The Saskatchewan Health Authority (SHA) is alerting the public of a COVID-19 case in Parkridge Centre in Saskatoon and is urging Saskatchewan residents to follow public health measures and personal safety precautions to prevent the spread of the virus, including physical distancing of two metres, frequent hand hygiene and self-isolating if you develop any symptoms of COVID-19.
In order to keep everyone safe during this time, family presence/visitation is being limited to compassionate reasons only in the following:
- Long term care home: Parkridge Centre
The decision to restrict family presence is not taken lightly. These measures are in place to keep you, your loved ones, and health care workers safe. The Saskatchewan Health Authority is asking the public for their support and cooperation in order to contain the spread of the virus.
Visitation is limited to end of life care which includes palliative care, hospice care or those who are at high risk of loss of life as determined with the patient, family and care team.
No other visitors are allowed into Parkridge Centre at this time and these limitations will remain in place until it is safe to return to the previous level of family presence.
Family members and support people who are permitted must undergo a health screening prior to entering the facility. This includes a temperature check and questionnaire. The family member or support person will be required to perform hand hygiene (hand washing and/or use of hand sanitizer) when entering and leaving the facility and when entering and leaving the resident’s room. Family members and support people will be required to wear a medical grade mask while inside the facility and potentially additional personal protective equipment if required. Family members and support people are not permitted to wait in waiting rooms or other common areas.
Detailed information about family presence during COVID-19 can be found at saskatchewan.ca/covid19.
Recognize the symptoms: Stay home if you have symptoms and monitor yourself. Symptoms include: fever, cough, headache, muscle and/or joint aches and pains, sore throat, chills, runny nose, nasal congestion, conjunctivitis, dizziness, fatigue, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite (difficulty feeding for children), loss of sense of taste or smell, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing.
COVID-19 is in Saskatchewan: Protect yourself and your family at all times during the pandemic by following all public health recommendations and ensuring you do your part to stop the spread. COVID-19 is transmitted through coughing and sneezing (droplet transmission), and by touching surfaces with the virus on it and then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands. Every day we are learning more about COVID-19 and other ways it may be transmitted.
How to avoid getting sick:
- Keep at least 2 metres away from others when in public and wear a mask when that’s not possible.
- Limit gatherings to the numbers specified in public health orders.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water; if soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
Get tested: An online self-assessment is available at Saskatchewan.ca/COVID19 to determine if you need to get tested. Testing is universally available to anyone who requests it, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not. Please note that in accordance with the latest expert advice on COVID-19, testing for symptomatic people may be delayed until their symptoms have been present for 48 hours to minimize the number of false negative tests. Call HealthLine 811 or your physician for a referral.
Care for yourself and others: Remember, anyone at any age can contract COVID-19, so be kind to each other and follow the recommended practices.