Since the outbreak of the new Coronavirus (COVID-19) earlier this year, the Chinese community in Fredericton has been closely following both the news and official announcements from the Public Health Agency of Canada. COVID-19 is a new virus; there is currently no vaccine to protect against COVID-19 and no specific treatment for most people.

The current outbreak is very serious and being prepared is everyone’s responsibility. Let’s work together to protect the health and safety of our community.

I. SYMPTOMS

Symptoms may take up to 14 days to appear after exposure to COVID-19.

Symptoms have included:

• fever
• cough
• difficulty breathing
• pneumonia

In severe cases, infection can lead to death.

II. IF YOU BECOME ILL

If you have symptoms of COVID-19, self-isolate yourself within your home as soon as possible and immediately call 811 (Tele-Care 811) to access a free, confidential service that will provide health advice and access to the appropriate level of care. Describe your symptoms, travel history and follow instructions carefully.

III. PREVENTION

Use the following routine precautions to reduce exposure and protect yourself and others:

1. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available;
2. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands;
3. Avoid close contact with people who are sick;
4. Stay home if you are sick to avoid spreading illness to others;
5. Cover your mouth and nose with tissues when coughing and sneezing, and dispose of any used tissues as soon as possible;
6. Clean and disinfect frequently-used objects and surfaces;
7. Seek early medical help if you have a fever, cough and/or difficulty breathing, and share your travel history with healthcare providers
8. Know before you travel abroad - consult the Public Health Agency of Canada’s current travel notices before your departures. Avoid all cruise ship travel.

IV. BEING PREPARED

1. Follow the prevention measures mentioned in previous Section.
2. Prepare a Plan: consider
   • how you can change your regular habits to reduce your exposure to crowded places.
   • what you will do if you become sick. If you are a caregiver of children or other dependents, think about backup caregivers.
   • what you will do if a member of your family becomes sick and needs care.
3. Refill your prescriptions and consider seeing your health care provider to renew your prescriptions ahead of time;
4. Stock up on essentials of non-perishable supplies that you should have on hand in case you are sick or busy caring for an ill family member;
5. Communicate with family and friends about a buddy system in which you agree to check in on each other and run essential errands if you become sick;
6. Get reliable and up-to-date information.

The New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization recommends that New Brunswickers and their families should always be “72-hours ready” in case of an emergency and have everything they need, including food, water, medication, batteries, cash and other necessities.

V. TRAVELERS

Know before you travel abroad - consult the Public Health Agency of Canada’s current travel notices before your departures. Avoid all cruise ship travel.

Federal Regulations for Returning Travelers

1. Returning travelers are to alert a Boarder Services Officer at the airport should they have any flu-like symptoms.
2. For returning travelers from Hubei, China and Iran: You cannot return to work and should be self-isolated for 14 days. In addition, contact the local public health authority within 24 hours of arriving in Canada (in NB, call 811).
3. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, please avoid contact with others and call your health care provider as soon as possible.

New Brunswick Regulations – International Travel

All travelers returning to NB should monitor themselves and their children closely for symptoms for 14 days.

All children, students, staff, volunteers and family members who have returned from international travel are to avoid any public school, early learning facilities, or school district offices for 14 days from their date of their return to New Brunswick.

VI. COMMUNITY HELP

To better assist those who choose to self-isolate, CCANB has set up a “Voluntary Self-Isolation Support Group”. There are many volunteers in the group who are willing to help with tasks such as purchasing the daily necessities. Please scan the QR code below to join the group.

We strongly advise our friends and members who are returning from international travel from at-risk regions and countries to choose to self-isolate at home for 14 days as a precautionary measure and to minimize the potential risk of community exposure to the virus.

VII. LATEST INFORMATION

For the latest and most up to date Coronavirus (COVID-19) information, visit the following public health agency websites:

1. NB Public Health: https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/ocmoh/cdc/content/respiratory_diseases/coronavirus.html

2. Canada Public Health: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html

团结互助，防控新冠病毒

自年初新冠状病毒在中国爆发以来，福莱华人社区一直密切关注有关新闻以及本地卫生部门的公告。因为此次冠状病毒属于新型病毒，目前还有很多未知，也尚未有针对冠状病毒的药品和疫苗，为规避潜在风险，过去一段时间有华人朋友从国内返加，大部分人都选择主动在家自我隔离14天，这是对自己、对家人、对社区负责的善举，非常感谢这些朋友！

预防感染的最佳方法是避免暴露于该病毒。通常，可以帮助防止呼吸道病毒传播的日常预防措施包括：

• 经常用肥皂和水洗手至少20秒钟。如果没有肥皂和水，请使用含酒精的洗手液。
• 避免用未洗的手触摸眼睛、鼻子和嘴巴。
• 避免与生病的人密切接触。
• 生病时待在家里。
• 咳嗽或打喷嚏时用纸巾遮挡，然后将纸巾丢入垃圾箱中。
• 清洁和消毒经常接触的物体和表面。
• 如果您出现发烧、咳嗽和呼吸困难，请尽早就医，并向您的医护人员告知您最近的旅行史。

同时，我们倡议从国内来的朋友，无论您已经是我们福莱华人社区的一份子，还是刚刚移居此地的新朋友，恳请您能选择自我隔离，从而降低社区暴露于病毒的潜在风险。外面疫情还很严重，大家一定不要掉以轻心！让我们一起努力，从自身做起，把我们的社区守卫好，让我们社区每一个人能够拥有一个健康美好的社区生活。

为了更好地帮助主动选择自我隔离的朋友们，我们成立了“自愿隔离互助群”，有很多热心的志愿者加入该群，愿意为自我隔离的朋友提供生活必需品采买等帮助。请扫二维码加入“自愿隔离互助群”。

福莱的华人社区这么多年以来一直都是非常团结、温暖、互助互爱的，非常时期，我们要继续发扬我们华人包容、克己、与人为善的传统美德，设身处地，推己及人，互帮互助，让我们的社区一如既往的温暖和睦下去。

请注意，根据目前加拿大卫生部门的有关规定：

• 任何一位返加旅客有病症或感觉病了，应在机场海关通关时报告这些情况。
• 对于去过中国湖北省和伊朗的个人，返加后请勿返工返学、参加社区活动或集会，应自我隔离14天，并于抵加24小时内向本地健康卫生部门报备。
• 对于去过湖北省以外的其他中国大陆地区的个人，应该自我监测症状。如果出现了2019年新型冠状病毒感染的症状，请避免与他人接触，并尽快致电811医疗咨询电话，并告知他们您的旅行史和症状（例如发烧、咳嗽、呼吸困难），以便他们可以做出特殊安排迅速为您诊疗、化验，同时采取适当的感染控制措施。

• 另外，根据3月7日NB省教育部下发的指南，对于自风险等级二级和三级地区（目前包括：中国、伊朗、日本、意大利、韩国、香港地区、新加坡）旅游归来的个人——学生、学生家长、教职员工、志愿者，自抵达NB之日起14天内请勿返回公立学校、早教机构、学区办公室学习和工作，以降低新型冠状病毒在公立学校等教育机构传播的潜在风险。如果出现了2019年新型冠状病毒感染的症状，请避免与他人接触，并尽快致电医疗专线811，并告知他们您的旅行史和症状。  

  在您看病时，请将以下信息告知您的医护人员：

• 您的症状
• 您旅行经过或居住过的地方；
• 您是否与动物有过直接接触（例如参观过活畜市场）
• 您是否与病人有过密切接触，尤其是发烧、咳嗽或呼吸困难的病人。

更多官方信息请查阅

NB Public Health 网站：https://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/ocmoh/cdc/content/respiratory_diseases/coronavirus.html

Canada Public Health 网站：https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html