The provincial seniors advocate says she believes B.C. care homes are correctly equipped to shield residents from outbreaks of the COVID-19 coronavirus.
The World Health Organization has stated aged folks and people with pre-existing circumstances reminiscent of hypertension or diabetes are extra probably to develop a critical sickness if they’re identified with COVID-19.
But to date, there have been no circumstances of coronavirus in any of B.C.’s 294 long-term care homes. Seniors advocate Isobel Mackenzie expressed confidence in amenities to handle the virus.
“Care homes are accustomed to most of these outbreaks,” stated Mackenzie. “An outbreak of influenza, pneumonia or norovirus are all frankly equally as critical as an outbreak of COVID-19 can be in a care house, and we deal with these outbreaks.”
Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and well being minister Adrian Dix stated Thursday there are 21 confirmed cases of coronavirus in B.C. One of these circumstances is a woman in her 80s who is in critical condition after getting back from a visit to India.
In an replace Friday, Dix stated over 2,000 folks in B.C. have been examined for the virus.
Mackenzie stated households shouldn’t be involved about family members in care. Controls, Mackenzie stated, are in place to restrict or prevent the unfold of coronavirus amongst senior residents.
“I believe perspective is necessary,” she stated. “There has been no motive to suppose something apart from we’re dealing with this as greatest we are able to. I do know there’s lots of people working round saying we aren’t ready for a pandemic, go refill on bathroom paper and cans of beans. I believe we want to watch out right here and we want to take a look at the info and perspective.”
That perspective would possibly want to embrace use of medical provides.
On Monday, the World Health Organization warned of global shortages to personal protective equipment reminiscent of gloves, aprons and masks.
SecureCare BC is a non-profit affiliation targeted on protected working circumstances for persevering with care givers. The group’s CEO, Jennifer Lyle, stated she is worried in regards to the gear provide chain and, if shortages start to have an effect on Canada, the well being of care givers.
“In B.C., in case you are a wholesome particular person and you’re simply going about your day locally, you don’t want a surgical masks,” stated Lyle. “We really want to be asking ourselves some laborious questions on in case you are utilizing a masks and you might not essentially want it, who’re we taking that masks away from?”
tyler.harper@nelsonstar.com
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