By Lyonel Doherty  

A family physician credits some advance warning and quick mobilization for a successful response to COVID-19 in the South Okanagan.

Dr. Jennifer Begin said it was amazing how fast the local health system mobilized once officials realized that a surge of COVID-19 cases was coming.

This was her assessment during a virtual Town Hall meeting hosted by local MP Richard Cannings on May 5.

The meeting was attended by health critic MP Don Davies and Okanagan Similkameen Regional Hospital District Chair Petra Veintimilla.

Begin said once they heard what was coming, health practitioners at Penticton Regional Hospital quickly isolated patients who had respiratory symptoms so as not to spread the virus throughout the facility.

After that, a lot of physicians started doing virtual (online) care with their patients, she said. Actually, Begin started doing virtual care in June of last year, but there wasn’t a lot of interest from patients . . . until now.

“Ninety-five per cent of my patients are virtual now.”

Begin said one of the risks during the pandemic is people with health problems being too afraid to see a doctor or go to the hospital (for fear of contracting the virus).

“We try to make the risk as low as possible. We have to wear personal protective equipment (PPE) for each person we see . . . masks, goggles, gloves.”

Begin also noted they are conducting “car health care” by seeing patients in the parking lot and giving them the necessary treatment (injections).

Begin said COVID-19 testing is now open to anyone with symptoms. She encouraged people to call their family doctor or nurse practitioner for an assessment.

Veintimilla said the district has secured some PPE supplies, noting they have received donations from local construction companies, quilting guilds and dental offices. She also mentioned the donation of hand sanitizer from Grant Stevely at Dubh Glas Distillery, which has supplied nurses, firefighters, search and rescue personnel and food bank volunteers with the sanitizer.

Cannings brought up the concern about seasonal workers arriving from Quebec and the risk of COVID-19.

Veintimilla acknowledged that people are nervous and anxious in Oliver but pointed out the positive being Loose Bay campground hosting farm workers. She noted the site has changed and adapted by having a COVID-19 ambassador to orientate campers. The kitchen has been closed and camp fires have been banned to prevent social gatherings.

Veintimilla said the Town of Oliver has ordered bilingual signs to educate visitors from Quebec this summer. There will also be extra porta-potties and handwashing stations, she noted.

Begin said they have been protecting long-term care residents in the region by postponing routine visits and not having health care workers transferring to other facilities.

Davies cautioned people not to be too hasty in trying to restart the province during the pandemic.

“The worst thing we can do is act too quickly and risk another spike.”

Veintimilla agreed, saying people need to be patient a little longer and not “jump the gun.”

Commenting on virtual health care, Veintimilla said this type of care does not mean reduced care, noting that “tele-health” offers a great form of care without physically meeting a doctor.

Begin said virtual care will be on the horizon for a while, adding this has allowed a lot of patients to access a physician when it wasn’t possible before.

Davies mentioned the creation of a national centre of excellence for virtual care, adding that people don’t always have to physically see a doctor.

Cannings said he has already had a virtual meeting with a doctor. But he raised the concern that a lot of people who are told not to go to work when they are ill do not have paid sick leave.

“So, they have the difficult choice: do they give up their paycheque to keep other people in the workplace healthy?”