Four coronavirus tests pending in province expected to be negative
Wuhan coronavirus test results for four Saskatchewan residents are still pending, but are likely to be negative, says the province’s chief medical health officer.
“Most of the tests do come back negative because even if you’ve travelled back from China and you get a respiratory illness, it’s much more likely — even though they have an outbreak right now — that it’s one of the common cold viruses or influenza,” Dr. Saqib
Shahab said at a news conference Wednesday morning.
A total of five coronavirus tests have been ordered in the province, with one already coming back negative. Shahab said Saskatchewan Healthline (811) has been receiving calls frequently from travellers.
Those who recently travelled from China and are symptomatic are being assessed by public health officials and the appropriate testing and precautions have been put in place.
With no confirmed transmission
outside of China, Shahab said Canadians have little to worry about.
“The health system, including public health, we are watching it very closely,” he said, adding Saskatchewan’s response hasn’t changed since the coronavirus was added to the Severe Respiratory Illness Protocol used in the province’s hospitals earlier this month.
According to the ministry, screening at Saskatchewan airports is not needed because they service no direct flights to China.
The appropriate screening, even for those whose final destination is Saskatchewan, is being done in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver where direct flights are available.
Shahab also addressed rumours and hoaxes about the presence of the Wuhan coronavirus — known as 2019-ncov — in Saskatoon that circulated on social media.
“The internet and social media
is a great gift for staying in touch with friends and family ... but one has to be very careful about what information is out there, especially if it relates to your health or well-being,” he said.
If a case of 2019-ncov is confirmed in Saskatchewan, it will be formally announced, as it has been in other provinces. Shahab urged residents to go to credible websites like public health or the Ministry of Health for that kind of information.
To date, there have been no confirmed cases in Saskatchewan.
The coronavirus outbreak started in Wuhan, China, in late December/early January. As of Wednesday, the death toll in China reached 132 and the number of confirmed cases reached 5,974.
It has spread to more than a dozen countries including three cases in Canada as of Tuesday: a husband and wife in Toronto and one presumptive case in British Columbia.
“We’re learning more and more as time goes on, but generally like all viral illnesses your risk of severe illness is more if you’re older or have underlying health conditions,” said Shahab.
Research has also shown that the more sick someone with 2019ncov is, the more infectious they are, similar to SARS, said Shahab, who took the opportunity to remind residents who have travelled to China recently and are symptomatic, to call 811 for assessment.
If a resident is deemed ill enough to require medical attention, they are asked to call ahead, whether that is the hospital or their family doctor, so they can follow the necessary isolation protocols and limit contact with other patients.