(File photo/CKOM News Staff)

By CKOM News

Saskatoon doctor shares advice during COVID-19 pandemic

Apr 15, 2020 | 3:52 PM

A family physician in Saskatoon is hoping to provide some answers during the changing COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Carla Holinaty joined the Greg Morgan Morning Show on Wednesday and helped answer some common questions being brought up due to the unknown nature of COVID-19 and the restrictions put in place.

When it comes to grocery shopping, Holinaty said it isn’t the product you’re buying that you need to be worried about when it comes to COVID-19 but rather other people in the store.

“Limit how many times you’re going to a grocery store in a week,” Holinaty said. “Avoid crowds so choose stores that limit the number of people in the building and try and shop quickly. Make sure you have a list and you go in with a purpose. Now is not the time to browse.”

Holinaty said it’s important people respect the six-foot social-distancing measures and follow any lanes stores may have set up.

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People have also started washing their hands more than they normally would to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

Holinaty said it doesn’t make much of a difference if a person is using hot or cold water.

“There’s actually quite a lot of literature around this and there’s no difference in terms of how clean your hands get. There are some suggestions that using warmer water can actually cause more skin irritation especially if you’re washing your hands more often,” Holinaty said.

“Do it properly and do it often but the temperature of the water should just be what’s comfortable for you.”

Holinaty said the virus is spread through droplets, which means they could get caught in a person’s facial hair.

“Yes, droplets can get stuck into your beard, but the way that those would be transported from your face would be either if you’re touching your face and touching other things — which is one of the things we ask everybody not to do — or if your face is touching someone else’s face,” Holinaty said.

“Maybe if you’re particularly sick or tested positive for COVID, it’s not the time for tonsil hockey.”

With the weather starting to get warmer, Holinaty said the COVID-19 virus isn’t one that can be transported by mosquitoes.

EDITOR’S NOTE: This is an amended version of the story, correcting Holinaty’s hometown.