CORONAVIRUS PRIMER

Things have changed rapidly in the past few weeks as the number of COVID-19 cases has climbed in Saskatchewan and around the world. Andrea Hill details what you need to know about the virus in the province and what’s being done to reduce its spread.

Q What do I do if I think I have COVID-19?

A If you are experiencing symptoms such as fever or a cough, stay home and avoid contact with others. Take Saskatchewan’s online self-assessment tool at www.saskatchewan.ca/covid19. Depending on your responses, it may be recommended that you receive testing.

Q Can anyone be tested for COVID-19?

A

You cannot simply show up at a testing centre and receive a test; you need to be referred by a family physician, Healthline 811 or a local Public Health Communicable Disease Control office. While the province initially reserved tests for people who had a history of travel outside Saskatchewan, it was announced March 26 that tests would be available even for people who had not recently left the province.

Q How does the test for COVID-19 work?

A

People who have been referred for a test can go to a testing site. The Saskatchewan Health Authority has sites in Regina, Saskatoon, Prince Albert, Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Swift Current and Weyburn, plus 19 additional sites in northern Saskatchewan and six in rural areas. The test involves a swab of the back of a person’s nose or throat. The swab is sent to the Roy Romanow Provincial Lab for analysis. Testing for health care workers or in cases where there is concern about an outbreak is done in a day or two; other people may wait longer.

Q Are there enough test kits for everyone to be tested?

A

Saskatchewan Chief Medical Health Officer Saqib Shahab says there are currently enough test kits for people to be tested, though there may be “supply pressures” in the future.

“There may be some pressures in which testing may have to be prioritized, either for people who have more severe symptoms or people who have to get back to work if they’re negative, like health care,” Shahab said at a March 19 news conference.

As of March 19, there were approximately 16,000 test kits in Saskatchewan. An order for 50,000 collection kits was placed March 16 and multiple shipments of 12,500 were scheduled over the course of six weeks. Additional orders of 190,000 individual swabs were placed on various dates ranging from March 13 to March 19.

Q What does the province’s public health order mean?

A

The Government of Saskatchewan issued a public health order on March 17 to slow the spread of the virus and has since updated this order regularly. As of March

27, the order limits public and private gatherings to a maximum of 10 people and requires “non-allowable business services” to close or only offer online, pickup or delivery services.

People who have travelled internationally, including to the United States, are required to go into self-isolation for 14 days from their date of arrival into Canada. People not in compliance with the public health order can be fined up to $2,000.

Q What stores and services are still open?

A

The Government of Saskatchewan has deemed the following to be “allowable business services”:

■ health care and public health workers;

■ law enforcement, public safety and first responders;

■production, processing and manufacturing

■ and the supporting supply chains; ■ transportation and logistics;

■ government and community services;

■ media and telecommunications;

■ construction, including maintenance

■ and repair; select retail services; and

■ banking and financial services.

Businesses that do not provide critical public and business services are deemed non-allowable business services and must close their store fronts. They can still operate online retail and pickup and delivery services. Examples of non-allowable business services include restaurants, hairdressers, estheticians, fitness centres, galleries, theatres, museums, dentists, clothing stores, flower shops, sporting goods stores, music stores and pawn shops. A comprehensive list of non-allowable business services can be found on the Government of Saskatchewan website.

Q What if I’m sick with something other than COVID-19? Can I go to a doctor or the emergency room?

A

If there is immediate danger to your life, you should always call 911.

For non-urgent issues, you may be able to connect with your family doctor remotely. With the growing concern around COVID-19, the Saskatchewan government has provided support for physicians to offer virtual appointments to patients. A new payment code for physicians allows them to connect with patients by telephone or secure video. Contact your doctor’s office to see what options are available to you.

Q Can I still go to the dentist?

A

You can still access dental care in the case of an emergency, but all dental, optometrist, chiropractic, registered massage therapy and podiatry clinics are closed except for non-elective procedures.

Q

Can I go to work?

A

If you have recently travelled internationally or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, do not go into work.

Even if you are healthy, anyone who can work from home is encouraged to do so.

Gatherings of more than 10 people in one room are forbidden in Saskatchewan, which makes it impossible for some workplaces to function. Exceptions exist for places where two-metre distancing between people can be maintained or in locations deemed essential, such as grocery stores or health care facilities.

Q When will schools be reopened?

A

Kindergarten to Grade 12 schools closed March 20 and it is not clear when they will reopen. The Saskatchewan Ministry of Education has said decisions about how long schools remain closed will depend on advice from Saskatchewan’s chief medical officer.

The University of Saskatchewan suspended in-person classes March 16 and moved to online classes later that week. Classes will be offered online only for the remainder of the winter term and all final exams will be offered remotely. Spring and summer classes will also be offered online only.

Q My neighbour came back from a trip and is not staying home. What should I do?

A

If you have a concern about someone violating the Saskatchewan public health order, you can contact your local police department.

The Saskatoon Police Service said this week they have received “a number of those complaints” related to public health breaches, but they’ve had “100 per cent voluntary compliance” when officers attend a scene.

Q Can I leave my home to go for a walk?

A If you are experiencing symptoms of COVID -19, do not leave your home. If you are healthy, you can leave your home to exercise, including by walking or cycling, but still practise social distancing — that means keeping at least two metres between you and other people.

Q Can I get COVID-19 from packages delivered to my home?

A Chief Medical Health Officer Dr. Saqib Shahab says there have been no reports of people in Saskatchewan getting COVID-19 from handling an item. Some science suggests the virus can live on stainless steel surfaces for more than a day and on porous surfaces such as paper for a few hours. Shahab recommends washing your hands after handling new items. As an additional precaution, people can also wipe down or wash items if possible, or leave them to sit before handling them. “I think we just have to apply our judgment,” he says.

Q What are the Saskatoon Starphoenix and Regina Leader-post doing to protect people who receive the print edition of the paper?

A

The Saskatchewan printing plant is highly automated, so there is minimal handling of newspapers until they are transported to pickup locations, which are all outdoors. The distribution staff and the carriers who deliver our products have been directed to take proper precautions, including social distancing and using gloves and masks where necessary.

Q What aid is available for people who have to self-isolate or who have lost their jobs because of COVID-19?

A

Saskatchewan workers who are not working because of COVID-19 and are not receiving compensation from their employer, do not have private insurance and are not covered by other financial assistance programs such as employment insurance (EI) can apply for the Saskatchewan Self-isolation Support Program, which started taking applications March 25. Eligible workers who are in isolation, or have spent time in isolation dating back to March 11 will receive $450 per week for a maximum of two weeks ($900 total).

The Canadian government is creating a new aid measure that will see eligible people receive $2,000 a month for up to four months. According to the Government of Canada website, the Canada Emergency Response Benefit will cover “Canadians who have lost their job, are sick, quarantined, or taking care of someone who is sick with COVID-19, as well as working parents who must stay home without pay to care for children who are sick or at home because of school and daycare closures.

“The CERB would apply to wage earners, as well as contract workers and self-employed individuals who would not otherwise be eligible for Employment Insurance (EI).” An application website will be launched in early April.

The federal government estimates it will take 10 days for approved applicants to start receiving their money, with cheques starting to be sent out likely by late in the second week of April.

Q What is a ventilator and why might people with COVID-19 need one?

A

Mechanical ventilators are devices that help you breathe. Most people who contract COVID-19 will not need a ventilator, but in serious cases the disease can cause people to go into respiratory failure, which would require them to be on a ventilator.

Q How many ventilators do we have in Saskatchewan?

A The answer is changing all the time as the Saskatchewan Health Authority rushes to find more. As of March 25, the SHA reported it had 450 ventilators and had ordered 1,383 more, a significant jump from the week before, when it said it had roughly 200 ventilators and another 250 on order.

As of March 27, there was only one COVID-19 patient in Saskatchewan who needed a ventilator.

Q Is there enough personal protective equipment, including masks, for the province’s health care workers?

A

Saskatchewan Health Authority CEO Scott Livingstone says the province currently has enough PPE for health care workers across the province.

“We have a number of different items on order and are expecting those orders in upcoming weeks, but as you know, already across the world and in Canada and Saskatchewan there are limits on what we’re getting because it’s being distributed equitably by manufacturers, so we’re getting our orders, but we’re not getting exactly what we ordered,” Livingstone said at a March 27 news conference.

Q Can my landlord evict me if I lost my job and can’t pay rent?

A

No. The Government of Saskatchewan has temporarily suspended most evictions except in cases where there is a concern about health and safety, including violence or damage to property. Tenants who are unable to pay their rent during the state of emergency are expected to pay their rent in full once the state of emergency is over.

Q Why are government liquor stores still open?

A

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe says this was done to avoid driving all business to private stores and to prevent sending people with alcohol addictions into withdrawal, which could further strain the health system.

Q What can I do to help?

A

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought out the best in some people and businesses, who are helping in any way they can. Salons and construction companies are donating equipment to hospitals. A pair of Saskatoon-based distilleries are retooling to start manufacturing alcohol-based hand sanitizer. People are doing what they can to put smiles on people’s faces, including Warman firefighters, who are delivering gifts to children celebrating birthdays in isolation.

Everyone can help by obeying the public health order, not hoarding food or supplies, practising social distancing and washing hands well and regularly.

NOTE TO READERS

We know the speed and volume of coronavirus-related news is overwhelming and a little frightening. To help with that, we have several reporters looking at different aspects of the COVID -19 pandemic and are gathering all our stories, especially as they relate to life in Saskatoon and Saskatchewan, together on our website. All our coronavirusrelated news can always be found at

thestarphoenix.com/tag/coronavirus.