February 4, 2020 COVID-19 report

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Dear RNAO member,

Good evening – our daily update for you has arrived. Included here is situational report #11 dated Feb. 04, 2020, which we received this evening from the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) about the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV).

There are no new confirmed cases reported to us today by the EOC, in Canada or in Ontario. Thus, the number of confirmed cases in Ontario remains at three. One is a woman in London in her twenties, with mild symptoms, recovering at home in self-isolation; and a Toronto couple in their fifties who continue to recover at home in self-isolation. At this time, there are 34 persons under investigation with lab results pending.

News reports coming in the last hour (not yet incorporated into ministry reports) inform of a second, presumptive case in B.C. Details about this new case will be forthcoming tomorrow. The other B.C. case, reported earlier, involves a man who is recovering at home, in self-isolation.

As we shared yesterday, the province has acquired several months-worth of supplies, including N95 masks. These are being distributed according to risk assessment needs. We ask that they be used judiciously and protected from “taking legs,” which we have heard is happening. If you notice supplies disappearing, please speak with your manager. 

We have received a few questions from you and have answered those right away. They are related mainly to preparations for the repatriation of Canadian citizens from Wuhan, China, who are scheduled to arrive at CFB Trenton this week. They will be immediately quarantined and, thus, as per our Medical Officer of Health, Dr. David Williams, they will not impose any risk to the general population.

Public health officials are working closely with the health professionals that will be on the flight (four nurses and two physicians), as well as those deployed to CFB Trenton. They are also coordinating with hospitals in the region, as if there is a need, persons will be transferred to one depending on their medical condition. I feel both proud and confident on the tremendous planning being undertaken, which is based on all available evidence and applying the precautionary principle.   

RNAO wants to continue to hear from you and your teams should you be experiencing any challenges – please send your emails directly to me at dgrinspun@rnao.ca. You can also access the health provider hotline and website regarding questions about the outbreak, protocols, preparedness, and more. The toll free number is 1-866-212-2272, and the health provider website, updated regularly with useful resources, can be accessed here. An important reminder 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 – encourage your family and friends to know about this public website. We also have information for the public on our website at www.rnao.ca which we update daily.

Thanks very much to everyone!

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