursday.
Freshly picked blueberries are see at Emma Lea Farms in Ladner, B.C., on July 21, 2014.DARRYL DYCK/The Canadian Press
Many food and nutrition stories made headlines in 2021. TikTok’s baked feta pasta, fermented sourdough bread and air-fried well, everything, were all the rage.
Findings from many diet-related health studies also stood out. Here’s a round-up of some of those stories, along with take-home messages for your 2022 diet.
Diet shapes your gut microbiome
Eating a healthy diet has been linked to a more diverse gut microbiome, the community of microbes that live inside our intestinal tract. Having a diverse array of gut microbes is thought to help guard against chronic conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease, depression, Type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
In January, a landmark study published in the journal Nature Medicine uncovered strong links between diet, the gut microbiome and health. The PREDICT 1 study (Personalized Responses to Dietary Composition Trial 1) analyzed the long-term diets, microbiomes and blood samples of 1,100 participants in Britain and the United States.
The researchers found that a diet which included a mix of nutrient-dense whole and minimally processed foods, or one rich in plant foods, supported the growth of gut microbes linked to a lower risk of chronic disease.
Participants who ate a diet that contained lots of highly-processed foods, however, harboured gut microbes associated with an increased risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and obesity.
Fermented foods, such as yogurt, kefir, kimchi and kombucha, rich in gut-friendly probiotic microbes, have also been tied to better gut heath.
This year a study from the Stanford School of Medicine was the first to provide hard evidence that consuming fermented foods can improve your gut microbiome and, possibly, benefit immune health.
Eating six daily servings of fermented foods for 10 weeks led to increased gut microbial diversity and reduced levels of inflammatory blood proteins, including ones related to Type 2 diabetes and rheumatoid arthritis. (Six daily servings is equivalent to one cup of yogurt or kefir, 16 ounces of kombucha, plus one half-cup of kimchi or unpasteurized sauerkraut.)
Add fermented foods to your 2022 diet. Focus on eating mostly whole and minimally processed foods; set a goal to eat fewer ultra-processed foods.
Food – and exercise – for brain health
Evidence continued to accumulate this year for the brain benefits of eating a healthy diet, especially when combined with exercise.
Published in May, the DR’s EXTRA study (Dose-Responses to Exercise Training) found that participants who ate a healthy diet and also participated moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five times a week, showed significant improvement in cognitive performance over the four-year trial.
In August, findings from a long-term study of 77,335 U.S. adults strongly suggested that eating a flavonoid-rich diet when younger protects later-life brain health. Specific flavonoids found in green pepper, celery, parsley, citrus fruit and berries showed the greatest protective effects. Flavonoids have potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
More recently, researchers from Greece found that people who ate pro-inflammatory diets were three times more likely to develop dementia over the study period than participants whose diets had low inflammatory scores.
In 2022, adopt an anti-inflammatory diet that includes plenty of flavonoid-rich foods.
Dietary pattern reigns over ‘superfoods’
This year findings from many studies emphasized that simply adding so-called superfoods to your diet, such as blueberries and broccoli, isn’t enough to protect against diet-related chronic illness.
In November, the American Heart Association published a scientific statement, based on the latest evidence, emphasizing the importance of looking at your total dietary pattern rather than “good” or “bad” individual foods or nutrients.
The association’s 10 recommendations for a heart-healthy eating pattern include, among others, eating a variety of fruits and vegetables, whole grain foods, lean meats and/or plant proteins such as pulses and nuts, while limiting processed meats, ultra-processed foods, sugary foods and drinks and alcoholic beverages.
In February, a comprehensive research review revealed that adherence to a Mediterranean or semi-vegetarian dietary pattern was tied to a lower risk of colorectal cancer.
The well-studied DASH diet, a pattern of eating that emphasizes fruits and vegetables, low-fat dairy products, pulses, nuts and whole grains, was recently shown to lower blood pressure among people with hypertension resistant to medication.
The DASH eating pattern has been tied to a range of health benefits. DASH stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension.
Make 2022 the year you consider your overall diet – the quality, variety and combination of foods you eat on a regular basis – rather than focusing on specific foods.
Leslie Beck, a Toronto-based private practice dietitian, is director of food and nutrition at Medcan. Follow her on Twitter@LeslieBeckRD
Sign upfor the weekly Health & Wellness newsletter for the latest news and advice.
JERUSALEM — An outbreak of avian flu has killed more than 5,000 migratory cranes in Israel, prompting authorities to declare a popular nature reserve off-limits to visitors and warn of a possible egg shortage as poultry birds are culled as a precaution.
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett met his national security adviser and other experts to discuss efforts to contain the outbreak and prevent it passing into humans. So far no human transmission has been reported, Bennett’s office said.
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Israeli media said children who had visited the reserve may have touched a stricken crane and thus contributed to the spread of the flu.
“This is the worst blow to wildlife in the country’s history,” Environment Minister Tamar Zandberg tweeted as rangers in hazardous material suits collected carcasses of the cranes from the lake at the Hula Nature Reserve and outlying marshes.
Hundreds of thousands of chickens had been culled, she said.
Authorities were looking to ease import quotas and bring in eggs from abroad to head off an egg shortage due to the cull. (Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Aliosn Williams)
Vitalité Health Network is halting all visits to patients on the multipurpose unit of Grand Falls General Hospital due to a possible COVID-19 exposure.
Visitation was already limited to fully vaccinated designated support people, but they're not able to visit now either.
In a press release on Sunday, the health network stated, "temporary measures are in place to protect the health and safety of our patients, health care workers and community."
The hospital serves a population of around 15,000 in the community.
The release also reiterates that people with any symptoms of COVID-19 must not go to the emergency department. These people must limit their contacts and immediately register online on the government's website or call Tele-Care 811 for a screening test.
Province facing tighter restrictions on Monday
The entire province will be moving to stricter level 2 restrictions at 11:59 p.m. on Monday.
On Tuesday afternoon, the province and public health outlined the following measures:
Household contacts must be limited to a maximum of a steady 10 individuals.
Dining-in is permitted in restaurants, but they must operate at 50 per cent capacity and request proof-of-vaccination.
Restaurants, retail stores, malls, businesses, gyms, salons and spas, and entertainment centres may continue to operate, but at 50 per cent capacity and with two metres of distance between patrons.
For public gatherings, venues cannot have events with more than 150 people or 50 per cent capacity, whichever is less.
Faith venues may operate at 50 per cent capacity and with physical distancing, and choirs are not permitted.
All travellers, including New Brunswickers returning to the province, must register or have a multi-use travel pass. Travellers arriving by air will be provided with a rapid test kit.
Unvaccinated people entering the province must isolate and be tested on day 10. International travellers must follow federal testing and isolation guidelines and must be tested on day five and day 10.
Travellers must follow public health measures when in New Brunswick, including wearing a mask and staying within a steady 10 list of contacts.
Employees are encouraged to work from home.
Pause on COVID-19 case numbers
All rapid test pickup locations are closed on select days over the holidays as New Brunswick sees record-high numbers for COVID-19 infections.
Mobile and hub rapid test pickup locations will be closed Christmas Day through Tuesday and Jan. 1 to 3.
Numbers regarding new cases, hospitalizations and deaths won't be reported to the public by the province until Monday, before being paused again from Jan. 1 to 2 and resuming Jan. 3.
As reported on Friday, New Brunswick declared another record number of cases with 265, bringing the total number of active cases to 1,653.
One person between age 70 and 79 has died in the Saint John region after contracting the virus, New Brunswick Public Health said in its Christmas Eve update. That brings the death count in the province to 152.
Public Health reported 174 recoveries.
On Friday, 34 people were reported to be in hospital, including 15 in intensive care and 12 on ventilators. None of those admitted tested with the Omicron variant, Public Health said.
Of those in hospital, 21 are over age 60 with no one under 19.
Omicron cases are now being reported in all seven regions of the province, with 147 cases confirmed, a rise of 65 cases from Thursday.
The highest total, 68, was declared in the Moncton region, followed by the Saint John region, where there were 42.
COVID-19 in the Maritimes
Anyone who's not been fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure and who have symptoms should get a COVID-19 lab test. They can book an appointment online or call Tele-Care 811, and must isolate while waiting for test results.
It can take up to 14 days to test positive after being exposed to COVID-19, so even if results come back negative, you should continue to self-monitor for any symptoms and get tested immediately if any develop.
Also, avoid visiting settings with vulnerable populations, such as nursing homes, correctional facilities and shelters, during that 14-day period.
For anyone fully vaccinated at least 14 days prior to a possible exposure, Public Health recommends they monitor for symptoms for 14 days after the possible exposure and get a COVID lab test if symptoms develop.
There's no need to isolate while waiting for test results.
What to do if you have a symptom
Anyone concerned about having COVID-19 can take a self-assessment test online.
Public Health says symptoms have included a fever above 38 C, a new or worsening cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, a new onset of fatigue and difficulty breathing.
In children, symptoms have also included purple markings on the fingers and toes.
If exhibiting any of those symptoms, stay home, call 811 or your doctor and follow instructions.
Two people associated with the school have been diagnosed with COVID-19, one of whom may have contracted it in school.
THUNDER BAY – A COVID-19 outbreak has been declared at St. Elizabeth School.
Two people associated with the school have been identified with COVID-19 and at least one is likely to have contracted the virus in a school setting, according to a statement released Thursday by the Thunder Bay District Health Unit.
All close contacts, high or low risk, were contacted by public health officials and affected classes and cohorts were screened out.
Students and teachers started the Christmas holidays on Monday.
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Covid-19 is two years old. The outbreak was public knowledge in China’s Wuhan by December 2019. In the two years, you must have heard scientists, public health experts, administrators and politicians using the phrase: ‘living with the virus’.
In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi nuanced it as “jaan bhi, jahaan bhi” as the central government started lifting lockdown provisions in April 2020 when Covid-19 was still unraveling and SARS-CoV-2 was still creating trembling fear in the masses.
Now when Omicron, the latest variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2, is exploring places and people across the world, the same ‘living with the virus’ is the prescription from public health experts. The rule of engagement with the coronavirus is evolving with each next-gen mutation in the SARS-CoV-2.
A new rule is being talked about: ‘2 out of 3’. Three here refers to layers of protection. These are vaccination, Covid-19 testing and wearing a face mask.
Medical analyst Dr Leana Wen, who is a professor of public health at the George Washington University in the US, has explained this as, “I’m a proponent of the ‘2 out of 3’ rule: when virus levels are high, you need at least two out of three following layers of protection: vaccines, testing or masking. This isn't perfect, but substantially reduces risk.”
This concept prescribes people to stay indoors, when there is a huge army of viruses. But if one has to go out or assemble for an indoor event, one must make sure that they tick at least two the three safety boxes.
At an indoor gathering where drinking and eating are happening, the place is going to have a lot of people lowering their mask long enough for Omicron or any other variant to travel from an asymptomatic or symptomatic infected person to a healthy person. This could be the zone of high viral load.
For such a gathering, vaccination and pre-event testing are the requirements to stay safe.
If testing is not available, masking is a must in addition to vaccination. Keeping the ‘2 out of 3’ rule in mind, either skip such an event or do not drink or eat at the event.
Since there are people who are still unvaccinated either due to unavailability of a Covid-19 vaccine or their choice. Such individuals could also be victims of SARS-CoV-2 and act as carriers of any of its variants.
If the event is being attended by such unvaccinated individuals, either they should tick the two of the three safety boxes or stay masked all the time at the event having entered the place only after testing negative for Covid-19.
For those vaccinated, they need to either get tested or use a mask if they want to eat and drink at the event. “These conscientious citizens [vaccinated people] should not have to keep paying the price for the unvaccinated,” Dr Leana Wen wrote on Twitter.
Mask stays the single-biggest protection against infection by Omicron or any other variant of SARS-CoV-2. Wearing a good-quality mask is highly recommended. Good-quality masks do not include cloth masks. Medical-grade surgical masks or N-95-quality masks are considered safe in keeping people safe in virus-filled air.
Vaccines are the second-best defence against SARS-CoV-2 including its most transmissible progeny Omicron. Vaccines are not a guarantee against infection but they have been found to considerably reduce the severity of illness among those down with Covid-19. As countries face prospects of lockdown-like restrictions, following the ‘2 out of 3’ rule could help the world live with the virus without hitting the panic button.
Dec 23, 2021 • 1 day ago • 2 minute read • 19 Comments
The exterior of the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit is shown on Thursday, December 2, 2021.Photo by Dan Janisse /Windsor Star
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The Windsor-Essex County Health Unit has released a number of recommendations for COVID-safe celebrations this holiday season.
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In an effort to prevent the spread of COVID-19 residents are encouraged to host virtual parties — “the safest way to celebrate,” the public health unit said in a news release this week. For those planning to hold or attend festive shindigs in person, “do not exceed the indoor gathering limit of 10 people and reduce the number of people you are in close contact with.”
Those at a high-risk of more severe health complications associated with COVID-19, such as older adults and those with medical conditions, should further limit the number of people they come in close contact with and only engage in “low-risk activities,” like virtual gatherings.
Anyone eligible for a first, second, or third dose of COVID-19 vaccine should get vaccinated as soon as possible.
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“As best as we can, we have to, as a society and as a culture, live our lives as normally as possible, but also we have to follow the restrictions as articulated in the public health letter of instruction,” said acting medical officer of health Dr. Shanker Nesathurai on Thursday.
“Although there are restrictions on the number of people who can gather in person, there’s no restriction on the number of people gathered virtually,” he said. “There still are opportunities to call and have dialogue with family members that perhaps you’ve not had interactions with in recent times.”
If you’re feeling unwell or have any COVID-19 symptoms, stay home and do not attend any in-person gatherings.
Those hosting parties should ask their guests to complete a COVID-19 self-assessment and not attend if they are sick. The health unit also recommends limiting the guest list to only fully vaccinated individuals. If you’re gathering with people who are unvaccinated, partially vaccinated or whose vaccination status is unknown, maintain a physical distance of two metres from one another and wear a mask.
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Wash hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, and avoid buffet-style dining with shared utensils.
“While protecting our community from COVID-19 is extremely important, we must not forget about the impact of the pandemic on mental health,” the health unit said. The holidays are a time for celebration but can also be a stressful experience for many people.”
The health unit suggests taking a social media break, picking up a book, or watching a movie to give your mind a break. Also, prioritize time for rest and relaxation, including getting enough sleep and making time in your schedule to be physically active.
“Spend evenings enjoying time with those in your household. Decorate your home, watch movies, make hot chocolate, celebrate old traditions and create new ones.”
The health unit on Thursday reported 105 new COVID cases and the COVID-related death of a man in his 70s.
Windsor-Essex has 547 known active cases, and 27 people who have tested positive are in area hospitals.
Outbreaks remain active at 17 schools or daycares, 12 workplaces, four community settings, and two long-term care homes.
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