London's top doctor is doing his best to calm public fears surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr. Chris Mackie, medical officer of health at the Middlesex-London Health Unit, issued a five-page statement on Friday with up-to-date information on how public health officials are dealing with the virus and precautions the general public should be taking.
While Mackie noted that there is no doubt that COVID-19 will affect many people across the region, he stressed claims that up to 70 per cent of Canadians will be affected are simply wrong.
"Crucially, the overwhelming majority of us who become sick will not have any serious long-term consequences," Mackie stated. "Case fatality rates of about 3 per cent have been reported in some places, but the best estimates for established and well-organized healthcare systems in developed countries put the death rate closer to 1 per cent or less. The level of illness is comparable to the flu."
Mackie went on to note that most people who contract the virus will have a "rough time" for a bit, but will recover quickly. The elderly and those suffering from a chronic disease will be hardest hit and thus resources should be focused on them, according to Mackie. As such, Ontario has changed its testing policy so that only those sick enough to require hospitalization, healthcare workers, and Indigenous people on reserves will be tested.
"This change in the testing policy is big. Family doctors in the community will not be able to offer or order the test, and people in the emergency room won't be tested either unless they are sick enough to be admitted to hospital," said Mackie. "Testing an individual will not help them get better sooner. In the current pandemic, testing is useful mainly for identifying cases to help with containment and the reality is that we will soon be past the containment phase. So at this point, testing each person who is ill doesn't really help that person, but it does consume precious system resources."
People who do get sick are urged to stay home, drink plenty of fluids, get rest, and take Tylenol or Advil as needed. Mackie stated that only people who are feeling very ill - suffering shortness of breath, prolonged fever that doesn't respond to Tylenol, chest pain, and severe exhaustion - should make the trek to the hospital.
"A major factor in how this plays out will be whether, or not sick people take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of their infection to others," said Mackie. "If you are mild to moderately ill, especially with a fever, please stay home."
In order to prevent illness, people are advised to wash their hands frequently, avoid touching their face, cough into their sleeve, and avoid mass gatherings. Employers should ensure high-touch areas such as washrooms and door handles are cleaned often, allow staff who aren't feeling well to stay home, and encourage customers who aren't feeling well to delay their visit.
On Thursday, the Ford government announced the province's publicly funded schools would remain closed for two weeks following the March Break. It was a move that Mackie said was "fantastic" as it will delay the onset of Ontario's epidemic wave, getting the province closer to summer when other coronaviruses have been known to spread less frequently.
While Quebec has cancelled all mass gatherings with more than 250 people, Ontario has yet to do so. But Mackie noted that could change within days.
"Once we see significant community-based spread (i.e. multiple cases where there is no link to travel, or to other diagnosed cases), then cancelling mass gatherings would be warranted," said Mackie. "We are watching closely for these signals and sentinel surveillance in hospitals will help identify when this is occurring."
Mackie stressed that everyone has a role to play in helping to limit the spread of COVID-19, including putting the needs of the community's most vulnerable first, adhering to advise from public health officials, and supporting family, friends, and neighbours.
"You might give someone the help they need to stay home and not spread illness to others. Or you may be the one who is ill, and takes steps that save a life of someone close to you," said Mackie. "I think we can do it. I think we will live up to our Canadian reputation for being a kind and caring people. I think we can get through this together."