03/14/2020
As per Pacific Midwidery Group
Dear Pacific Families,
We know you are hearing lots of information about the Corona virus (Covid-19) pandemic. We want to reassure you that as your care providers we are doing our best to take measures to help limit the potential spread of the virus and are engaged with the College of Midwives, BC Women’s Hospital, St Paul’s Hospital and our Health Authorities to keep current on information.
In our practice, we are asking anyone who has recently travelled to Iran, Korea, Japan, China or Italy, anyone with symptoms of corona virus (fever, cough with difficulty breathing) or anyone who has had direct contact with someone who is known to have corona virus PLEASE DO NOT COME TO THE CLINIC. Please call to advise us of your situation so we can make appropriate arrangements. If you are ill, we urge you to see your family physician, or contact a public health nurse by calling 8-1-1 to get advice about how to be assessed. DO NOT show up at a healthcare facility such as a doctor's office or hospital ER without first phoning ahead.
We are doing our best to prevent transmission of virus by not seeing high-risk clients, thorough disinfection of medical devices and furniture between client visits and regularly disinfecting common surfaces such as the waiting room, washroom, doorknobs, pens etc. We will also be putting away toys and leaflets in our clinic as these are difficult to clean between client appointments. We would also like to request that you not bring unnecessary family members or friends to your appointments at this time (you and your partner are necessary).
At this time, it is believed that the virus is mostly spread through respiratory droplet contact with an infected person much the same way influenza is spread. With droplet transmission, virus released in the respiratory secretions when a person with infection coughs, sneezes or talks can infect another person IF it makes direct contact with the mucous membranes; infection can also occur if a person touches an infected surface and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth. Droplets do not travel more than 2 metres and DO NOT linger in the air. Good hand washing, avoiding contact with known ill people, and avoiding touching of the face are all important ways to prevent transmission. Today it was also advised to avoid large group events and to cancel all unnecessary travel outside of Canada.
With regard to corona virus in pregnant women and babies, not much is known for certain at this time. The Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of Canada has published a statement to say that transmission to babies in utero is very unlikely. Furthermore, separation of ill mothers from babies is NOT advised. Parents are advised that breastfeeding may be good protection for babies and should continue even if a mother is ill with corona virus.
We know that pregnancy can already be a time of anxiety and concern and that many of you may be struggling with the additional worry of this outbreak. We encourage you to practice caution but to keep your concern and reaction level appropriate to the actual situation.
For accurate and up-to-date information about the outbreak in our area, please ensure you access information from RELIABLE resources such as the BC CDC or Health Canada. Do not rely on media or social media as a source of information as there is no monitoring of the validity or accuracy of these sources.
We hope this helps to answer any questions,
Sincerely,
Pacific Midwifery
CDC:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/pregnancy-faq.html
Government of Canada:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html
