SELF-ASSESSMENT AVAILABLE ONLINE AT HOME
Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com
TORONTO — Here’s the first step to how you can see if you may have the corona virus.
Ontario has launched an online checklist.
The enhanced and interactive self-assessment tool asks some simple questions.
It will help determine if people are negative or it will provide them with guidance on where to seek care based on their needs.
As always, contact your primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000 if the symptoms are positive.
The new easy-to-use tool takes a matter of seconds.
In some cases, based on the virtual assessment, individuals may be referred by their primary care provider or Telehealth Ontario to one of the province’s 58 assessment centres for an in-person assessment. These centres, which are by referral only, are helping to ease the pressures on hospital emergency departments using innovative care models, including in some cases drive-thru testing.
Critically, the province says in a release Monday morning, the tool provides the province with real-time data on the number and geography of users who are told to seek care, self-isolate or to monitor for symptoms to help Ontario with its ongoing response.
“I encourage anyone who may have been exposed to COVID-19, have symptoms or may have travelled outside of Canada to first self-isolate and then take a few seconds to complete our new online assessment tool,” said Christine Elliott, Minister of Health.
The site was developed with guidance from Dr. Williams, Ontario’s chief medical officer of health.
The province says it is rapidly expanding service capacity to ensure timely responses and has increased Telehealth’s line capacity to more than 2,000 to help manage the high daily call volume.
As part of the investment of up to $304 million to enhance the province’s response to COVID-19, Ontario will be establishing additional assessment centres across the province.
The 58 centres that have already opened are in several municipalities across the province.
Visit Ontario’s website to learn more about how the province continues to protect Ontarians from COVID-19.
Ontarians should be practising social distancing to reduce their exposure to other people. Avoid close contact (within two metres) with people outside of your immediate families.
Anyone who has travelled outside of Canada should:
- Self-isolate for 14 days when they return. People who are self-isolating should not go to work.
- Monitor themselves for symptoms of the 2019 novel coronavirus for 14 days after returning to Canada.
- To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, wash your hands often, cough and sneeze into your sleeve or a tissue, and stay home if you are feeling sick.
Email Mark Clairmont at [email protected]
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