The Nanaimo Airport Commission has been monitoring the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak since initial news reports about the disease surfaced in early January 2020.
The NAC is taking additional precautions to reduce the risk of spreading disease and to keep our workplace safe for employees, partners and contractors. Our janitorial staff will be disinfecting common use surfaces throughout the Terminal building including bathrooms, departure lounge and luggage carts. We have also installed additional hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the Terminal building.
The following recommendations have been made by the Government of Canada Public Health Agency to reduce the spread of this disease.
PREVENTION
Human coronaviruses cause infections of the nose, throat and lungs. They are most commonly spread from an infected person through:
- Respiratory droplets generated when you cough or sneeze;
- Prolonged personal contact, such as touching or shaking hands;
- Touching something with the virus on it, then touching your mouth, nose or eyes before washing your hands.
Current evidence suggests person-to-person spread happens when there is close contact.
HYGIENE
Proper hygiene can help reduce the risk of infection or spreading infection to others. The following steps are recommended:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after using the washroom and when preparing food.
- Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available when coughing or sneezing.
- Cough or sneeze into a tissue or the bend of your arm, not your hand.
- Dispose of any tissues you have used as soon as possible in a lined waste basket and wash your hands afterwards.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth with unwashed hands.
MASKS
If you are a healthy individual, the use of a mask is not recommended for preventing the spread of COVID-19. However, your health care provider may recommend you wear a mask if you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 while you are seeking or waiting for care. In this instance, masks are an appropriate part of infection prevention and control measures. The mask acts as a barrier and helps stop the tiny droplets from spreading when you cough or sneeze.
FUTURE TRAVEL
If you have upcoming air travel plans, be aware that air carrier schedules could be subject to change. We advise you to check with your air carrier prior to arriving at the airport to ensure that your flight schedule remains the same.
For your information, the Public Health Agency of Canada has produced this infographic, “About Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19)” . For additional information, please refer to Government of Canada’s website at Government of Canada Public Health Agency COVID-19. If you have any concerns about your health, please contact your healthcare provider or call HealthLink BC by phoning 811.
