Updated on June 12, 2020
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) is a new illness that causes lung infections. COVID-19 is part of a large family of viruses that include both the common cold and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)⁵.
The virus was first discovered in late 2019⁵ and has since spread to countries all over the world. The World Health Organization calls the world-wide spread of an illness a “pandemic”. The world is now working together to stop the illness from spreading further.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The most common symptoms are⁵:
- Fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
- Feeling tired
- Dry cough
Other symptoms include⁵:
- Body aches and pains
- Headache
- Stuffy nose
- Runny nose
- Sore throat
- Diarrhea
- Trouble breathing
- Chills (feeling cold and shivering)⁷
- Loss of taste or smell⁷
Most people who catch COVID-19 have mild symptoms. They can safely recover at home without any medical help. For every 6 people who catch COVID-19, 1 will have trouble breathing⁵.
People who have a higher chance of getting serious symptoms are⁵:
- People who are over the age of 65
- People who are overweight
- People who have weaker immune systems
- People who have long-term health problems
Examples of long-term health problems are diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, liver disease and cancer.
Call your surgery team and your family doctor if you have these symptoms:
- Fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
- Dry cough
- Trouble breathing
This could be a sign of COVID-19 or other serious health problem⁵. Your local healthcare teams can help you manage this. If you think it is not safe to wait, visit your local emergency room or call 911. If you call 911, tell them that you may have COVID-19.
How does someone catch COVID-19?
The most common way to catch COVID-19 is from someone else who has it.
There are a few ways that this can happen⁵:
- Breathing in when a sick person coughs or sneezes around you
- Breathing in when a sick person exhales around you
- Touching anything that has the virus on it, then touching your face
- Touch a sick person, then touching your face
How do I protect myself and my family from COVID-19?
There are a few things you can do to protect yourself and your loved ones:
- Practice social distancing⁶. Less person to person contact makes it harder for the virus to spread to another person. This means staying at home and away from areas with groups of people. Make work from home arrangements, if possible. Enjoy social activities such as worship and music events online, instead of in-person. Click here to learn more about social distancing.
- Wash your hands with soap throughout the day⁵. This will help kill any virus on your hands. Wash your hands for at least 20 seconds each time. Remember to wash between your fingers, under your nails and around your wrists. Dry your hands with a clean cloth or paper towel. If you cannot wash your hands, use hand sanitizer. Choose one with at least 60% alcohol². Click here to watch a video about handwashing.
- Do not touch your face with your hands⁵. The virus can enter your body through your eyes, nose and mouth. If you touch something with the virus, then touch your face, you may get sick.
- Disinfect surfaces that are touched every day². Some examples are toilets, doorknobs, desks, chair handles, light switches, counter tops, phones, faucets and sinks. Click here to see a list of approved products. Click here to learn how to make your own disinfectant.
- Cover your nose and mouth when you cough or sneeze⁵. Use a tissue or the inside of your elbow. Throw out the used tissue into a closed garbage bin right away. Then, wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or use hand sanitizer.
- Stay at least 2 meters (6 feet) away from anyone who coughs or sneezes². This helps prevent you from breathing in tiny drops of liquid from the sick person.
- Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others². This helps prevent you from breathing tiny drops of liquid onto other people. You should wear a cloth mask even if you are not feeling sick. Do not wear medical face masks meant for healthcare workers. Click here to learn how to make your own cloth mask.
How can I prepare my family?
Make a household planⁱ
. Make sure you have enough normal daily items for 2 weeks⁴. This includes medicines, food, drink and other household items. Know your local food delivery options.
Make plans for childcare, pet care, and working from home. This will help in case you start feeling sick. Call your older family members, friends and neighbours to make sure they have enough supplies.
Click here to learn more about household planning.
What should I do if I think I have COVID-19?
If you have mild symptoms such as a runny nose, tiredness or sore throat, stay at home and practice self-isolation until you recover. Self-isolation means staying away from all people. This will help protect everyone around you.
To help protect other people you should:
- Wear a face mask when you are around other people³
- Stay in a separate room from other people at home³
- Use a different bathroom at home if possible³
- Put the toilet lid down before flushing⁴
- Stay at least 2 meters (6 feet) away from other people³
- Do not use public transportation, taxis or ride shares³
- Do not share personal items like cups, plates, towels, or toothbrushes³
Most people can recover safely at home without any medical help. Staying at home will prevent your healthcare teams from getting overwhelmed. Help them make sure they have enough resources to care for the sickest people in your neighbourhood.
Click here to learn more about taking care of yourself and when to stop social isolation.
Call your surgery team and your family doctor if you have these symptoms:
- Fever of 38°C (100.4°F) or higher
- Dry cough
- Trouble breathing
This could be a sign of COVID-19 or other serious health problem⁵. Your local healthcare teams can help you manage this. If you think it is not safe to wait, visit your local emergency room or call 911. If you call 911, tell them that you may have COVID-19.
Call 911 or go to your local emergency room if you have these symptoms:
- Severe trouble breathing (hard to take a breath or speak in single words)
- Severe chest pain
- Sudden onset of confusion (not knowing what is going on around you)
- Fainting
These symptoms need medical attention right away⁶. Your local healthcare teams can help you manage this.
Will my surgery care plan change?
Your surgery team cares deeply about your health. This includes making sure you are a safe distance away from people who may be sick with COVID-19 at the hospital. In the next few months, there will likely be changes to the dates and times of your surgery appointments. Instead of in-person visits, your healthcare team will try to meet you online using video meeting tools. Check your email and phone messages daily so you do not miss any hospital messages. Together, you will come up with a plan to keep you safe and healthy.
Where can I learn more about COVID-19?
- Learn how the world is working together to control this illness
- Learn how to protect yourself
- Learn how to wear a non-medical fabric mask safely
- Learn how to use a fabric mask
- Learn how to care for a fabric mask
Myth Busters
World Health Organization
- Learn the truth about common COVID-19 myths
- Learn how the US is working to control this illness
- Learn about financial support for your family and business
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Learn how to protect yourself
- Learn what to do if you feel sick
- Learn how to prepare your home
- Learn how to manage anxiety and stress
Disinfectants for Use Against SARS-CoV-2
United States Environmental Protection Agency
- An up-to-date list of products that kill COVID-19
- An easy-to-read list of products that kill COVID-19
Managing Stress and Anxiety
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Tips on how to manage stress for adults and children
- Tips on how to manage stress for first responders
- Tips on how to manage stress for people after quarantine
- A list of health department phone numbers
Updates:
- June 12, 2020. Added a new resource on when and how to wear masks.
- April 29, 2020. Updated with EMMI COVID-19 patient education video.
- April 27, 2020. Updated symptoms of Coronavirus.
- April 15, 2020. Added a new section on when to call 911.
- March 23, 2020. Added a new section summarizing expected work flow changes in-hospital.
- March 20, 2020. Added a list of health department phone numbers to resources list. Changed social distancing link to CDC page. Rephrased sentence in alert boxes from to “If your symptoms are getting worse and you do not think it is safe to wait, visit your local emergency room or call 911.”
References:
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Get Your Home Ready.” Last modified March 18, 2020.
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/get-your-household-ready-for-COVID-19.html - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): How to Protect Yourself.” Last modified April 4, 2020.
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/prevention.html - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): What To Do if You Are Sick.” Last modified March 18, 2020.
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html - Government of Canada. “How to isolate at home if you have COVID-19” Last modified March 18, 2020. www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/covid-19-how-to-isolate-at-home.html
- World Health Organization. “Q&A on coronaviruses (COVID-19).“ Last modified March 9, 2020. www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): When to Seek Medical Attention.” Last modified April 13, 2020. www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/if-you-are-sick/steps-when-sick.html#warning-signs
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): Symptoms of Coronavirus.” Last modified March 20, 2020.
www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html - Wolters Kluwer. “Understanding COVID-19 and How to Stay Safe”. Last modified April 8, 2020. https://ce-vid.wolterskluwer.com/watch/ujhaiwHWqpb2dEQBx5UqgL?
- World Health Organization. “When and how to use masks.“ Last modified June 8, 2020. https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public/when-and-how-to-use-masks
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