Spread the word about NOT spreading the virus – request from Public Health Sudbury & Districts
March 30, 2020
Dear Community Partners:
Thank you all for your ongoing work to flatten the curve and reduce the impact of COVID-19 in our communities. It takes all of us to change norms and expectations so that social (physical) distancing is the default behaviour of our entire population, and self-isolation is a common expectation where this is appropriate.
The team at Public Health Sudbury & Districts has worked actively on developing resources and key messages to support the adoption of these public health measures. Over the last number of days, we have promoted a number of posts related to social (physical) distancing on our social media channels, Facebook and Twitter.
We need your help to get these messages out to our broader community! Today, I am reaching out to ask you to consider promoting our messages with your staff and stakeholders.
It’s simple: Head over to our Facebook and Twitter pages, follow us if you don’t already, and re-share our key messages as much as you can!
I also encourage you to consult the COVID-19 resources on our website at phsd.ca. These are updated regularly as new information becomes available.
Thank you in advance for all your support as we work together to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities.
Dr. Penny Sutcliffe
Background:
Social (physical) distancing means limiting the number of people you come into close contact with and distancing from each other to reduce the opportunity for the virus to spread from person to person. This means things like:
- Avoiding crowded spaces and staying two metres apart from others when you will be in public areas.
- Avoiding shopping at peak hours.
- Avoiding physical contact with others (for example, no handshakes).
- Promoting remote work whenever possible and conducting meetings virtually rather than in person.
- When spending time outside, maintain a two-metre (6 feet) of distance from each other.
Self-isolation is when you are required to separate yourself from others, with the purpose of preventing the spread of the virus, including those within your home. Self-isolation is required for ALL returning travellers to Canada for a period of 14 days following return. Self-isolation is also required for persons who have been tested for COVID-19 or have tested positive, as well as their close contacts. Self-isolation is also strongly encouraged for all persons over 70 years of age and individuals who are immunocompromised. Self-isolation means things like:
- Staying home
- Limiting the number of visitors in your home
- Avoiding contact with others
- Keeping distance
Penny Sutcliffe, MD, MHSc, FRCPC
Medical Officer of Health and Chief Executive Officer / Médecin-hygiéniste et directrice générale
Public Health Sudbury & Districts / Santé publique Sudbury et districts
1300 rue Paris Street l Sudbury, Ontario P3E 3A3
Phone 705.522.9200 ext./poste 291 Fax 705.677.9606
phsd.ca @PublicHealth SD
Healthier communities for all/Des communautés plus saines pour tous
Public Health Sudbury & Districts recognizes the ancestral land on which we live and work as the traditional territory of the Ojibwe, Odawa, Potawatomie, Algonquin and Métis Peoples. This territory is covered by the treaties of Robinson-Huron, Manitoulin Island, Treaty 9, with Wiikwemkoong remaining unceded.