Increased COVID-19 in Whitewood area

The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is alerting the public of an increase in COVID-19 cases in the Whitewood area and is urging residents to follow public health measures and personal safety precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, including maintaining a physical distance of two metres from others and masking when that's not possible and in public indoor spaces, frequent hand hygiene and self-isolating if you develop any symptoms of COVID-19.

In order to keep everyone in SHA facilities and care homes safe during this time, family presence/visitation has been limited to family presence level 3 only in the following:

• Whitewood Community Health Centre

The decision to restrict family presence is not taken lightly. These measures are in place to keep you, your loved ones, and health care workers safe.  The Saskatchewan Health Authority is asking the public for their support and cooperation in order to contain the spread of the virus. 

Level 3 family presence restrictions are for end-of-life with the provision that care teams can support one essential family/support person to safely assist with care if needed (i.e. for self-care, mobility, nutrition and behavioural needs). This must be approved by the care team and includes outbreak situations.

No other visitors are allowed into the specified facility at this time and these limitations will remain in place until it is safe to return to the previous level of family presence. 

Family members and support people who are permitted must undergo a health screening prior to entering the facility. This includes a temperature check and questionnaire. The family member or support person will be required to perform hand hygiene (hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer) when entering and leaving the facility or home and when entering and leaving the patient's or resident’s room. Family members and support people will be required to wear a medical grade mask while inside the facility or home and potentially additional personal protective equipment if required. Family members and support people are not permitted to wait in waiting rooms or other common areas.

Detailed information about family presence during COVID-19 can be found at saskatchewan.ca/covid19.

How to avoid getting sick:

• Keep at least two metres away from others when in public and be certain to wear a mask when that’s not possible and in public indoor spaces.
• Limit gatherings to the numbers specified in public health orders.
• Wash your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.

Recognize the symptoms: Stay home if you have symptoms and monitor yourself. Symptoms include: fever, cough, headache, muscle and/or joint aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, dizziness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite (difficulty feeding for children), loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.

COVID-19 is everywhere: Protect yourself and your family at all times during the pandemic by following all public health orders and recommendations and ensuring you do your part to stop the spread. COVID-19 is transmitted through coughing and sneezing (droplet transmission), and by touching surfaces with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands. Every day we are learning more about COVID-19 and other ways it may be transmitted.

Get tested: Learn more about testing and take the online self-assessment at Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 to determine if you need to get tested. Testing is universally available to anyone who requests it, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. Please note that in accordance with the latest expert advice on COVID-19, testing for symptomatic people should take place immediately after the onset of symptoms. If the result is negative and symptoms persist, the test should be repeated 48 hours later. Residents may contact Saskatchewan’s HealthLine 811 or their physician for a referral.

Care for yourself and others: Remember, anyone at any age can contract COVID-19, so be kind to each other and follow the recommended practices.

COVID-19 Alert APP: The Health Canada COVID Alert app is available to all residents at no cost in the Apple and Google Play app store. The app is another tool available to help prevent the transmission of COVID-19 by letting people know of possible exposures without sharing any personal information. For more information, visit the COVID-19 Apps webpage.