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S ERVE L UMBY • L AVINGTON • V ERNON • C HERRYVILLE • W HITEVALE
Vol. 05, No. 11, March 20, 2020
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COVID-19: FAQ
As we are all aware by now, the presence of COVID-19 has been now been labeled as a pandemic. There have been many different, and sometimes conflicting, reports about COVID-19. Here is some information I have gathered from the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) (www.bccdc.ca) that I hope will help clear things up for some of you.
B.C.’s COVID-19 pandemic response plans include a wide range of planning and preparedness actions to help individuals, local governments, health-sector organizations and businesses to plan for the possibility of a pandemic. The plan focuses on delaying, containing and preparing the province to minimize serious illness and economic disruption.
What you need to know What is coronavirus/COVID-19? Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses found mostly in animals. In humans, they can cause diseases ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS-CoV). The new coronavirus has been named COVID-19. While many of the characteristics of COVID-19 are still unknown, mild to severe illness has been reported for confirmed cases. Anyone concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus, should contact their primary care provider, local public health office, or call 8-1-1.
How can I prevent getting infected? The most important thing you can do to prevent infection is to wash your hands regularly and avoid touching your face. To help reduce your risk of infection: • Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Using soap and water is the single most effective way of reducing the spread of infection. • If a sink is not available, alcohol based hand rubs (ABHR) can be used to clean your hands as long as they are not visibly soiled. If they are visibly soiled, use a wipe and then ABHR to effectively clean them. • Do not touch your face, eyes, nose or mouth with unwashed hands. • Cover your mouth and nose with a disposable tissue or the crease of your elbow when you sneeze or cough. • Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces.
What is the risk to the public? In B.C., Canada and many other countries, we continue our efforts to prevent the virus from spreading in the community and break the chains of transmission. We are closely monitoring the global situation and
recognize that the virus is spreading within communities in other parts of the world. We are preparing and planning for more widespread transmission in B.C. and Canada to mitigate the impact of the virus on individuals, the health care system and the community. What is the situation in BC? You can find the latest information about confirmed cases in British Columbia here: http://www.bccdc. ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19/casecounts-press-statements To protect people in B.C. against novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and mitigate the impact of this illness on communities, the B.C. government and the provincial health officer have developed the British Columbia Pandemic Provincial Co-ordination Plan to respond to the evolving outbreak.
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Recent COVID-19 Restrictions and Closures
At the time of publication, here are a few of the recent restrictions ordered by the BC Government • All schools, public and private, are closed until further notice. • Daycares are still available. • All public gatherings of more than 50 people. This includes indoor and outdoor sporting events, conferences, meetings, religious gatherings and other similar events. • On the recommendation of the provincial health officer, the attorney general, minister responsible for the British Columbia Lottery Corporation, has ordered all casinos to close until further notice to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission. This order came into effect 11:59 a.m. on Monday, March 16, 2020. • They are also moving to restrict visitors in long-term care to essential visits only. Essential visits include compassionate visits for end-of-life care and visits that support care plans for residents based on resident and family needs, for example, families who routinely visit to provide assistance with feeding or mobility. • Based on the direction and recommendation of the public health officials, all Okanagan Regional Library branches will be closed effective Tuesday, March 17 until further notice. All book drops will be closed. Don’t worry; you won’t be charged fines or penalties. S U N D AY Breakfast Muffin 8-1pm $ 49 only No Name Large White $ 99 Eggs /Dozen
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M O N D AY Chicken Pot $ 99 Pie Russet 2/ Potatoes 5lb Bag $ 00
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THIS WEEK’S SPECIALS
T U E S D AY WEDNESDAY T H U R S D AY Everything Dairyland Alpine Bread $ $ 00 Sub $ 99 79 4Ltr Milk OFF Ea. BBQ ¢ Armstrong Cheese No Name Dog 600 gr $ Ribs 99 Food $ 99 8 kg /100g Ea.
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F R I D AY Hot Whole BBQ $ 99 Chicken Ea. Garlic Bread $ 99
S AT U R D AY French Bread $ 79
8 1 Deli Pizzas 00 2 Ea. $2OFF