Over the past few weeks the B.C. Government has been doing a great job of keeping the media (and in turn, the general public) informed about COVID-19.
Every day Health Minister Adrian Dix and Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry are wheeled out in front of the cameras and microphones to give the latest updates on the spread of the virus.
Both of those folks deserve praise as they seem to be burning the candle at both ends. In fact Henry now has an online fan club.
Yesterday premier John Horgan puffed up in front of a crowd at a Surrey Board of Trade event and told them that public health institutions are well placed to cope with the virus, having learned lessons from the SARS outbreak in 2003 and the H1N1 pandemic in 2009.
However it's a bit of a different story on the ground right now; people calling in to get information that they need in their times of crisis (not excluively Coronavirus related) are getting a busy signal.
8-1-1 is described by the government as "a free-of-charge provincial health information and advice phone line". It's like 9-1-1, but instead of getting an ambulance, fire truck or police car to your home, you speak to a nurse or a dietitian about a health issue.
It's like a semi-emergency line. Parents (like myself) rely on it when their kids have fevers or when other health issues arise, often in the middle of the night, and they need guidance.
People who otherwise can't get in to see a doctor, or are vulnerable in other ways, also use the line for a number of reasons. Heck, everyone uses it, I don't know why I'm describing it to you as if you don't know what it is.
Fraser Health is advising that people who suspect they may have COVID-19 and don't have a family doctor should call the line for an assessment. VCH is advising to visit your doctor or a walk-in, or call 8-1-1.
But you definitely do not want to call that line today, because what you'll get is either a busy signal (those still exist?!) or if you do get through you'll hear a man's voice saying "We're sorry, all circuits are busy" and to please call back.
Perhaps our government should invest in a few extra phone lines and a few more operators to first allow people to even get through. Then perhaps they need to bring on an army of nurses to be able to offer advice when they're finally connected? Or maybe, just maybe, they could have two options when you call 8-1-1; one for COVID-19 related calls and another for the rest of the ills people are calling about.
For all the shownanship from this government, it would seem that they perhaps aren't as prepared for this global pandemic as they would like you to think.
If you suspect you or a family member may have COVID-19 your best bet is to call your family doctor or the nearest walk-in clinic and ask them if they're testing. They may advise you to visit the ER for a test. You can also try calling your local Public Health Unit. In Vancouver that's Vancouver Coastal Health.
Also, if you're looking for general information about the virus it can be found on Healthlink BC's site HERE and on the Government of Canada's site HERE.
