Several people who attended wake and funeral events in Cumberland House Cree Nation have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, says the Northern Inter-Tribal Health Authority (NITHA).
NITHA health officials say the people were likely infectious when they attended the wake from Oct. 24 to Oct. 25, and the funeral on Oct. 26.
Public health is advising anyone who attended the events during those dates to self-isolate immediately and contact 811 for further direction.
NITHA advises people to stay in isolation until assessed by their public health unit.
“It is important to note that individuals may develop symptoms from two to 14 days following exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19,” said the NITHA in a press release, Wednesday.
Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know:
Get weekly health news
Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities.
To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. In situations where you can’t keep a safe distance from others, public health officials recommend the use of a non-medical face mask or covering to prevent spreading the respiratory droplets that can carry the virus. In some provinces and municipalities across the country, masks or face coverings are now mandatory in indoor public spaces.
For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
Comments