MEDICAL ADVISORY: Update on the Novel Coronavirus (2019 -nCoV)

Issued by:  Gayane Hovhannisyan, MD, MPH, PhD, FRCPC, Acting Associate Medical Officer of Health 

Current Situation

• Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services (NRPH&ES) is actively monitoring [i] the Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) and collaborating with local hospitals, emergency services, Ministry of Health, provincial and national colleagues
• The total number of cases [ii], and suspect cases, internationally are evolving daily
• As of today, they are two confirmed cases in Ontario, both in Toronto
• Our assessment, and the consensus of international experts, is that the risk for Canadians is low

If you have a suspect patient in your office:

• Screen patient(s) for history of travel to Wuhan, China within 14 days of symptom onset [iii]
  • If the patient has symptoms of respiratory infection such as cough, shortness of breath, fever but did not travel to Wuhan, China, provide medical assessment and evaluation as per your usual practice
  • If the patient has symptoms of respiratory infection such as cough, shortness of breath, fever AND travelled to Wuhan, China provide them with a mask, place them in a separate examination room and close the door
• Health Care Professionals are to don personal protective equipment for droplet/contact precautions (gloves, mask, gown and goggles) before further examination. A fit tested N-95 Respirator is to be worn for aerosol generating procedures.
• All suspect cases should be reported to NRPH&ES immediately at 905-688-8248 ext. 7330 Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., after hours 905-984-3690
• If it is determined the patient meets the case definition, we will coordinate with your office the transfer to a designated hospital for testing
• If the patient requires immediate medical attention, call 911 and inform dispatch of your suspect coronavirus patient

If you have a patient calling into your office reporting respiratory symptoms:

• Screen patient(s) for history of travel to Wuhan, China within 14 days of symptom onset
  • If the patient is symptomatic AND travelled to Wuhan, China, AND needs  immediate medical care, please ask them to call 911 and inform dispatch
  • If the patient is symptomatic (i.e. has a cough and low grade fever) AND travelled to Wuhan, China, AND does not need immediate medical care, provide them with the phone number of the NRPH&ES Infectious Disease program (905-688-8248 ext. 7330 ) and a nurse will gather details to assess if the patient meets the case definition. Please call NRPH&ES immediately to let us know that you have directed your patient to call us.

Infection Prevention and Control posters [iv] for your clinical office can be ordered on the NRPH&ES health care professionals’ webpage.

Resources

[i] Niagara Region Public Health – Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

[ii] ProMed International Society for Infectious Diseases

[iii] Annex B: Best Practices for Prevention of Transmission of Acute Respiratory Infection In All Health Care Settings Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee (PIDAC) Revised: March 2013

[iv] Niagara Region Public Health and Emergency Services resources

For further information, please contact Niagara Region Public Health & Emergency Services, Infectious Disease program at 1-888-505-6074 or 905-688-8248 ext. 7330  Monday to Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., after hours 905-984-3690.