By rdnewsNOW staff

coronavirus 101

COVID-19: What you need to know

Mar 12, 2020 | 11:21 AM

With information about COVID-19, commonly known as coronavirus, coming at an incredibly rapid pace it’s easy to get lost in the muck.

However, Alberta Health and Alberta Health Services have offered plenty of helpful information to get you through it all.

As of Thursday, officials say the risk level remains low in terms of Albertans contracting the virus.

Alberta Health says while patients with COVID-19 can show similar symptoms to someone with influenza, coronavirus is NOT the flu. Key differences include:

• COVID-19 does not appear to transmit as efficiently as influenza:
  • only those with symptoms seem to be spread the disease
  • controlling spread is possible when people with symptoms are isolated
• There is no specific vaccine or treatment for COVID-19.
• COVID-19 causes severe disease and mortality in more cases than the flu. On average there is about one to two deaths per 100 people infected with COVID-19, compared to one death in every 1000 people with the flu.
• Because COVID-19 can cause such a serious illness, it is critical to keep it from spreading by having people with a cough or fever stay home and away from others.

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If you believe you have symptoms of COVID-19, it is strongly recommended that you remain at home and call Health Link 811 for instructions. Do NOT go to the emergency room.

“Across Alberta, we are working to ensure that Albertans assessed as requiring testing for COVID-19, get that testing efficiently,” a statement from AHS says. “We continue to plan for and establish Assessment Centres as one route for this testing; however, we also continue to provide testing in-home, where needed, to ensure testing is completed rapidly.”

The in-home testing is conducted by a medical professional, not the patient.

“Testing is facilitated through a referral process, and AHS determines the most appropriate location for the testing, based on demand and resources available in any given community,” the statement concludes.

AHS also advises against stockpiling supplies. While it is best to have three days of supplies on-hand, AHS says, it is not recommended to purchase food or other materials such as toilet paper in bulk.

For more information, visit AlbertaHealthServices.ca and Alberta.ca.