Questions and Responses to COVID-19
We received many messages from registrants and the public asking for clarification or additional guidance. We have grouped the questions by topic below, and will be updating them on an ongoing basis. Our priority is to begin with the topics that are most critical to the immediate need to contain the spread of COVID-19.
It is also important to note that the federal government is urging all Canadians to practice physical distancing.
Staying up to date
The COVID-19 situation is changing quickly and the Minister of Health, Adrian Dix, and Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, are making regular joint statements on this topic.
The joint statements about COVID-19 from the Provincial Health Officer and the Minister of Health are available here.
You can hear audio recordings of the joint press conferences on the BC Government’s SoundCloud Account.
Where can I get answers to my questions about COVID-19?
The provincial government has created a dedicated phone service to provide British Columbians non-medical information about COVID-19. This includes the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing, as well as access to support and resources from the provincial and federal governments.
Minister Dix advised that British Columbians can reach service representatives seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., by calling 1 888 COVID19. Information is available in more than 110 languages.
FAQ Topics:
Topic: What dental patients should know about COVID-19
[accordions title-color="primary-dark" color="primary" title-text-size="20px"]
[accordion title="I%20received%20care%20in%20a%20dental%20office%20after%20the%20Pacific%20Dental%20Conference%20but%20before%20attendees%20were%20directed%20to%20self-isolate.%20Should%20I%20be%20worried%3F"]The Office of the Provincial Health Officer has advised that only conference attendees require self-isolation. In addition, all dental offices are required to be in compliance with CDSBC’s infection prevention and control guidance. This includes the use of gloves, masks and eyewear to keep the practitioner and the patient safe. [/accordion]
[accordion title="Where%20can%20I%20get%20more%20information%20about%20my%20risk%20of%20COVID-19%3F"]
You can use one or both of the two new public resources from the provincial government:- A new COVID-19 self-assessment tool available at https://covid19.thrive.health/
- Dedicated 1 888 COVID19 phone service for information about COVID-19
This includes the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing, as well as access to support and resources from the provincial and federal governments. British Columbians can reach service representatives seven days a week, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., by calling 1 888 COVID19. Information is available in more than 110 languages.
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[accordion title="Why%20hasn%E2%80%99t%20CDSBC%20shut%20down%20all%20dental%20offices%3F"]CDSBC does not have the legal authority to require dental offices to close. Our role is to alert our registrants that they must be in compliance with direction from the Provincial Health Officer and other government and public health directives.
We are strongly recommending that elective and non-essential dental care be suspended during this time.
Finally, dental team members are part of the front line of healthcare. Shutting down patient care is not a helpful measure, as oral healthcare providers are in a good position to provide advice, screen, and care for those who need care.[/accordion]
[accordion title="I%20have%20a%20dental%20emergency%2C%20but%20my%20dentist%E2%80%99s%20office%20is%20closed.%20Is%20my%20dentist%20obligated%20to%20treat%20me%3F"]Dentists are required to manage their patients when, in their professional judgment, there is a dental emergency. This may or may not involve active treatment being provided by the dentist.
All dental offices should have an emergency number for patients to reach a dentist. It is possible that your situation can be managed with over-the-phone instructions and/or a prescription.[/accordion]
[accordion title="My%20dentist%20attended%20the%20Pacific%20Dental%20Conference.%20Can%20they%20still%20treat%20me%20or%20my%20family%3F"]No. Anyone who attended the Pacific Dental Conference must self-isolate until March 22, 2020. They may not provide treatment during that time, and only from March 22 if they have not shown any symptoms of COVID-19.[/accordion]
[accordion title="Why%20did%20CDSBC%20allow%20the%20Pacific%20Dental%20Conference%20to%20go%20ahead%3F%20"]CDSBC was one of many exhibitors and presenters at the conference but we did not organize or sponsor it, and have no authority to have prevented it.
We understand that the conference organizers worked from the best information that they had at that time. We and they are working together to ensure that patients are protected going forward, beginning with the self-isolation of all conference attendees until March 22.
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Topic: Self-isolation for attendees of the 2020 Pacific Dental Conference
[accordions title-color="primary-dark" color="primary" title-text-size="20px"]
[accordion title="I%20attended%20the%20Pacific%20Dental%20Conference%20and%20am%20now%20in%20self-isolation.%20Does%20this%20mean%20my%20family%2Fthe%20people%20I%20live%20with%20also%20need%20to%20self-isolate%3F%20What%20about%20my%20colleagues%20at%20work%20who%20did%20not%20attend%20the%20conference%3F"]We have been advised by the Office of the Provincial Health Officer that the requirement for self-isolation applies only to the people who attended the conference.
Family members of conference attendee do not have to self-isolate. Co-workers of conference attendees also do not have to self-isolate. The isolation period applies only to the primary contact, who is the conference attendee.[/accordion]
[accordion title="I%20wasn%E2%80%99t%20at%20the%20Pacific%20Dental%20Conference%20the%20entire%20time.%20What%20if%20I%20was%20only%20there%20on%20the%205th%20of%20March%3F%20Do%20I%20still%20need%20to%20self-isolate%3F"]Yes. Anyone who attended the 2020 Pacific Dental Conference – regardless of dates – is expected to follow the direction of the Provincial Health Officer to self-isolate until March 22, 2020. [/accordion]
[accordion title="I%20continued%20to%20work%20the%20week%20following%20the%20PDC%2C%20do%20my%20family%2C%20friends%2C%20coworkers%20and%20patients%20who%20didn't%20attend%20the%20PDC%20have%20to%20self-isolate%3F"]No. Advice from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer indicates that only those people who are one degree of separation from a potential source need to self-isolate. No one that you have been in contact with since attendance at the PDC needs to self-isolate.[/accordion]
[accordion title="What%20actions%20do%20I%20need%20to%20take%20to%20self-isolate%3F"]
Self-isolation means staying home and not going to work or school, and monitoring for symptoms for a period of 14 days.The instructions from the Office of the Provincial Health Officer and the BC CDC are:- For the health of your family, friends and community, try to stay at home.
- Do not go to work or school.
- Do not go to public areas, including places of worship, stores, shopping malls and restaurants.
- Limit visitors to your home.
- Cancel or reschedule non-urgent appointments.
- Do not take buses, taxis or ride-sharing where you would be in contact with others.
- It is okay to have family/friends drop off food or you can use delivery/pick up services for errands such as grocery shopping.
There is additional guidance provided in this fact sheet.[/accordion]
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