To help educate and reduce public fear about COVID-19, Sask Health Authority shared this information with the City recently. Pass it on!
COVID-19: KNOW THE FACTS, SHARE THE FACTS
Please share this information with your friends and family. For more information like this, please visit the Government of Saskatchewan’s COVID-19 site:
https://www.saskatchewan.ca/…/emergi…/2019-novel-coronavirus
FINDING PEOPLE EXPOSED TO COVID-19: HOW DOES THE SASK HEALTH AUTHORITY DO IT?
Every time someone gets diagnosed with COVID-19 in Saskatchewan, the SHA works diligently to find everyone who came in contact with that person and who may also be infected. This work is called “contact tracing.”
Each case of COVID-19 may have multiple contacts, which is why the SHA ensures that all cases are followed up with as soon as possible (within 24 hours or sooner) to ensure their contacts are identified. The SHA works to get in touch with every single one of these contacts so that those with symptoms are tested, and close contacts self-isolate for the required 14 days.
Research shows that aggressive and priority-driven contact tracing is one of the most powerful ways to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and to “flatten the curve.”
How does it work? For every person the steps are:
- The Medical Health Officer and the SHA’s Communicable Disease Control Public Health team learn of a case through automated processes with local labs and the Roy Romanow Provincial Laboratory.
- The team’s case investigators connect with the person who tested positive for the virus (the case).
- The investigators conduct an in-depth interview about what the person did, where they went and who they saw during the time they were most likely able to transmit the virus to others.
- The team develops the list of persons who may be contacts and prioritizes them based on those who are most at risk of being infected with the virus. Then, the team’s contact tracers start calling all contacts in order of priority.
- Without revealing the identity of the person, all contacts are informed that they have been exposed to the virus.
- The contacts are offered information and guidance based on their unique situation. This will mean either testing, self-isolation or self-monitoring.
- Contacts can call the team back at any time with any questions.
- If any contacts develop symptoms, the team facilitates expedient testing.
- If a contact becomes a case, this cycle starts over again.
These investigators have been working hard every single day since before COVID-19 came to the province. Their work and dedication has made it possible for the SHA’s acute care services and health-care staff to provide the best care throughout all phases of the pandemic.