News

Weekly Health Update #8 with AFN Community Health Nurse

Published: May 25 2020 16:50

Weekly health update with AFN Community Health Nurse

Hi Everyone,

Spring is finally here! The sun is shining, and hopefully its lifting everyone’s mood, even just a little bit. Don’t forget to enter the Get Up and Move contest. Email me () or post on our facebook page a video OR picture of you or your family getting active! You could win 1 of 3 $50 gift cards, we can email or mail to you!
As there isn’t much “new” with Covid-19 lately, I am going to reiterate that basic prevention measures are so important! We can see the light at the end of the tunnel of this first wave. Plans are being made for businesses and child care to reopen. The excitement is there. But this pandemic is not over, another wave will be coming. Until herd immunity is achieved either naturally (enough people have had the virus, and are immune) or artificially (through vaccination), we are still at risk and so is our healthcare system. We have to be smart, we have to take it slow, and we have to be vigilant in basic prevention measures! Let’s keep working towards our new normal.

I have included the new list of symptoms that were updated May 22nd. Testing criteria now states if you show ONE or more symptom to please call 8-1-1 for assessment and directions on testing.

  • Wash your hands frequently, preferably soap and water if you have access, if not, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. Gloves are not the best defense for the public in preventing infection of Covid-19. Gloves frequently give a false sense of security, and is seen to actually create more cross-contamination.
  • The safest measure you can take is washing your hands after each interaction, and refraining from touching your face with unwashed hands.
  • Maintain 6 ft/2 m distance between you in anyone you come in contact with that is not in your 2-house bubble
  • Ensuring respiratory etiquette; covering coughs and sneezes with elbow
  • Sanitize/disinfect high contact areas of your home frequently: doorknobs, counters, remotes, taps, phones, etc.
  • If you have ONE or more symptoms of Covid-19 please call 811 to decide if you required testing
    • Fever (ie. Chills, sweats)
    • Cough or worsening of a previous cough
    • Sore throat
    • Headache
    • Shortness of breath
    • Muscles aches
    • Sneezing
    • Nasal congestion/runny nose
    • Hoarse voice
    • Diarrhea
    • Unusual fatigue
    • Loss of sense of smell or taste
    • Red, purple, or blueish lesion on the feet, toes, or fingers without clear cause

It is so important for us to take this slow so we can keep progressing forward. Keep an eye on the provincial updates, as they give the most up to date information regarding restrictions and recommendations. Thank you for your commitment to the health of our people and province.

If there is a topic you’d like to see more about, such as nutrition, physical activity during isolation, coping strategies, child and youth health, etc. Please let me know and I can look into helping you as well as the community!

Stay safe and wash your hands

Chelsea Sawyer
Community Health Nurse
O: 902-627-1245
C: 902-277-2297

%MCEPASTEBIN%

Best links to get information

Please see our Facebook page: AFN Community Health and answer the joining questions for access. Frequent updates, resources, and links will be posted there

Nova Scotia Government: https://novascotia.ca/coronavirus/

Nova Scotia Health Authority: http://www.nshealth.ca/coronavirus

Government of Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

World Health Organization: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

WHO advising on pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding: https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-on-covid-19-pregnancy-childbirth-and-breastfeeding

Mental Health Provincial Crisis Line: call 24/7 1-888-429-8167

Kids Help Phone: call 24/7 1-800-668-6868
text CONNECT to 686868
or chat online on their website

 

%MCEPASTEBIN%