sa国际传媒

People desperate for a meal and a聽place to sleep are focused on daily survival, not whether they might have contracted the novel coronavirus, says Grant McKenzie of Our Place Society, which runs a drop-in centre for people who are homeless

鈥淭hey鈥檙e really looking at, you know, where鈥檚 my next meal coming from, where am I going to sleep tonight,鈥� says McKenzie. 鈥淚t鈥檚 their immediate needs.鈥�

That means they鈥檙e less likely to seek health advice, never mind self-isolate if they have concerns聽about having contracted COVID-19.

McKenzie said it鈥檚 up to staff at Our Place, which also operates a 45-bed shelter, to 鈥渢ake that worry on for them.鈥�

鈥淥nce the virus enters that population, it could spread quite quickly. ... Because they are already immune-compromised, a lot of people already have breathing problems, lung problems,鈥� he said.

While the centre has no reason to believe the virus is present in its community, it鈥檚 monitoring the situation closely, working with Island Health and implementing a聽pandemic plan that aims to minimize risk of transmission while maintaining life-saving services, McKenzie said.

That includes educating staff and program residents on how to recognize symptoms of COVID-19, and what to do if they believe they have the virus.

The centre has identified four risk levels, he said, adding: 鈥淚聽think if the threat level reaches that level four, you know, if the building has to close, then it鈥檚 going to be a real challenge.

鈥淚t will be a challenge to isolate people.鈥�

The population will have to depend on the health-care system, which, as the pandemic grows, could already be overwhelmed, said McKenzie.

Another problem for the centre, which is open seven days a week and serves about 700 people each day, is how it will feed people and retain staff if the pandemic worsens, said McKenzie.

鈥淩ight now, we don鈥檛 even have enough shelter space for healthy people, never mind individual isolation wards for people who are compromised.鈥�

Many volunteers who are elderly and have chronic illnesses are already having to give up their shifts. Staff is filling in and taking on extra duties. Staff and volunteers who are sick are being asked to stay home.

鈥淪o we鈥檙e all kind of pitching in and all our job descriptions don鈥檛 really matter anymore 鈥� we鈥檙e just pitching in where we need to,鈥� said McKenzie.

The centre鈥檚 custodial staff has stepped up its cleaning, disinfecting all doorknobs and handrails, and hand sanitizer has been made available.

鈥淥ne tricky part is we use alcohol-free hand sanitizer,鈥� which is in high demand and low supply, said McKenzie.

For now, the fear seems to be higher than the threat, 鈥渂ut we have to be prepared,鈥� said McKenzie.

Most of those infected with COVID-19 have contracted it during travel abroad.

Plans to assist people who are homeless, street-entrenched or living in shelters or supportive housing continue to develop, say health officials.

The sa国际传媒 Centre for Disease Control is working with community-care providers to ensure they have contingency plans, can detect problems and can help inform vulnerable populations of what they need to know.

鈥淲e know that many people who are street-involved have other underlying illnesses as well,鈥� said provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry.

sa国际传媒 Health Minister Adrian Dix said the focus on vulnerable populations includes not just the elderly but those with chronic diseases, those with mental-health and addictions issues and people who are homeless.

鈥淲e鈥檙e focused on all of those communities,鈥� said Dix.

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