Greater Sudbury’s medical officer of health says her agency is co-ordinating with local and provincial partners and counterparts in preparation for any local outbreak of the novel coronavirus, COVID-19.
And Canada’s top doctor has said while the risk for Canadians remains low, the global risk to contract the virus is constantly evolving. Canadians and Canadian health agencies must be prepared, said Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer.
Even if the risk is low, the health unit must be ready for a range of possible outbreak scenarios, said Dr. Penny Sutcliffe, the medical officer of health for Public Health Sudbury and Districts.
“To date, efforts in Canada and Ontario have been successful in detecting and managing sporadic cases of COVID-19,” said Sutcliffe. “The changing situation also requires that our agency, community, and individuals be prepared for the potential wider spread of the infection in the community —we need to be ready to adapt to a range of possible scenarios and shift our approaches, as needed.”
In a release to media, Public Health Sudbury said planning and preparedness activities continue between the health unit and local partners and provincial counterparts. Efforts are focused on business continuity, minimizing the burden on the health care system, and protecting critical infrastructure functions.
“The agency is basing its planning on its longstanding influenza pandemic plan which includes different scenarios of how the community is impacted,” the health unit said.
COVID-19 can spread from person to person through close contact, for example, in a household, workplace, or health care centre. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough and difficulty breathing.
The illness appears to be relatively mild for most people who become infected, but can be much more severe or even fatal for older people and those with underlying health conditions.
For credible and reliable information about COVID-19, visit phsd.ca/COVID-19, call Public Health Sudbury & Districts at 705-522-9200 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200), or follow Public Health on Facebook and Twitter for updates.
