Important Information about the Coronavirus Outbreak

The health and safety of our Credit Valley Family Health Team patients is our primary concern. We know this is a prime season for flu and respiratory illness and concerns about the Coronavirus, and we want to make sure our patients have the most up-to-date information. However, it is important that we all take precautions. To date only a small number of cases of the virus have been detected in Canada.

To protect the health of our patients and community we are implementing the following screening recommendation:

If you have a new or worsening cough or shortness of breath and/or fever AND you or someone close to you has recently travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days or is COVID positive PLEASE call Telehealth (1-866-797-0000) or your local public health unit (905-799-7700) for further direction. Telehealth Ontario is a free, confidential service. A Registered Nurse will take your call 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

We are not able to provide testing for the Coronavirus at our clinic currently and to avoid the spread of infection, do not go to a clinic or hospital before calling first and be ready to self-isolate if necessary. Fact sheet on self-isolation: https://www.ontariofamilyphysicians.ca/tools-resources/timely-trending/novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov/covid-19self-isolation_fact_sheet2020-02-19.pdf

If you have other respiratory or flu-like symptoms, please call our clinics before coming in. If you have an upcoming appointment for a routine physical examination or non-urgent visit, you may wish to reschedule it until a later date to ensure you are not exposed to others who may be ill. For medication renewals, please ask your pharmacy to fax over a renewal request and we may be able do it via fax. We also ask that if you have documents/testing requisitions to be picked up, please call prior to dropping into the clinic. We would be happy to email these documents to you with your consent through our secure messaging service where available or send via Canada post.

We are working to stay up-to-date with the situation and you may be called to delay in person visits to our clinics particularly to minimize risk of exposure to infants, seniors and immunocompromised patients.

Please remember you can help to protect yourself from all respiratory illnesses by:

Washing hands regularly with soap and warm water or use an alcohol-based sanitizer
Avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands
Sneeze or cough into your arm or sleeve
Avoid handshakes, hugs or kisses
Avoiding close contact with people who are sick
Reduce your exposure to crowded places

Thank you for your patience in accessing Credit Valley Family Health Team during peak cold and flu season. We also thank you for helping to protect our patients, staff, physicians and community.

Credit Valley Family Health Team