What is Covid-19?

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What is COVID-19?

What is a Coronavirus?

Coronaviruses are a family of viruses that can cause respiratory illness in people. Coronaviruses circulate among animals, including camels, cattle, cats, and bats.

How is the Novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 Different from Other Coronaviruses?

Just like there are different types of related viruses that cause smallpox, chickenpox, and monkeypox, different coronaviruses cause different diseases in people. The Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) coronavirus causes SARS and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) coronavirus causes MERS. The novel coronavirus, COVID-19 is one of seven types of known human coronaviruses. COVID-19, like the MERS and SARS coronaviruses, likely evolved from a virus previously found in animals. The remaining known coronaviruses cause a significant percentage of colds in adults and children, and these are not a serious threat for otherwise healthy adults.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19 infection?

Patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection have reportedly had mild to severe respiratory illness with symptoms such as fever, cough, and shortness of breath.

What Should I Do if I Think I Have Been Exposed to or Infected with COVID-19?

As a health care provider you have immediate access to local swabbing stations. Go immediately to a swabbing station and tell them you work in healthcare. If you are experiencing symptoms, you should tell your healthcare provider about any recent travel to areas where COVID-19 is

spreading. If you believe you have been exposed on the job, alert your supervisor or clinic immediately.

How is COVID-19 Diagnosed?

Your healthcare provider/hospital can determine if your signs and symptoms are explained by other causes, or if there is reason to suspect you may have COVID-19. If laboratory testing is appropriate, your healthcare provider will work with health officials, who in turn will work with CDC, to collect and test any clinical specimens for diagnosis.

How is COVID-19 Treated?

No vaccine or specific treatment for COVID-19 infection is available currently.

REMEMBER TO FOLLOW ALL CURRENT MENNO PLACE INFORMATION AND TAKE GUIDANCE FROM THE LOCAL HEALTH AUTHORITY, BCCDC AND THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANZIATION.

Point of Care Assessment

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Point of Care Risk Assessment Table

The Point of Care Risk Assessment (PCRA) is an assessment performed by healthcare workers and other staff before every resident interaction.

The PCRA will help you decide what Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to use in order to reduce the risk of exposure to the infectious disease. The PCRA  is to ask the following 3 questions and make a decision about what PPE one will wear based on the answers:

  1. What tasks am I doing with the resident?
  • Am I doing direct care or indirect care?
  1. What is the status of the resident?
  • Has the resident been exposed to or diagnosed for the infectious disease?
  • Is the resident capable of wearing a surgical mask? (does not refer to a N95 mask)
  1. Where am I performing my task and are there other people with the infectious disease present?
  • Am I performing my task in a room or common area where there are other people infected?

Use the results of the assessment to choose which PPE to use in order to break the chain of transmission and reduce the risk of exposure to the infected person or contaminated areas.

COVID-19 PODCAST – Dr. Cherniwchan – Medical Director of Abbotsford’s COVID-19 Assessment and Response Unit + Pastor Gary Simpson

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Dr. Cherniwchan is the Medical Director of the newly establishd COVID-19 Assessment and Response Unit in Abbotsford. Here he is doing a podcast with Gary Simpson, pastor of Broadway Church in Chilliwack. Lots to learn as we face the coronavirus and the fears around this virus.
https://anchor.fm/broadway-church/episodes/COVID–19-Podcast-with-Dr–Darin-Cherniwchan-ec8d9f

More Encouragement for the Menno Place Team

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Here are some messages for you from the Menno Place Families, Friends and Residents Facebook page:

 

Some encouragement – Good News!

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Words of encouragement from a daughter:

Hi all,

I would like to offer heartfelt thanks for the care and planning that has been taken to ensure the safety and well-being of the residents of Primrose Gardens and Menno Place.  This must be an incredibly difficult time to be working in elder care, and I am sincerely grateful for all you do.

I talk to my mother every day, and she would also like to express her thanks for the measures that have been put in place to keep her and my dad safe.  In some ways, the new regime is actually helpful for them because of their mobility issues.  They love having the bistro morning fare and the noon meal delivered to their door, and my mother really loves the programming on the Menno TV channel.  She is enjoying John Dyck’s hymn singing (she sings along) and encouraging words, and the armchair exercise class.  They are looking forward to a time when they can all be together at the noon meal again, but in the meantime they are content to live life in their apartment.

Thanks again!

———-

To the Staff at Menno Place

Our dad is a resident in Menno Home. Late last week he sustained a fractured hip followed by surgery at the hospital across the street. He is now back home, in your care for which we are extremely grateful.

Our dad never wanted to go to the “home” but as he suffered increasingly from dementia we knew it was the best place for him. It has not been easy releasing him to this awful disease.  Dementia is not kind to anyone – not to dad, not to us and not to you who look after him. For the past two years you have cared for him compassionately and helped mom on so many occasions as she had to leave him again and again when it was time to say goodby for the day.

Now, as dad is possibly facing his last days on earth, we are not able to be with him. This grieves us and we are not quite sure how to navigate this reality. Was it not for Covid, we would be with him there right now!  Perhaps it is fitting that you who have cared for him, looked after his needs, monitored his health and comforted him on our behalf are now also tasked with this final act of grace and mercy.  May you do so knowing that we honor you and are grateful for your kindness, attentiveness and competence.

Dad did not want to linger – he has wanted to go to his heavenly home for a long time. As a family we are praying that it may be soon so that he can see Jesus face to face and “know his purpose” again.

With gratitude and appreciation, his family

————–

Here’s an encouraging text from another daughter:

Goggle Donations from the Community

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Hi all,

Yesterday, we posted on Facebook that Menno Place is seeking Goggle donations for our staff. We are receiving these donations at Menno Hospital Main Entrance only. We’ve asked people to give a beep on their horn to let us know that they are on our team! So, if you hear a beep, that’s what it is about.

If you are on Facebook, Like our page – www.Facebook.com/MennoPlacelife

This was posted yesterday evening. So far… 31,620 people reached; 503 Shares and 89 Comments

On our www.Facebook.com/HumansOfMennoPlace page, we have 2,011 people reached; 37 Shares

This community is ON YOUR SIDE!

Here is what the post says:

Spark Kindness – Practicing Positivity

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Read more

Keeping You Informed – Childcare Services

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From Fraser Health – Effective March 31, 2020

Child care: for the week of March 30, if there are urgent situations where you require care for your children, please take the following steps:

  • School-aged children (K-6): contact your school principal (public and independent)
  • Children aged 0-5 (pre-K): contact the child Care Options Resource and Referral Program (ECDrefer@options.bc.ca or phone 604.572.8032)
  • If you are still unable to secure child care through these steps: Surrey School District  and community partners have offered access to child care for staff working in ALL Fraser Health communities. Please complete this survey to help us understand your need. If you have questions, please contact the Surrey School District at ecs@surreyschools.ca

More Child Care Options – CLICK HERE

Staff Protocol for Self-Monitoring – Follow These Steps

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LTC & AL Staff Protocol for Monitoring and Testing for Suspect COVID-19 Infection

Healtchare workers can go directly to the Assessment and Testing Center in Abbotsford – More Info

Download PDF version