The province has expanded the list of symptoms for COVID-19 and will now test anyone showing even one symptom of the virus.
At Friday’s COVID-19 update, Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Robert Strang listed the new COVID-19 symptoms, in addition those previously known:
-fever (i.e. chills, sweats)
-cough or worsening of a previous cough
-sore throat
-headache
-shortness of breath
-muscle aches
-sneezing
-nasal congestion/runny nose
-hoarse voice
-diarrhea
-unusual fatigue
-loss of sense of smell or taste
-red, purple or blueish lesions on the feet, toes or fingers without clear cause
Dr. Strang says if you’re experiencing any one of those symptoms you should take the online COVID-19 assessment, or call 811.
He says even though the numbers look good, we need to maintain a robust testing strategy.
“I don’t want to create undue stress. In all likelihood, if you have these symptoms, it’s not because of COVID, but it’s very important we test you to rule out COVID,” he says. “It’s far better that we test large numbers of people having lots of people be negative, better being safe than sorry, but it’s also important that if we do have a positive test, that was somebody that we otherwise didn’t recognise.”
Two new confirmed cases were announced Friday bringing the provincial total to 1048.
No new deaths were reported.
