As of March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization officially declared the coronavirus (known as COVID-19) a pandemic, which is defined as the worldwide spread of a new disease. While the Public Health Agency of Canada maintains that the public health risk in Canada remains low, we will undertake all recommended precautions in order to respond as appropriately as possible and mitigate the risk of infection and infection spread.
What Pinnguaq is Doing
Pinnguaq will continue to communicate and provide education and training to its staff by monitoring the Government of Canada advisories and recommendations and will implement any required measures.
To minimize risk, Pinnguaq will ensure access to clean handwashing facilities, offer alcohol-based hand sanitizers, regularly clean objects that are high-touch areas such as doorknobs, and equipment, and actively encourage sick employees to stay home.
We are asking parents and guardians to watch for the following common signs of infection and to keep home children who exhibit these signs. Symptoms may include:
- Respiratory symptoms
- Fever
- Cough
- Shortness of breath and breathing difficulties
We also ask parents and guardians whose children have been to, or been in contact with individuals who have traveled to/from China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, and Spain to keep their children at home if contact or travel occurred within the last 14 days (whether they are showing symptoms or not).
We expect all staff and participants in our programs to implement and follow common practices to help reduce spread:
- Regular hand washing, with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds
- Covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing
- Maintaining social distancing
- Avoid touching the face
- Staying home if experiencing cold or flu symptoms
- Contacting healthcare provider ahead of visiting their office
Should you have any questions or concerns about this notice, please contact us.
