Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will not issue sick notes to community members in response to the COVID-19 pandemic

The health and safety of the community is our utmost priority.

That is why Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre will not issue or request sick notes to community members as part of the pandemic plan in response to COVID-19.

Please do not attend the Hospital to request a sick note from a doctor.

Please do not attend physician’s offices to request a sick note.

We urge businesses and organizations not to request sick notes from employees for absences related to COVID-19.

Your cooperation supports health care providers to maintain focus on safe, quality patient care, as well as COVID-19 screening and pandemic plan implementation. Additional measures may be added as the COVID-19 pandemic situation develops. All measures are in place for the safety of our community. We are committed to providing new and updated information to the community as it becomes available.

To protect yourself and others from illness causing germs, please ensure you follow these everyday precautions:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer;
• Practice proper respiratory etiquette (covering your nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing);
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth;
• Avoid contact with people who are ill;
• Stay home if you are experiencing symptoms of respiratory illness;
• It is recommended to get your flu shot if you haven’t already as the flu virus is still circulating in the community;
• Seek medical care if required and disclose any recent travel history.

For more information about COVID-19, please contact the Thunder Bay District Health Unit at (807) 625-5900 or toll free at 1-866-294-6630, or Telehealth toll free at 1-888-294-6630. More information is also available at www.tbdhu.com/coronavirus or https://files.ontario.ca/moh-coronavirus-info-sheet-english-2020-02-18.pdf