Urgent notice of information from the Director of Health

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Good evening Ugpi’ganjig,

 

The Ugpi’ganjig Health Centre and the Eel River Bar First Nation would like to stress that all staff and community members have up to date, accurate and factual information regarding COVID-19.  COVID-19 has been making its way into our communities and surrounding areas.  As previously stated, the province has issued a state of emergency in New Brunswick.

COVID-19 is a SERIOUS health threat, and the situation is evolving very rapidly on a daily basis.  The risk varies between and within our communities, but given the increased number of cases in Zone 5 (Campbellton and surrounding areas) the risk to Eel River Bar is HIGH.

This does not mean that all community members will be infected by COVID-19, but it does mean there is already a significant impact on our health care system.  Again, if we do no flatten the epidemic curve now, the increase of COVID-19 cases could impact health care resources available to community members.

 

SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY SYMPTOMS:

 

  • Call telecare 8-1-1, your family physician, nurse practitioner, public health office or the community health nurse.
  • They will do an assessment over the phone to determine if you need further testing
  • Should you require testing, the health professional will give you an appointment time, in which you would present yourself at the testing clinic, and only then will the test be done.
  • Place red colour card on door window to notify Health staff of your condition.
  • In the meantime, you should be STAYING HOME & SELF-ISOLATING and monitoring symptoms while you await your results, which can take 3 days.
  • Do not leave your home for 14 Days, and practice physical distancing (a distance of 2 metres) between everyone living in your house, and use a different bathroom if available.
  • Practice good hand hygiene and wash your hands for 20 seconds, and cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow.
  • Public Health is the lead and does all the follow-up with client testing (check-ins, follow-up, contact tracing, etc.)

 

YOU HAVE NO SYMPTOMS BUT HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH THE VIRUS:

 

  • STAY HOME & SELF-ISOLATE for 14 days, and monitor yourself for any symptoms.
  • Practice good hand hygiene and wash your hands for 20 seconds, and cough or sneeze into the bend of your elbow.
  • Physically distance (a distance of 2 metres) yourself from anyone living in your house, and use a different bathroom if available.
  • Use delivery service for any supplies needed, if available.

 

ALL OTHER COMMUNITY MEMBERS:

 

  • Stay home, it is the ONLY way to protect yourself and your family from the virus.
  • Only go out for ESSENTIAL food and supplies, should you need to go out, maintain a distance of 2 metres between yourself and anyone in public places.
  • Avoid crowded places and non-essential gatherings, use delivery services if available.
  • Use technology to keep in touch with loved ones or to work from home.
  • Always remember to have good hand hygiene: Wash hands frequently throughout the day for 20 seconds.
  • Cough and sneeze into the bend of your elbow, avoid handshakes and touching commonly touched surfaces
  • Disinfect commonly touched surfaces, and your vehicles.
  • Take a shower and wash your clothes upon arrival of public places.

 

Together we can slow the spread of COVID-19 by making a conscious effort to keep a physical distance between ourselves and each other, and by STAYING HOME.  These methods have proven to be the most effective ways to reduce the spread of illness during this outbreak.  We all need to do our part to keep our community and its members safe.

The number to report any non-compliance COVID-19 cases is 1-844-462-8387, or you can reach them by email at helpaide@gnb.ca

 

 

Welalioq,

 

Misty LaBillois
Director of Health, Misty LaBillois