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stay home when sick

TYH: When to stay home this COVID winter

Nov 10, 2020 | 8:00 AM

Staying home this fall and winter when sick is what health officials are recommending…but what exactly does that mean?

“So anyone that’s feeling ill really needs to say home and think about if they need a COVID test or not,” says Rakel Kling, Medical Health Officer with Northern Health.

The BC Centre for Disease Control’s (BCCDC) website says that if you are feeling sick, regardless of whether or not you feel COVID-19-like symptoms you should stay home.

“I encourage people that are feeling unwell, to take a look at the BCCDC’s website to see the symptoms that are compatible with COVID and if you feel like you are having symptoms that are compatible with COVID-19 to consider getting a test.”—Rakel Kling, Medical Health Officer, Northern Health

COVID-19 symptoms:

  • Fever (see below)
  • Chills
  • Cough or worsening of chronic cough
  • Shortness of breath
  • Sore throat
  • Runny nose
  • Loss of sense of smell or taste
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
  • Diarrhea
  • Loss of appetite
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Muscle aches

Less common symptoms include, a stuffy nose, conjunctivitis, dizziness, confusion, abdominal pain and skin rashes or discoloration of fingers or toes.

For northerner’s who think their symptoms may check off several of the COVID-19 ones, they can reach out the Northern Health’s COVID-19 Online Clinic and Information Line to see if they need to be tested.

The BCCDC suggests that those feeling ill, whether or not they feel COVID-19-like symptoms, stay home and try and have minimal contact with family members.

“If you’re having really significant symptoms so symptoms like, shortness of breath, chest pain, confusion–those are times where you really shuold contact a health provider urgently.”—Rakel Kling, Medical Health Officer, Northern Health

British Columbians continue to be advised by health officials to wash their hands regularly, clean high touch surfaces on a regular basis, physical distance and wear masks in public.