The doctors at Bayswater will endevour to keep this page up to date-please check back to this page and the news section regularly for updates.
The best source of up-to-date information on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in British Columbia is the BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC). This document provides answers to additional questions from patients with chronic conditions. This infographic from the BC College of Family Physicians is helpful.
If you are concerned about your symptoms, please see the ONLINE COVID19 SELF ASSESSMENT TOOL.
If you require COVID testing as per the above tool please consider the following options:
- Check the BC COVID Dashboard, (link here) which includes information on available testing centres.
- Call 8-1-1
- Contact us at the office
Please remember that as of Thursday April 23, patients without symptoms should not be tested, and testing supplies should be conserved for those who need them.
For information on the development of an antibody test for use in BC please check here.
B.C.’s Ministry of Health has released a new app for information and alerts on the coronavirus pandemic.
The free BC COVID-19 Support app includes:
- A self-check tool.
- Lists of recommendations from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control.
- Guides on handwashing and social, or physical, distancing.
- Basic information about COVID-19.
If you have mild symptoms and have been asked to self isolate at home, please read the following guidelines.
Please note that emerging reports indicate you should NOT use anti-inflammatory medications for cough/cold/flu symptoms, as these may eventually WORSEN outcomes for COVID. This means you should avoid the following medications: ibuprofen, naproxen, diclofenac (oral form), celecoxib (Celebrex). If you are taking any steroid medications you should consult your physician for further instructions.
If you need more information, please contact our office for instructions before coming to the clinic. You may also contact 811 or go to emergency for severe symptoms. Most people with minor symptoms should not come to the office and should self isolate at home. We are offering the option to have a video visit with your doctor instead of a face to face appointment for many types of medical problems. For those patients who are booked to see the doctor face to face in the office, please review the following information prior to attending the office.
We find the daily update by Dr. Bonnie Henry and Adrian Dix on CBC very informative and you can find this online. We encourage you to practice social distancing, and you can learn more about why this is so important here.
Province Launches a COVID-19 Dashboard: The dashboard provides the latest data on COVID-19 cases in British Columbia. Information is provided on total number of cases, hospitalizations, deaths, testing information and other covid 19 statistics for British Columbia.
All people returning from out of country, including the USA, should self isolate at home for 2 weeks. If you have a medical concern during this time, please phone our office and discuss the best way to proceed with our staff . Some tips for how to self isolate and what self isolation means can be found here.
Non-medical advice phone line
The province offers a phone service to provide non-medical information about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 am – 8:00 pm at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 1-888-268-4319.
Please note that you do not need a sick note if you need to be away from work due to illness or self-isolation. Here is a letter you can share with your employer.
The use of unproven therapies for covid 19 is NOT recommended:
Although all British Columbians are hopeful a cure or treatment can be found quickly, it is critical to note that at this time, a proven treatment for COVID-19 does not exist.
These treatment claims may include, but are not limited to, the following drugs: hydroxychloroquine, chloroquine, azithromycin, lopinavir/ritonavir (Kaletra), and colchicine.
In a recently posted position statement on unproven therapies for COVID-19, the BC Centre for Disease Control states: “It is important to understand that there are potential harms to the patient, risks to our understanding of what is truly a beneficial treatment or not, and depleting access to therapies known to be helpful or essential in other disease states. For these reasons, the use of unproven therapies for COVID-19 is not recommended outside clinical trials.”