Many people are worried about COVID-19 in the community and how it might affect them.
Residents are reminded that if they meet any of the expanded criteria for COVID-19 testing (aches, cough, headache, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, fever, chills, nausea, vomiting, loss of sense of smell or taste, conjunctivitis or pink eye), they should contact 811 or use the online assessment tool (www.ahs.ca/covid). If you are feeling ill, please stay at home.
Asymptomatic people are also invited to complete the online assessment tool if they wish to be tested for COVID-19.
If you have tested positive for COVID-19, you must stay home for 10 days from when you first got sick or until your symptoms go away; whichever is longer. This is called self-isolation. Do not leave your home or attend work, school, social events or any other public gatherings. You are not allowed to leave your property.
When a case of COVID-19 is confirmed by lab testing, AHS’ Public Health team contacts the individual and provides them with direction to isolate. Public Health also works with the individual to determine who they have been in contact with since their symptoms started. AHS then directly contacts any individual considered exposed to confirmed cases. These individuals are asked to self-isolate and be tested for COVID-19. This is called contact tracing, and is done in response to each case of COVID-19 we confirm by lab testing.
Only those individuals contacted directly by AHS are considered exposed to any case. If you are not contacted directly by AHS, you are not considered exposed. If you are known to have been exposed to a confirmed case of COVID-19, you will be contacted directly by AHS.
If you think you are having a serious or life-threatening injury or illness, go straight to an emergency department, or call 911. We do not want anyone to stay away from an emergency department if they need help. They continue to be available to you when needed.
If you have any COVID-19 symptoms and are having a medical emergency, please call 911 and inform them of your symptoms. You will still receive the same emergency care from your paramedics. By telling 911 when you call, it ensures that you will get the care you need without putting others at risk.