Chéticamp doctor on COVID-19 prevention

As news of COVID-19 outbreaks across the world reach Chéticamp, and government officials issue social distancing warnings, many locals wonder about the extent of the risk for our rural community. Dr. Michel Chiasson, from Chéticamp’s Sacred Heart Community Health Centre, covers the basic questions about the novel coronavirus and explains the limits of our local healthcare services.

The Sacred Heart Community Health Centre serves about 10 000 people, counting the Chéticamp population of nearly 3,500 and people from surrounding areas. Dr. Chiasson urges the public to take precautions before the virus makes its way into the community. “We’re just starting to find out some real numbers about what COVID-19 does,” he said, “We know that if we’re not smart, if we don’t take some self-precautions, that up to 70 to 80% of the population will get exposed and infected. So, if we talk about our area, 10 000 people, that means that there’s going to be about 7 000 people who will get exposed and infected. We know now that about 10% of those people will get sick enough that they probably have to come into hospital. They will need supportive therapy, whether they need oxygen, masks, or things like that. So, 10% of 7,000 is about 700 people. We have a hospital here in Chéticamp that has 10 beds.”

A lack of prevention would overwhelm the limited capacity of the rural hospital, not to mention how much it would hurt a small community where most people know each other. “Depending on the country and the healthcare system, the fatality rate … is around 2 to 3%,” Dr. Chiasson said, “So, again, if we apply it to the numbers here, we’re talking potentially, 200, 300, 400 deaths.”

A new testing site is opening today at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital, about an hour away from Chéticamp, so far the closest one. While the public isn’t allowed to visit it without appointment, people who have COVID-19 symptoms are told to call 811. Those considered to be at risk of having contracted the virus will be given an appointment.

At the moment, nobody in the area has tested positive to COVID-19.

In his extended interview with CHNE, Dr. Chiasson goes on to provide safety recommendations and advice for people whose regular medical appointments have been moved to the phone.