Setting the Record Straight on COVID-19 with O2 Fuel

I had the pleasure of speaking with Adam VanHoogenhuize, from O2 Fuel to discuss COVID-19, and help to debunk some of the misinformation out there right now.

The goal of our chat was to discuss key information about the virus, precautions to take and to focus on strategies to stay mentally and physically healthy during this time. 

We know times like these are stressful but it’s a great opportunity to look at some of the silver linings, such as spending additional time with family and creating healthy self-care routines. 

We hope you enjoy our discussion and learn some helpful tips. Watch the full video here. 

We will also be filming a few additional videos in the upcoming weeks, so stay tuned for more! 

COVID-19 At-Home Screening Tool

COVID-19 At-Home Screening Tool: Click Here.

If you think you have COVID-19 symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has the virus, Service Ontario has created this helpful self-assessment tool to help determine whether you need to seek further care. 

This is a great resource and we urge anyone with concerns to take the brief online assessment. It only takes a minute and once completed, you’ll know what to do next: Either stay home and continue to monitor your symptoms or call your doctor or telehealth.

Calling your own family physician is always the best choice for continuity of care – but we know call volumes are extremely high right now.

To help ease the strain and keep patients out of the ER, I will continue to offer telephone appointments 7-days a week to help people get access to the information they need and #flattenthecurve. You do not need to be a current patient. Our team is standing by to help: 519.339.9233

*Must be an Ontario resident

**This service is for informational, non-emergency information only. If you are experiencing any acute or life-threatening symptoms of any kind, please dial 911.

Coping with COVID-19 related Anxiety - Remember the Five M's!

As the Primary Care Lead for the Erie St. Clair LHIN’s Mental health, Addiction and Opioid Reduction Strategy, mental health is an area that is very near and dear to me. With the outbreak of COVID-19, we have seen an increase in anxiety-related calls to my practice. Fear and anxiety about the disease can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions, so over the coming weeks I’ll be sharing some additional resources here, to help our community stay both mentally and physically healthy during this unprecedented time.

Whether you’re already struggling with anxiety, sleeplessness or loneliness due to being in self-isolation - or just want to take pro-active steps to keep anxiety at bay - we’ve compiled a few recommendations to help you stay mentally and physically strong.

If distress impacts your daily life for several days or weeks, talk to a doctor, counsellor or contact your local Canadian Mental Health Association branch.

To help our patients access the care they need during this time, I’m also providing access to virtual care services to help ease the burden on the healthcare system. Our team is standing by to help: 519-339-9233.

*Must be an Ontario Resident.

Coping with COVID-19 related Anxiety

Remember the Five M’s!

1.    Maintain human connections

·         Call your family, FaceTime a friend, start a weekly virtual meet-up with friends. E-mail pictures and videos. Laugh, smile, connect.

2.    Move your body

·         Exercise releases endorphins which reduce stress. Even a little bit of movement will help. If you can get outside for some vitamin D, even better – but be sure to keep a minimum 6-foot distance from anyone else!

3.    Mindfulness & self-care

·         Self-care is critically important at this time as stress can be made worse if we aren’t taking care of ourselves. Engage in activities that you enjoy or haven’t had time to do. Learn something new like meditation – there are load of great apps out there (Headspace, Calm, Stop, Breathe, Think) and meditation can control stress, decrease anxiety and improve cardiovascular health.

4.    Minimize news

·         Seek information from reliable sources only and limit checking the latest news to short, defined periods of time. Turn-off the push notifications on your phone to avoid being peppered with updates 24/7 which can induce anxiety.

5.    Maximize healthy eating

·         Nutrition is medicine: By eating a healthy, balanced diet and avoiding processed foods you can boost your immune system, improve energy and reduce anxiety.

Canada Post Announcement - COVID-19

For those who may have missed it, earlier this week Canada Post announced some changes to the way they complete deliveries during this time. In order to limit exposure, they've made the following changes: 

• They will no longer require signatures for any deliveries to the door. Instead, their delivery agents will simply leave your items in your mailbox or outside your door, as long as it's safe to do so. 

• For any registered items or items that require proof of identity or age verification, like all cannabis products, you will receive a notice card indicating the post office where you can pick up your items by showing proof of identity. If you are sick or under self-isolation, please arrange for someone to pick-up these items in your place.

 For those purchasing medical cannabis, you may want to consider purchasing a little more than usual to ensure you’re in good supply and minimize your need for any additional points of contact in the community.  Should any current patients require temporary modifications to their medical documents to allow for larger quantities, please contact my office at 519-339-9233 to schedule a virtual appointment.

According to Leafly.ca, not all delivery companies have implemented the same rules as Canada Post. On Twitter, Purolator confirmed they no longer require signatures but that you can show a piece of government issued ID and agree to accept the packages verbally. Fed Ex and UPS appear to be following a similar approach.

More information available here.