Current as of June 1, 2020
KEG COVID-19 Series Part 3: Patient Information Sheet A family presents to the Emergency Department with sore throat, cough, and runny nose. They have not traveled outside of Canada in the past 14 days, they have not been in close contact with a confirmed COVID-19 patient or any other sick travelers. They are worried about COVID-19 and want to be assessed They also want some reliable information about COVID-19 Their vital signs are triage are within the normal range
The COVID-19 pandemic has created many concerns for patients in Alberta. Below are the answers to many common questions
1. What is COVID-19?1 -
“COVID-19” is the term used to describe the illness caused by the virus “SARS-CoV-2” Most patients (>80%) who have the virus will have mild symptoms (like the common cold) or no symptoms at all; they recover well with rest at home in self-isolation A few patients (about 15%) will struggle to breathe and need to come into hospital Depending on the region, COVID-19 is fatal in 0.5-3% of cases As the virus spreads it puts increasing demands on our health care system There is a limited supply of hospital beds, equipment, and staff to manage this illness By staying home you can “flatten the curve” and spread cases out over time; this will allow hospitals to manage the flow of patients and avoid a crisis
2. Should I see a doctor?1,2 -
Most patients with cough, fever, runny nose do not have COVID-19; most “colds” are still “colds” As of April 19, 2020; only 2.5% of Albertans tested were positive o In other words, 97.5% of tests were negative for COVID-19
Call 911 immediately if you are struggling to breathe, severe chest pain, very lightheaded, drowsy, or have other severe symptoms needing urgent attention Call 811 Health Link before seeking medical attention if: -
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Your symptoms are mild and tolerable o Note: all patients with cough, runny nose, fever, or sore throat must self-isolate for 10 days, or until symptoms have resolved, whichever is later If you have symptoms and have travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days
If you have no symptoms but 1) have returned to Alberta from outside Canada on or after March 12 2) you have close contact with a traveler who has symptoms
Stay home and self-isolate, do not go to an ER or clinic Call 811 Health Link for further instructions Take the COVID-19 self assessment test at https://myhealth.alberta.ca/Journey/COVID19/Pages/COVID-Self-Assessment.aspx