Targeted surveillance for COVID-19
Advisory Alert
April 11, 2020
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To: Local Health System Partners
FOR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
Communication with Public Health
We are streamlining our communication with area health care providers and henceforth will use email to communicate Advisory Alerts with you. If you have not already done so, please send your professional/office email address(es) to us at Health_Protection@phsd.ca immediately. These addresses will be used for the purposes of communicating urgent public health information.
COVID-19
In addition to the enhanced testing criteria recently announced by the Ministry of Health, local assessment centres are participating in a time-limited, targeted surveillance initiative in northern communities to help us better understand community transmission and contain the spread.
Who can be tested:
Until further notice, testing is encouraged based on clinical assessment and for individuals with ANY symptom potentially associated with COVID-19. This is a broad list for the purposes of the current time-limited targeted surveillance initiative. Signs and symptoms may include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscles aches, loss of appetite, sore throat, runny nose, loss of taste and smell, diarrhea. Note that this is not an exhaustive list.
A reminder that ALL people who are tested are followed up by public health and must self-isolate pending results. Generally, anyone who tests negative must self-isolate until 24 hours after symptom resolution. Generally, anyone who tests positive must self-isolate for 14 days from symptom onset. Case-specific direction is provided by public health in all circumstances.
Other highlights from include the following:
- The period of communicability for COVID-19 is from 48 hours prior to symptom onset to 14 days after symptom onset.
- Swabs should NOT be done on asymptomatic patients.
- Close contacts of a patient who is swab-pending should also self-isolate until results are known.
- Close contacts of a symptomatic patient who is not tested should self-isolate for 14 days.
COVID-19 testing sites
Public Health Sudbury & Districts maintains a list of COVID-19 assessment centres on our website: https://www.phsd.ca/health-topics-programs/diseases-infections/coronavirus#assessment. Please review the webpage for referral processes and hours of operation.
Should you have questions or comments, or for immediate reporting of COVID-19, please contact the Control of Infectious Diseases Program at 705.522.9200, ext. 301 (toll-free 1.866.522.9200) or after hours at 705.688.4366.
Sincerely,
Original Signed By
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer
This item was last modified on June 30, 2020