Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Your risk of severe disease may be higher if you have a weakened immune system. This may be the case for:

• older people
• people with chronic disease such as diabetes, cancer, heart, renal or chronic lung disease

On December 31, 2019, Chinese health authorities identified a new (or novel) coronavirus (referred to as 2019-nCoV or COVID-19) through a series of reported cases of pneumonia in Wuhan, China.

It is thought that this new coronavirus (COVID-19) originated in another animal (possibly of bat origin).

The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause illness ranging from a very mild, cold-like illness to a severe lung infection. Symptoms can include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, muscle ache, headache, and difficulty breathing (shortness of breath).

Coronaviruses can spread through droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to how the flu and other respiratory illnesses are spread.

Many of the patients in the pneumonia outbreak caused by the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) in Wuhan, China had some link to a large seafood and live animal market, suggesting animal-to-person spread. However, there is now clear evidence of human-to-human transmission of this virus. 

The World Health Organization advises that symptoms may appear in as few as 2 days or as long as 10 to 14 days after being exposed to someone with the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19). This time period may also be refined as new information comes out.

It is diagnosed by a healthcare provider based on travel history, symptoms, and laboratory tests. 

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
• Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early and share your recent travel history with your health care provider

If symptoms feel worse than a standard cold or are lasting normal than usual, see your health care practitioner. You should also:

• drink plenty of fluids
• get rest and sleep as much as possible
• try a humidifier or a hot shower to help with a sore throat or cough

There are no specific treatments for coronaviruses, and there is no vaccine that protects against coronaviruses. Most people with common human coronavirus illness will recover on their own.

Ontario is experiencing some importations of the novel coronavirus (2019- nCoV or COVID-19). Public Health Units are reaching out to known contacts to inform them that they may have been exposed to a potential health risk, what signs and symptoms they should look out for, and when and what type of medical treatment should be sought out if that becomes necessary. 

Ottawa Public Health continues to actively monitor this situation in collaboration with our provincial and national health colleagues, and stakeholders that include local hospitals  and community agencies.

Cases and potential suspect cases of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) are now reportable to local health authorities under the Health Protection and Promotion Act.

If there were potential cases of which we have been notified, we would immediately follow up directly with these individuals to let them know.

We would inform these people that they may have been exposed to a potential health risk, what signs and symptoms they should look out for, and when and what type of medical treatment should be sought out, if that becomes necessary. This work is part of routine public health follow-up of a case of an infectious disease.

In addition to Canada’s standard measures to prevent the introduction and spread of communicable diseases in Canada, Public Health Agency of Canada are implementing additional measures. These include messaging on arrival screens at the Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver international airports, reminding travelers to inform a Border Services Officer if they are experiencing flu-like symptoms, and an additional health screening question to be added to electronic kiosks.

Entry screening alone is not a guarantee against the possible importation of this new virus but is an important public health tool and part of a larger response strategy.

The risk to our community remains low. The Public Health Agency of Canada is continuing to collaborate with partners internationally as well as to share information and work with federal, provincial and territorial partners and public health authorities and to maintain Canada’s preparedness to rapidly identify, treat and prevent the spread of this emerging disease.

No matter where Canadians plan to travel, the Public Health Agency of Canada recommends that they consult travel.gc.ca (Travel Health Notice), which is the Government of Canada’s official source of destination-specific travel information. It provides important advice to help travelers make informed decisions and travel safely while abroad. As this is a rapidly evolving situation, travelers should check the PHAC website and consult with their health care provider prior to an international travel.

Call your healthcare provider prior to your visit and let them know about your travel history and symptoms (e.g., fever, cough, difficulty breathing) so that they can make special arrangements to see you quickly, be tested, and with proper infection control measures.

During your visit, tell your healthcare provider:

• Your symptoms
• Where you have been travelling or living
• If you have had direct contact with animals (e.g., visited a live animal market)
• If you have had close contact with a sick person, especially if they have had fever, cough or difficulty breathing

Travellers returning from affected areas

Travellers who have returned from Hubei province, including Wuhan City, should:

• call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 within 24 hours of arriving in Canada if they plan on travelling to Ottawa
• stay at home and avoid close contact with others, including those in their home,  for a total of 14 days from the date they left Hubei province
• call Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 if they experience symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19)

If you have travelled to mainland China, you may have come in contact with the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). For 14 days after the day you left mainland China, the Public Health Agency of Canada asks that you:

• monitor your health for fever, cough and difficulty breathing; and,
• avoid crowded public spaces and places where you cannot easily separate yourself from others if you become ill.

If you start having symptoms, isolate yourself from others as quickly as possible. Immediately call a health care professional or Ottawa Public Health (613-580-6744). Describe your symptoms and travel history. To further protect those around you, wash your hands often and cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing.

You will need to stay home and self-isolate if:

• You have confirmed 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and do not need hospitalization and can receive care at home.
• You are being assessed for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection by a healthcare provider.

There is no reason to wear a mask if you are well. There is little evidence that wearing a mask in public prevents a healthy person from becoming ill.  Masks may provide a false sense of security and may increase risk, as people continually check their masks and touch their faces without first having washed hands. Ottawa Public Health advises residents to take the usual measures to reduce the risk of influenza and other respiratory infections:

• Get a yearly flu vaccination, available from clinics and pharmacies as this is the best way to prevent influenza infection
• Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay at home if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
• If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm

In healthcare settings, different forms of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as masks and respirators, are used to help protect healthcare workers when they are in close contact with patients who are ill.

Healthcare workers are trained on how and when to use PPE. The use of masks and personal protective equipment is not recommended for members of the public who are well.  

Should residents of Ottawa be concerned about food items from China? 

Always remember to use safe food handling practices when preparing food items:

• Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15 seconds before preparing food and/or when changing tasks.
• Clean and sanitize utensils, cooking equipment and work surfaces. First clean the surface or item with hot water and soap, rinse and then sanitize with a  chlorine solution of 1 teaspoon of bleach added to one litre of water. Always make sure to use separate utensils for raw and cooked products.
• Cook foods to proper internal temperatures. Use a probe thermometer to check the internal temperature of food items. The cooking temperature must be maintained for a minimum of 15 seconds.
• Use separate utensils (e.g. spatula, tongs) and cutting boards to prepare raw meats, cooked meats and fruits/vegetables. 

Should community gatherings or events be cancelled because of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?

No. There is no need to cancel such events.  People organizing community gathering or events should remember the following tips :

• Get a yearly flu vaccination, available from clinics and pharmacies as this is the best way to prevent influenza infection
• Clean your hands frequently and thoroughly with soap and water, or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands
• Stay at home if you are sick.
• Cover your mouth and nose when you cough and sneeze
• If you don't have a tissue, sneeze or cough into your sleeve or arm

Can the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) be caught from a person who presents no symptoms?

Understanding when and how during an infection people can spread the virus to others is very important for control efforts. With most respiratory viruses, persons are most infectious when they are ill and are coughing or sneezing. It is less common for a person to spread a respiratory virus if they are not feeling ill or if they feel just a little bit ill. According to the World Health Organization, based on the current available data,  people who have symptoms of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19);would be causing the majority of virus spread. 

As an employer, what do I need to do to prevent the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)?

In general, it is business as usual. No cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Ottawa. If you receive questions from your employees, we invite you to point them to our webpage on novel coronavirus. Our website is updated regularly, and the frequently asked questions (FAQ) are available in English, French, and Simplified Chinese.   

Should healthcare workers who have travelled to China go back to work upon their return? 

• Individuals who have travelled to Hubei Province (China) should not go to work and should self-isolate for 14 days following their departure from Hubei.  
• Individuals who have travelled to mainland China (excluding Hubei province) should self-monitor for symptoms. If symptoms develop, individuals should immediately distance themselves from others, contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744, and, if at work, also contact their occupational health department and/or supervisor.  
• If the individual has had contact or potential contact with a case while in China or any other country, then the individual should not go to work and should self-isolate and contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744.  

Employers/healthcare institutions may implement requirements for their staff beyond what is being recommended for returning travellers.  

How do I pick up a returning traveller from Hubei province or Mainland China from the airport? Are there precautions I should take? 

If a returned traveller has no symptoms and is well, it is best to use a private car and to avoid public transportation. If a private car is not available, the person should use a taxi or shared ride service such as Uber or Lyft, 

Who can returning travellers call if they need mental health supports in Ottawa?