The Physicians of Golden continue to test for COVID-19 in the community, while keeping citizens informed by disclosing information via Facebook posts.
With Golden鈥檚 first confirmed cases of COVID-19, announced March 17, ensuring the public gets the proper information has become more important than ever, according to Dr. Trina Larsen Soles, a physicians at Golden Medical Clinic.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to get our message out as best we can to everyone, regardless if they have internet or not,鈥� Larsen Soles said.
鈥淥ur message to everybody is to just stay home, don鈥檛 have gatherings, don鈥檛 take your kids on playdates, just stay at home.鈥�
In terms of numbers, Larsen Soles isn鈥檛 able to provide an update beyond that there are currently positive COVID-19 cases in Golden and they continue to administer tests. This is due to patient confidentiality.
The province will only be providing numbers for specific regions, with Interior Health registering 30 positive cases as of March 23.
鈥淭ypically, they won鈥檛 even release what communities have positive cases, just the region as a whole and Interior Health is pretty big,鈥� said Larsen Soles.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 want people ostracized and we don鈥檛 want to reveal personal information about folks and their privacy trumps the public want to know everything. Act as though your neighbour has it, act as if it鈥檚 everywhere because it probably is.鈥�
Larsen Soles says the reason they decided to go public with the fact that there were positive cases in the community were so residents would understand the severity of the situation.
One thing Larsen Soles emphasized was Golden has not become a cluster, which is defined as a group of people that either has positive diagnoses of COVID-19 or a group that has come in contact with those who have.
An example of a cluster would be the dental convention that was held in Vancouver in early March which had several COVID-19 cases linked to it, or the Lynn Valley Care Home in North Vancouver that has been the location for the majority of the COVID-19 related deaths in B.C. and Canada.
鈥淢ost people are taking it seriously and taking precautions, but it鈥檚 important to remember that these aren鈥檛 suggestions, they are orders,鈥� said Larsen Soles.
The Town of Golden announced bylaw officers will be patrolling the town, ensuring all businesses are upholding their end of orders and maintaining proper social-distancing practices outlined by the provincial government.
Larsen Soles said the best way to continue to combat the virus is by self-isolation, hand washing and sanitizing.
According to her, the outbreak in Canada is at a turning point.
It will take about a week or two to know if the efforts have been successful in flattening the exponential curve of growth of the virus, or if Canada is set to become the next Italy.
While self-isolating, it鈥檚 important to keep the bigger picture in mind and focus on the things that can be controlled, such as thought and behaviour.
