February 2, 2020 COVID-19 report

Dear RNAO member,

As promised, here is situational report #9 dated Feb. 02, 2020, which we received from the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) about the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

The good news is that there are no new confirmed cases reported to us today by the EOC, in Canada or in Ontario.

The number of confirmed cases in our province remains at three. A woman in London in her twenties, with mild symptoms and who is recovering at home in self-isolation. The other two positive cases, a Toronto couple in their fifties, continue to recover well at home in self-isolation. There are 42 persons under investigation.

The only other Canadian case involves a man in B.C. who also is recovering at home in self-isolation.

As always, please let us know if you or your teams are experiencing any challenges. As you know the ministry has set up a health provider hotline and a website to answer questions you and other health sector employers may have regarding the outbreak, protocols, preparedness, etc. The toll free number is 1-866-212-2272, and the health provider website, updated regularly with useful resources, can be accessed here. Please remember that the health provider website and the toll free number are for you – as a health professional – and not for members of the general public.

The ministry’s public website on the novel coronavirus exists to inform the general public. We encourage you to let family and friends in your community know about this public website.

Have a great Sunday. We will be in touch with you tomorrow.  

Once again thank you very much for your commitment to the profession and the

day-to-day work you do on behalf of Ontarians to ensure they are getting excellent care.

Doris Grinspun, RN,MSN, PhD, LLD(hon), Dr(hc), FAAN, O.ONT
Chief Executive Officer / RNAO