Coronaviruses can cause illness in humans and in animals. Sometimes an animal coronavirus can cause illness in a human. Common coronaviruses that infect humans usually cause mild symptoms similar to the common cold. COVID-19 is a new strain of the virus that has not been previously identified in humans.

Symptoms range from mild (fever, cough, runny nose, sore throat) to severe (shortness of breath and breathing difficulties). Older people and those living with chronic health conditions appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely ill.

The virus is spread through close contact (within 2 meters/ 6 feet) with an infected person who is coughing or sneezing. You can also get COVID-19 by touching objects contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose.

People are encouraged to take common prevention measures, including regular hand washing with soap and water for at least 15 seconds. Make sure to dry your hands thoroughly. Or, you can use an alcohol based hand cleanser if your hands are not visibly dirty. It is especially important to clean your hands: • after coughing or sneezing • when caring for a sick person • before, during or after you prepare food • before eating • after toilet use • when hands are visibly dirty Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing and sneezing, or you can cough or sneeze into your sleeve. Throw used tissues in the garbage and immediately wash your hands. Avoid sharing household and personal care items (i.e., dishes, towels, pillows, toothbrushes, etc.). After use of these items, wash them thoroughly with soap and warm water, place in the dishwasher for cleaning or, wash in your washing machine.

At this time, there is no vaccine to prevent the spread of COVID-19. There are no specific treatments for coronavirus illnesses. Most people with COVID-19 will get better on their own. Some individuals, however, may require medical treatment.

It is not clear there is any significant benefit to wearing masks to prevent influenza or influenza-like-illnesses (including COVID-19) in community settings.

If you are ill and have recently traveled to an affected area, or if you are ill and have been in close contact (within 2 meters/ 6ft) with an ill person connected to the current outbreak, you should call Health Links–Info Santé, who will provide advice on where to go to be assessed. Individuals may be asked to self-monitor themselves for symptoms if they have recently returned from an affected area, or have been in close contact with someone who may have COVID-19. Individuals asked to self-monitor are not sick. However, if they develop symptoms such as a fever, cough, shortness of breath, breathing difficulties or any other symptoms, they should self-isolate (i.e., limit contact with other people) and call Health Links–Info Santé, or 911 if it is an emergency.

To self-monitor your symptoms, you should take your temperature twice a day, in the morning and at nighttime, using a digital thermometer by mouth (oral). Do not eat, drink, smoke and/or chew gum 30 minutes before taking your temperature. Do not take acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenol®) or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil®) during the 14-day self-monitoring period UNLESS your health care provider advises otherwise. A Temperature Self-Monitoring Form is available on the Manitoba Health, Seniors and Active Living coronavirus website (www.manitoba.ca/health/ coronavirus/providers.html).

If you develop a fever higher than 38.0°C (100.4°F), cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or any other symptoms at any time during the 14-day self-monitoring period, call Health Links–Info Santé before going to your local urgent care centre or emergency department, or call 911 if it is an emergency. Be sure to advise health officials as to your travel and/ or exposure history. Call Health Links–Info Santé in Winnipeg at 204-788-8200; toll free elsewhere in Manitoba 1-888-315-9257; Or, visit: Manitoba’s coronavirus website: www.manitoba.ca/health/coronavirus/index.html Canada’s coronavirus website: www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/ diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

If you may have been exposed to COVID-19 through direct contact with an ill person or in your recent travels. You are therefore being asked to self-isolate and monitor yourself for symptoms for up to 14 days.

Depending on a person’s exposure (i.e. contact with an ill person or recent travel) and/or symptoms of COVID-19, they may be advised to self-monitor for symptoms and/or self-isolate. To self-monitor for symptoms means to record your temperature twice daily as well as monitor your general well being to see if/when other symptoms develop (cough, sore throat, runny nose, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing). To self-isolate means staying home and keeping away from other people. This means not attending all activities/gatherings outside of the home, including work, school, university, health care and long-term care facilities, faith-based facilities (e.g., churches, mosques, etc.), grocery stores, restaurants and shopping malls. Source: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/coronavirus/public.html

Hutterites with more frequent outside contact should take extra precautions. Please adhere closely to social distancing policies, which includes washing and disinfecting thoroughly before and after your outings. For business or work connections, be mindful to limit contact. Cancel non-essential work travel outside of Manitoba. Use virtual meetings to reduce prolonged, close contact between individuals. Shopping - Any unnecessary or non-essential shopping outings should be avoided. Please weigh the risks and exercise caution. If you really need a particular supply, go buy it and wash your hands. But if you can delay your need for an item for a few months, do so. Health care: Consider cancelling medical appointments for minor conditions. This includes visits to doctors, dentists, chiropractors, physiotherapists, massage therapists.

Social distancing measures include cancelling or postponing any large-scale events with more than 250 attendees. This measure helps reduce prolonged (more than 10 minutes), close (less than two metres) contact between other individuals in public. Public health officials continue to recommend these social distancing measures for all Manitobans: • minimizing prolonged (more than 10 minutes), close (less than two metres) contact between individuals in public; • avoiding greetings that involve touching such as handshakes; • disinfecting frequently used surfaces; • following public health advice related to self-monitoring and self-isolation if you have travelled or have been exposed to someone ill with the virus; and • avoiding all non-essential travel, as well as crowded places and events. Source: https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=46933

Transmission of COVID-19 occurs most commonly through close contact (within two meters/six feet) with an infected person who is coughing or sneezing. It can also spread by touching objects and surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching your mouth, eyes or nose. This is because current evidence shows that COVID-19 can survive for hours to days on surfaces made from a variety of materials. This is why it is very important to regularly clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that people commonly touch (e.g., door handles/knobs, railings, elevator buttons, light switches, water fountains, etc.). All public places (e.g., shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants) as well as workplaces should ensure all surfaces and commonly touched objects are cleaned and then disinfected at least twice daily or, as needed (i.e., if surfaces/objects are visibility dirty). Cleaning removes germs and dirt using soap and warm water. Disinfecting kills germs using diluted bleach (one part bleach to nine parts water), alcohol solutions with at least 70 per cent alcohol or EPA-registered household disinfectants. Ensure the disinfectant is on the surface/object for one minute. People should wear disposable gloves when cleaning and disinfecting surfaces and objects. For soft surfaces and items such as carpeted flooring, rugs and curtains, clean with appropriate cleaners indicated for use on these surfaces/items or, wash in the washing machine using hot water if possible. Source: https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/coronavirus/public.html

It is very important to get reliable information. Make sure that you get high-quality information about COVID-19 from reliable sources. The Public Health Agency of Canada is a reliable source of information, as are provincial and territorial public health authorities. If you are finding that the news media is making you feel anxious, take a break from it.