My big sister is a physician in Kingston, Canada and last night she made this post on her Facebook, and I'm just doing my part to share and get people aware and educated.

"My apologies in advance for another COVID-19 post, but this issue is too big to not say anything.

Here are the latest numbers (As of 03/17/2020) that I found for the major countries involved (minus China, including Canada). https://imgur.com/gallery/VCAWuoE

As you can see, we are very lucky to still be relatively early on the COVID-19 timeline. But time will continue to move forward and it will continue to do so very quickly.

This means that it is absolutely ESSENTIAL for every one of us to do EVERYTHING that we possibly can to prevent our curve from following those of Italy and potentially many other countries in the upcoming weeks.

As a physician, I urge you to PLEASE think of others as we manage this together. Think of your aging parents, your elderly grandparents, your neighbour who has cancer and is on chemotherapy, the child with a primary immunodeficiency, your friend who works in the hospital, and everyone else in your community.

WE CAN ALL STILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE TRAJECTORY!!!

- PLEASE DO NOT TRAVEL

- PLEASE SELF-ISOLATE FOR 14 DAYS IF YOU ARE SICK IN ANY WAY OR JUST RETURNED FROM ABROAD

- PLEASE PRACTICE SOCIAL DISTANCING (we have postponed our own wedding so whatever social event you have coming up...CANCEL IT!)

- PLEASE THINK OF WAYS TO ALLOW YOUR EMPLOYEES TO WORK FROM HOME

- PLEASE. JUST. STAY. HOME.

- PLEASE WASH YOUR HANDS AND NOT TOUCH YOUR FACE IF YOU DO HAVE TO GO OUT

- PLEASE CHECK IN WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND NEIGHBOURS IF THEY ARE SELF-ISOLATING TO SEE IF THEY NEED ANYTHING

We need to follow in South Korea’s trajectory in order to beat this. However, unfortunately we do not have access to the level of mass population testing that they have. We also do not live on an island and despite border closure to non-essential travel with the US, we will continue to see overflow from their side. THUS, it is even more important for everyone to follow these recommendations diligently.

Many of my friends are already working hard on the front lines of this pandemic and many more will join them soon. LET US ALL DO OUR PART so that we DO NOT run out of VENTILATORS or ICU BEDS or MASKS or GLOVES or DOCTORS or NURSES to take care of those in our communities who will need the most help very soon.

LET'S TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER.

Wishing everyone health and safety ❤️

P.S. One of the complications of social distancing is that there is now a shortage of blood donations so if you do have to go outside to go to work or grocery shopping, please consider donating blood at Canadian Blood Services on your way home so that we do not run out.

PLEASE SHARE"