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Nova Scotia ramps up restrictions

Posted bySarah Fraser March 22, 2020
A conversation with Dr. Lawrence Hill

Posted bySarah Fraser December 17, 2019
Flattening the Curve: Controlling the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted bySarah Fraser March 13, 2020
COVID-19: A negative test doesn’t mean you’re in the clear

Posted bySarah Fraser March 21, 2020

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Guest on the Pieces of Us Show

Posted bySarah Fraser March 30, 2020
Stay at home; save a life

Posted bySarah Fraser March 29, 2020
How long can the coronavirus stay on surfaces?

Posted bySarah Fraser March 23, 2020
Nova Scotia ramps up restrictions

Posted bySarah Fraser March 22, 2020

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Today there were 5 new cases of COVID-19 in Nova S

Today there were 5 new cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. This brings the province’s total to 127. It was also the first day that community spread has been confirmed here.
Today was also my first day out of self-isolation. And I feel free. Well, free relatively speaking. At least I can go for walks and get groceries now.
On my drive from Halifax to Antigonish, I noticed that almost everyone is taking physical distancing seriously. Thank you society!! 🙂

I also got fitted for my N-95 mask today (will post about what an N-95 mask is in the future). All set for getting back to work in the hospital tomorrow.
Stay tuned, and stay safe ❤️

At a Nova Scotia press briefing today, it was anno

At a Nova Scotia press briefing today, it was announced that there were 12 new cases of COVID-19 in the province. This brings the total number of NS cases to 122. All of the new cases are related to travel.

Premier Stephen McNeil and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Strang re-emphasized the crucial role of self isolation and social distancing in lessening the impact of the pandemic in our communities.

Now on my 14th day of self isolation, I’ve had lots of time to think! I’ve been thinking about what factors will allow us to come through this pandemic strong. 💪One of the things we need right now is mental flexibility. Our situation is changing and changing rapidly. We really do need to take things day by day, adapting to our new realities as they come.
I came across this quote today-“Our minds must be as ready to move as capital is, to trace its path and to imagine alternative destinations.” – Chandra Talpade Mohanty
I think that if we all try to adopt an approach of mental flexibility and patience, it will help us come through this together.

In what ways have you had to be mentally flexible?

I came across this quote yesterday and thought it

I came across this quote yesterday and thought it was so appropriate for right now. If you’re feeling anxious lately, that’s normal. I think it would be weird to not feel some anxiety at a time like this. At the same time, it’s more effective to try to replace that fear with hope. I have seen people across the globe coming together like never before. And thank you to everyone who is taking the advice of public health officials and staying at home. By doing this, you are protecting your family, friends, neighbors and communities. Thank you!

Day 11 Of self isolation. Obviously it’s time to

Day 11 Of self isolation. Obviously it’s time to get on board with the #boredinthehousechallenge

In today’s news, Ontario reported 170 new cases

In today’s news, Ontario reported 170 new cases of COVID-19. This is the largest single day increase in the province since the outbreak started. This means that there are a total of 858 cases.

Everyone is affected by this. Everyone in the world. The number of cases in Africa is increasing, which is highly concerning. A positive aspect, as many people are commenting, is that the globe is coming together. We are seeing this in many ways.

One way to slow the rate of spread is, as we’ve all heard, through self isolation and social distancing. I am on day 11 of self isolation and it’s really, really hard. I find myself waiting for the Uber eats guy to come, watching out my window, just so I can have two seconds of human interaction. A smile and a wave through a pain of glass. I wrote a bit more about my experiences self isolating on today’s blog. You can find it at www.sarahfrasermd.com

Stay safe! (Link in bio)

The number of cases of COVID-19 continues to incre

The number of cases of COVID-19 continues to increase. But so has our testing capacity. Some positive updates for Nova Scotia this week:

We have doubled our testing capacity and we know that testing is key to preventing new cases. Nova Scotia can now process 400 tests per day.
We can also now analyze tests within our own province instead of sending them out of province for confirmation. That means we get the results faster. Staffing to run the 811 phone lines has increased, too.
The number of cases is bound to continue to increase, but let’s keep doing what we’re doing to #flattenthecurve 🙂 #stayathome

Thank you for staying at home, Canada!

Thank you for staying at home, Canada!

The pandemic is affecting the entire world. One po

The pandemic is affecting the entire world. One policy in place in most regions is social distancing. Each country has a slightly different approach. One social distancing measure is limiting the number of people that can gather together. Germany has one of the more stringent policies. No more than two people can be together at the same time, excluding family members.
Thanks to everyone who is practicing this! You are saving lives. It might not seem like it because it’s technically inaction, but embracing ‘inaction’ is a form of action.

Hey! I hope you all are staying safe and healthy o

Hey! I hope you all are staying safe and healthy out there. I say “out there” because I am still in isolation. Today is day 10! Almost at the 14 day mark.

Adding structure to my day helps a lot. I started creating a schedule of exactly what I want to do. This morning I did a FaceTime work-out with my sister Katie who lives Timmins. I’m going to do some writing now then review the latest research on COVID-19. It’s important to read the news but it can also become overwhelming. It’s easy to be obsessed with everything that is happening in the world right now. Taking breaks from it is important.

Really looking forward to getting back to work next week! Let me know in the comments how social distancing or self isolation is going for you and your family.

As of yesterday, there were 41 cases of confirmed

As of yesterday, there were 41 cases of confirmed COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. We continue to see the devastating effects of this pandemic across the globe.

The most important thing that we can do right now for each other is to follow the advice of public health and government. In Nova Scotia, there are no fines in place for not following the rules.

Next week, when I’m finished my self isolation, I will be going back to work in the hospital in Antigonish. Please don’t be the person that contributes to spreading this disease. The message is clear that you should go home and stay home.

And thank you to everyone who is doing this! It may seem like a lack of action but by staying home, self isolating when necessary, and following social distancing but you are definitely saving lives. I appreciate you so much.
I would love to hear about examples of positive stories you are seeing right now in your community, wherever that may be. Please share in the comments. We will get through this together.

Hey everybody, I hope you all are keeping safe out

Hey everybody, I hope you all are keeping safe out there. Just wrote another blog about the coronavirus and the length of time that these types of viruses can remain on surfaces. There have been a couple of new studies in recent months that show that the coronavirus can stay attached to surfaces for days. That’s why wiping surfaces down is so important!

To read the full blog check out my website. Link in bio. See you soon. And stay safe.

New York has become the new coronavirus epicentre

New York has become the new coronavirus epicentre according to a New York Times article published yesterday. New York City And it’s suburbs account for approximately 5% of all global cases.
Over 15,000 people in New York State have tested positive and most of those cases are in New York City. A navy ship has been deployed to New York to help with the coronavirus outbreak.
Despite this, Central Park remains open, as per the Central Park Conservancy website on March 23rd.
Yesterday, the province of Nova Scotia announced the closing of all public parks, which was a good move on the province’s front.
Take social distancing seriously. Follow government recommendations.
And I love parks. But I also love New York. No more parks. Just for now.

When I was a 2nd year medical student, I wrote thi

When I was a 2nd year medical student, I wrote this book of poetry. It’s a collection of poems reflecting on my experiences training in an emergency department. I actually haven’t read it myself in years. Reading former writing is almost like listening to yourself talk on an audio recording. It’s weird. But fun, too.
I wanted to post about this today because of the title. Humanity Emergency. As I wrote on the description on the back of the book, “The poems speak to the emergency for more humanity in medicine and in our world more generally. The time is now. The person is you. It’s an emergency. Go.” Though written years ago, it rings true now, doesn’t it? We are in the middle of a pandemic. It’s a humanity emergency in a couple of ways. First of all, COVID-19 is leading to emotional hardship, physical suffering, economic suffering and even death in humans on a global scale. The other emergency is that we need to show our humanity and compassion to one another. I am seeing such strong evidence of the community coming together. I see it in my world of medical professionals who are unifying like never before. I am seeing it in the way that our communities are respecting social distancing, washing their hands and isolating when necessary. And in the way people are getting groceries for their elderly neighbors and family members.
But fighting this virus requires the action of everyone in order for it to be effective.
The time is now. The person is you. It is an emergency.

Go.

I just finished watching the press briefing given

I just finished watching the press briefing given by Dr. Robert Strang, chief medical officer of Nova Scotia, premier Stephen Macneil and other top officials. I am reassured that Nova Scotia is doing the right thing for our society.

There are now 28 cases of COVID-19 in Nova Scotia. It is so crucial that we learn from other parts of the country and the world.

Today, the province has instituted fines for people who do not obey social distancing. For individuals, the fine is $1000 per day. For businesses, the fine is $7500 per day. It is possible to get these fines repeatedly if social dancing is not followed. All public parks are now closed.
Another update is that Nova Scotians are not allowed to gather in groups greater than five people. If you are near others, it is important to stay 2 m apart from one another.

In addition, as of 6 AM tomorrow, anyone returning to Nova Scotia, even from another part of Canada, will be required to self isolate for 14 days, even if there are no symptoms. This was a smart and necessary move.

The steps taken by the province today are correct. We have a duty to protect ourselves and each other. When I am out of self-isolation and back to work at the hospital, the actions that you take today will directly affect what my job is like. The more that this disease spreads, the more pressure there will be on the healthcare system. Things are changing rapidly.
Thank you to the government and public health officials who are working so hard. Nova Scotia is doing the right thing.

Social distancing is crucial and necessary. Nova S

Social distancing is crucial and necessary. Nova Scotia called a state of emergency today. You will be fined $1000 if you violate the rule.
It is important to be extremely careful when you go to the grocery stores. Don’t bring your kids. Wash your hands. Wipe off the handle of the cart before and after you use it.
Buy what you need for the next week or two. But don’t buy months’ worth of food and supplies. If you’re not sick, please don’t buy masks. When I’m out of self isolation in a week, I will be ready to work in the hospital. Health professionals like me need masks to protect ourselves from getting sick.If we’re sick, then we can’t take care of you!

So please-Buy what you need but don’t hoard like a hamster! 🐹

COVID-19: A negative COVID test doesn’t mean you

COVID-19: A negative COVID test doesn’t mean you’re in the clear

By Drs Brendan McCarville and Sarah Fraser (Link to blog in bio)
We are in an unprecedented time. With the amount of information available, it is easy to feel overwhelmed. Sometimes the information we consume is confusing.
For example, at a March 16th press briefing, President Donald Trump addressed the public about COVID-19. He stood next to Vice President Mike Pence and other top officials. A reporter asked him whether he should be taking greater precautions for social distancing between himself and Pence to protect the chain of command in case one of them falls ill. According to the official White House transcript, Trump said, “Well, we haven’t thought of it, but, you know, I will say this: That it’s—we’re very careful. We’re very careful with, you know, being together. Even the people behind me are very—they’ve been very strongly tested. I’ve been very strongly tested. And we have to be very careful…” In other words, Trump seemed to use his negative test result as a reason to be less vigilant about social distancing. Our concern with this response is that it could create a false sense of security for people who test negative for COVID-19. The reality is that even with a negative COVID-19 test, you could still acquire the infection. If fact, your chance of getting the infection is basically the same as anyone else.
You still need to practice the same precautions, such as social distancing and hand-washing. While a negative test result means you might not have an active infection, it does not lower your risk of getting one in the future. You would still need to be concerned about getting infected and passing the virus on to others. The bottom line is–if you have tested negative for COVID-19, it doesn’t mean you’re in the clear.
The best advice for everyone is to continue following the recommendations of our public health officials.

❤️So happy to be back in my home province and

❤️So happy to be back in my home province and close to friends and family during this chaotic time, even though I’m still in self-isolation. 🇨🇦As of the morning of March 19th, there were 736 confirmed cases in Canada and 14 probable cases in Nova Scotia. 🏥Hospitals across the province, nation and world prepare for a rapid increase in numbers of cases of COVID-19 🖖👋 Society is taking social distancing seriously, finding alternatives to handshakes. Even better, stay two meters apart from one another if you can. 🖥 Part of our social distancing strategy is working from home if possible.

Thank you to everyone in society who is helping to flatten the curve. Wash your hands. Practice social distancing. If you’re in self-isolation, stick to it! You’re saving lives by doing so.

Day 3 of self-isolation. And I’m settling into

Day 3 of self-isolation.
And I’m settling into it. Got some food delivered today and asked the @UberEats driver to leave it outside, pictured here. When you’re self-isolating, you can’t be in close physical contact with others. Hence leaving this lovely package of food outside my door.
Today I created a schedule for myself to help give myself some routine. It includes meditation, a walk outside (keeping my distance from others!) and lots of reading. I’m finding a balance between learning as much as I can about COVID-19 and taking healthy breaks from it.
Are you in self isolation too? How’s it going?

Hey everybody, I hope you are all keeping as well

Hey everybody, I hope you are all keeping as well as possible amidst this global chaos.
Today’s post focuses on masks. The link to my full blog can be found in my bio or @
www.sarahfrasermd.com

Let’s say you’re healthy and walking down the street. Will a mask prevent you from getting an infection? The answer is simple-nope!
In fact, the World Health Organization says that masks might even make your chance of getting infection worse by giving a false sense of security.
There is also a global shortage of masks because people are stockpiling them.
Masks are needed for health care workers since we are in such close contact with patients who have infections like COVID-19. When doctors, nurses and caregivers wear masks, the masks help to prevent us from getting sick and passing infections on to others.
But if you are sick, a mask could help you prevent infecting others.
The main point is, if you’re healthy, and not working closely with those who have infections, don’t buy masks. They must be saved for those who need them during this pandemic.

🍔McDonald’s Canada, though not an establishme

🍔McDonald’s Canada, though not an establishment normally known for health, will only be offering drive-thru, take-away and uber-eats services as of March 17th. This is a positive and necessary step!! Meanwhile, according to Bloomberg News, the U.K.’s Health Secretary Matt Hancock said individuals in the U.K. over 70 may soon be asked to self-isolate for several months.
Social distancing. Flatten the curve. Wash your hands. Don’t travel unless essential. We can lessen the impact of COVID-19 if we work together.
If you haven’t already done so, I’d love to hear how you’re doing your part. Let me know in the comments below!

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family physician / author / editor /blogger / poet / tweets = my own

Retweet on Twitter Sarah Fraser Retweeted

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus@DrTedros·

Thank you for sharing this video @MuhammadLila! I am so impressed and inspired by all the examples of kindness and compassion people are showing around the world! With this spirit, we can beat #coronavirus! https://twitter.com/MuhammadLila/status/1239174140210417665

Muhammad Lila@MuhammadLila

In Seville, Spain, residents of an entire apartment complex couldn't leave their homes due to the quarantine.

So a fitness instructor went up to a rooftop and held a workout class.

Neighbors joined in from their windows and balconies.

Reply on Twitter 1239213727888670725 Retweet on Twitter 1239213727888670725657 Like on Twitter 12392137278886707251885 Twitter 1239213727888670725

Sarah Fraser @sarahfrasermd·

Self-isolation is hard. Really hard. I hope you enjoy my most recent blog about my experience in staying at home for two weeks. Feeling ready to get back to work at the hospital this week.

https://sarahfrasermd.com/stay-at-home-save-a-life/

#StayAtHomeAndStaySafe #StayTheFHome

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Retweet on Twitter Sarah Fraser Retweeted

Vala Afshar@ValaAfshar·

#SpainStrong 🇪🇸

Hospital staff in Madrid, Spain cheer as a COVID19 patient gets transferred out of the ICU.

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Sarah Fraser @sarahfrasermd·

A good synopsis of the #covid19 test kit shortage in the US by @nytimes journalists

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/28/us/testing-coronavirus-pandemic.html

#pandemic #CovidTesting #COVIDTestKit #Covid19usa #COVIDCanada

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Related Posts

Nova Scotia ramps up restrictions

Posted bySarah Fraser March 22, 2020
A conversation with Dr. Lawrence Hill

Posted bySarah Fraser December 17, 2019
Flattening the Curve: Controlling the COVID-19 pandemic

Posted bySarah Fraser March 13, 2020
COVID-19: A negative test doesn’t mean you’re in the clear

Posted bySarah Fraser March 21, 2020

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