Sick at home? Watch for critical period after Day 5
Richmond man second in province to die while at home with COVID-19
Medical experts have learned there is a critical period of time, usually between Day 5 and Day 10, when people who have COVID-19 are most at risk, Dr. Bonnie Henry said on Wednesday.
“We are looking through all of what we’re doing to support people who are self isolating at home,” Henry, the provincial chief medical health officer, said. “Some people will be getting better and be fine, other people can very quickly go downhill” between Day 5 and Day 10.
“So there’s a critical period of time where we do want to make sure that anybody who has any concerns gets the health care that they need.”
If patients are concerned about shortness of breath, fever or that they are not getting better after five to seven days, call 811, she said. “Call 911 if you can’t breathe, if you’re feeling short of breath, if you have chest pain. It is important that people know that these are signs that you need to seek additional help.”
Her comments followed the province’s second home-death from COVID-19, a 47-year-old Richmond man on the weekend.
Co-workers of Warlito Valdez have started a fundraising campaign for the family he left behind when he died 11 days into a 14-day isolation after testing positive for COVID-19 on March 23.
Valdez, husband of Flozier Tabangin and father to their fouryear-old daughter Charlotte, worked as a residential support worker at a home for people with intellectual and physical disabilities that is run by the Richmond Society for Community Living.
“Warlito’s colleagues have started a GoFundMe campaign to provide financial assistance to Warlito’s wife (so) she can focus her time and energy on grieving and caring for her daughter,” said the society’s acting executive director Shannon Crofton.
To contribute visit the GoFundMe page. Donations can be made here: gf.me/u/xv37gy.
By Wednesday evening more than $30,000 had been raised, with donations ranging from $5 to $500.
Crofton would not say how many residents or staff at the society have tested positive for COVID-19 but said it was considered “a small cluster” of cases. She said all staff are following pandemic control rules set out by health authorities.
“Like in health care, practising social distancing while providing front line support is challenging and we continue to follow all recommendations of the health authority and our funders.”
Christie Totten, a manager at the society who worked with Valdez, said she was struck by his dedication to his family. She said he worked tirelessly to provide for them. Valdez trained as a nurse in his home country of the Philippines before moving to Canada three years ago.
“His greatest fear after being diagnosed with COVID-19 was spreading the illness to his wife or daughter. He brought a high level of professionalism and dedication to his work.”
She said his commitment to his family motivated her to set up the fundraiser.
“He would want to know that his wife and daughter are being thought of and being taken care of by the community at large. It is during these difficult and unprecedented times that having community support is crucial.”