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Good evening everyone, Canadians that arrived on Friday, Feb 7th, on the two flights from Wuhan have 8 days left out of their 14 days of quarantine at Canadian Forces Base (CFB) Trenton. The 158 persons who arrived yesterday, Feb 11th, on the third flight from Wuhan, have 12 days left of their 14 day quarantine at CFB in Trenton. So far all is good with everyone. The Holland America Line cruise ship that was rejected from docking at five ports over fears of the coronavirus was allowed to dock today, Thursday, in the port of Sihanoukville, Cambodia. Additional, up-to-date information can be found here. We echo Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director General at the World Health Organization, in thanking the government of Cambodia for their solidarity and humanity. Please see here the situational report #20 dated Feb. 13, 2020, received this evening from the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). The virus has infected 59,804 persons and killed 1369 persons in China. It is important to note that Hubei province has changed their reporting criteria for cases, resulting in a large spike in case count numbers for China. As you know, authorities in China continue to restrict travel to contain the outbreak. The number of confirmed cases reported to us today by the EOC, in Canada, is unchanged – seven; three persons in Ontario and four in BC. All are recovering at home in self-isolation. In Ontario, at this time, there are 15 persons under investigation with lab results pending. The young woman in London, Ontario (third confirmed case), has fully recovered, and her case is considered resolved. The EOC continues to work hard at finalizing new guidance documents for Independent Health Facilities, Laboratories, and Pharmacies., as well as issuing revised ones based on the change to the case definition communicated to us last Friday (travel history has been expanded to mainland China), as well to the name change – now, Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). We encourage you to review the excellent Q&A sent yesterday regarding PPE here. We want to reinforce, again and again, the important stewardship role we all have regarding judicious use of PPE according to the guidelines. We continue to hear that supplies are disappearing and that is a risk to all, should we need them. Please remind colleagues that health professionals’ need for supplies, including N95 masks, are being attended according to risk assessment. Health care providers facing immediate supply needs regarding personal protective equipment can email the ministry at EOCLogistics.MOH@ontario.ca. We received no question since yesterday. We are inspired by your commitment to the collective good and we thank you for your warm emails of appreciation for these daily updates. Know that we are honoured to help streamline factual and accessible information. A reminder to all to be up-to-date on EOC information: http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/2019_guidance.aspx. RNAO wants to continue to hear from you and your teams should you be experiencing any challenges – please send your emails directly to me at dgrinspun@rnao.ca. You can also access the health provider hotline and website regarding questions about the outbreak, protocols, preparedness, and more. The toll free number is 1-866-212-2272, and the health provider website, updated regularly with useful resources, can be accessed here. An important reminder that the health provider website and the toll free number are for you – as a health professional – and not for members of the general public. The ministry’s public website on the Novel Coronavirus exists to inform the general public – encourage your family and friends to access this public website. We also have information for the public on our website at www.rnao.ca which we update daily. The WHO has provided an excellent link for you to share with members of the public here. To Canadians currently quarantined in the cruise ships, and in particular those who are confirmed cases: We know the stress you are undergoing and hope to have you all back home soon! Endless thanks to all our health professionals in Ontario – especially the ones working at CFB Trenton, to those working in the cruise ships, and the thousands of professionals dedicating their expertise to the people in China and other affected countries: We stand with you and send positive energies! Doris Grinspun, RN,MSN, PhD, LLD(hon), Dr(hc), FAAN, O.ONT
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