As of April 14, 2020, the local Medical Officer of Health issued the following Class Order under Section 22 (5.01.1) under Ontario's Health Protection and Promotion Act.
This order is designed to protect the health of local residents by reducing the spread of COVID-19 in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
The order applies to ALL persons in the City of Kawartha Lakes who:
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are identified as a person diagnosed with COVID-19
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have the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, have been tested for COVID-19 and are awaiting the results of their test
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otherwise have reasonable grounds to believe they have symptoms of COVID-19, or
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are a close contact of a person identified in the above points.
As of April 14, 2020 at noon, you must:
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isolate yourself without delay as instructed by the HKPR District Health Unit. This includes: remaining in your home or isolation facility. Do not go outside, unless on to a private balcony or enclosed yard where you can avoid close contact with others. You must not have any visitors into your home except as permitted by the Health Unit.
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remain in isolation until the expiry of a 14-day period that begins on the day on which you first show symptoms, are tested, or are diagnosed with COVID-19 (whichever is earliest, or on the last day of close contact). Follow these guidelines unless instructed otherwise by the Health Unit.
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during the self-isolation period, reduce exposure to others to prevent the spread of infection or potential infection from COVID-19. Follow infection control instructions on the HKPR District Health Unit website (www.hkpr.on.ca) or those given to you by the Health Unit or any other staff of a healthcare facility to which you may seek or receive treatment.
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keep away from vulnerable persons. Follow any further instructions provided by the Health Unit pertaining to COVID- 19. In particular, you should seek clinical assessment over the phone – either by calling your primary care provider’s office or Telehealth Ontario 1-866-797-0000. If you need additional assessment, your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario will direct you to in-person care options.
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seek prompt medical attention if your illness worsens by calling 911 and telling responders of your COVID-19 related diagnosis or symptoms.
Self-isolating (quarantining) means staying at home and avoiding contact with other people to help prevent the spread of disease.
Generally, you should self-isolate if you are:
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over 70 years of age
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have a chronic medical condition (for example, diabetes, lung problems, immune deficiency)
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think you may have symptoms of COVID-19
This means that you should leave your home or see other people for essential reasons only. Where possible, you should try to get what you need:
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online
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over the phone
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from friends, family or neighbours
Stay home
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do not use public transportation, taxis or rideshares
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do not go to work, school or other public places
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your health care provider will tell you when it is safe to leave
Limit the number of visitors in your home
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only have visitors who you must see and keep the visits short
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do not visit with people who are most vulnerable to COVID-19, meaning:
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seniors
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people with chronic medical conditions (for example, diabetes, lung problems, immune deficiency)
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Avoid contact with others
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stay in a separate room, away from other people in your home, as much as possible and use a separate bathroom if you have one
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make sure that shared rooms have good airflow (for example, open windows)
Wear a mask
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ensure the mask covers your nose and mouth and wear it:
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if you leave your house to see a health care provider
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when you are within two metres of other people
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Keep distance
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if you are in a room with other people, stay at least two metres away from each other and wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth
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if you cannot wear a mask, people should wear a mask when they are in the same room as you
Cover your coughs and sneezes
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cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze
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if you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your upper sleeve or elbow, not your hand
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throw used tissues in a wastebasket that’s lined with a plastic bag
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the plastic bag makes it safer and easier to empty the wastebasket
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after emptying the wastebasket, wash your hands
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Wash your hands
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wash your hands often with soap and water
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dry your hands with a paper towel, or with your own cloth towel that no one else shares
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use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available
Also, read the Government of Canada’s guidance on how to self-isolate if you have:
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no symptoms, but are in a high-risk group or have recently returned from travel
A poster identifying the requirements for self-isolation is here:
