Coronavirus (COVID-19 )
College of Registered Manual Osteopaths (Canada) wants to support registered manual osteopaths and registered osteopathic manual practitioners during this time of Coronavirus infectious disease (COVID-19) by ensuring that they are staying informed and consulting credible resources.
The information about this situation is rapidly changing. CRMO will keep you updated with new information as it becomes available.
The Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 website (http://www.ontario.ca/page/2019-novel-coronavirus) is updated twice daily at 10:30am and 5:30pm.
The Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 website for health workers and healthcare employers (www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/2019_guidance.aspx) now includes guidance for specific health sectors and posters with information for patients and visitors.
Other resources: Public Health Ontario (Provincial) (http://www.publichealthontario.ca/en/diseases-and-conditions/infectious-diseases/respiratory-diseases/novel-coronavirus)
Health Canada (Federal) (http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection.html)
World Health Organization (Global) (http://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019)
Travel advisories: Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Travel advice http://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/latest-travel-health-advice.html
Current advisory: An official global travel advisory is in effect: Avoid non-essential travel outside Canada until further notice.
Protecting ourselves and others:-Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer-Sneeze and cough into your sleeve-Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth-Avoid contact with people who are sick-Do not touch your face when in public spaces and wash your hands immediately after-Stay home if you are sick
RMO and ROMP Clinics: Some registered manual osteopaths and registered osteopathic manual practitioners have opted to close their manual osteopathy practices temporarily to protect themselves and their clients. The current information from the Ontario Ministry of Health, Health Canada and the World Health Organization (WHO) does not indicate that this is necessary at this time, if proper and frequent hygiene is practiced. If the advisories change, we will be sure to update manual osteopaths. MOs and ROMPs are able to implement policies to not treat clients that are showing flu-like symptoms. You can also implement a policy to not treat individuals who have been outside of Canada for the past 14 days. The Ontario Ministry of Health recommends you undertake active screening (asking questions about symptoms and travel/exposures), which can be done over the phone before the client arrives, and passive screening (signage) of patients for COVID-19.
Symptoms to look for: According to Health Canada symptoms can include:-Fever-Cough-Shortness of breath
What to do if you develop symptoms and fit the case definition (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/pro/programs/publichealth/coronavirus/2019_guidance.aspx) of a probable case of COVID-19:
Step 1: Isolate yourself within the home as quickly as possible Step 2: Call Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000Step 3: Contact your public health unit (http://www.health.gov.on.ca/en/common/system/services/phu/locations.aspx)Step 4: If advised, visit an assessment center (www.news.ontario.ca/mohltc/en/2020/03/correction-province-implementing-enhanced-measures-to-protect-ontarians-from-covid-19.html)
