03/18/2020
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Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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NOVEL CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19)
Last updated: March 18, 2020
On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus, COVID-19, a pandemic, citing concern over alarming levels of spread and severity across the globe.
The novel coronavirus has caused a global outbreak of respiratory infections since its discovery in December 2019. For most, this coronavirus causes only mild to moderate symptoms including fever and cough, however, older adults and those with existing health problems are at greater risk for more severe symptoms such as pneumonia.
The situation regarding COVID-19 continues to evolve here in BC, Canada and other jurisdictions in the world. The College of Pharmacists of BC is working closely with the Ministry of Health and other partners to support the response to this new illness as part of BC’s health system. The College will provide any updated information or guidance for pharmacy professionals as it becomes available.
QUICK LINKS
Information for Patients and Members of the Public
Information for Pharmacy Professionals
Information for BC's First Nations Communities
Questions and Contacts
INFORMATION FOR PATIENTS AND MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC
Those concerned that they may have been exposed to, or are currently experiencing symptoms of the novel coronavirus should stay at home and contact their family doctor, primary care provider, a public health service or the HealthLinkBC helpline (dial: 8-1-1).
The Public Health Agency of Canada has set up a novel coronavirus telephone information line at: 1-833-784-4397.
The province has created a phone service to provide non-medical information about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 am - 8 pm at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 604-630-0300.
Patients and members of the public are encouraged to consult the BCCDC’s COVID-19 information page:
Information on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) – BC Centre for Disease Control
BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool
HOW TO ACCESS MEDICATIONS YOU NEED
If you are feeling unwell and require medications, please do not visit your pharmacy. Instead, call your pharmacy and they will arrange to safely provide you any medications you may need.
You do not need to stockpile medications.
Older adults and those with chronic conditions or compromised immune systems may wish to refill their prescriptions so that they do not have to go to a busy pharmacy if they do become sick.
To avoid any non non-essential visits with a doctor or nurse practitioner, a pharmacist can also provide you with a refill of your prescription or provide you with an emergency supply of medications you need.
The College’s Find a Pharmacy tool can help you locate a pharmacy in your community.
MEDICATION DELIVERY
If you need to stay at home and require medication, many pharmacies provide delivery services.
Patients should contact their pharmacy to confirm that they are able to provide this service.
SENDING SOMEONE TO PICK UP MEDICATIONS FOR YOU
If you need to stay at home and require medication, you can ask someone to pick up your medications for you.
Patients should contact their pharmacy to confirm the process for sending someone to pick up their medications on your behalf.
INFORMATION FOR HEALTH PROFESSIONALS
Additional information for BC’s pharmacy professionals will be available in the coming days.
BC’s health professionals should follow the advice provided by the BC Centre for Disease Control.
Information for Health Professionals on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) – BC Centre for Disease Control
If you have further questions about the novel coronavirus as a health care provider or for a health care facility, contact your local public health unit. To find your local health unit go to immunizebc.ca/finder.
Additional contact information is available at: bccdc.ca/contact
BC COVID-19 Symptom Self-Assessment Tool
PROVIDING REFILLS
The Provincial Health Officer has suggested that pharmacies can use their judgement and the options available to them to reduce non-essential physicians visits, including those for prescription renewals. This may require pharmacists to act with broader latitude than they do normally.
Patients who have an increased risk of more severe outcomes from COVID-19, may need to refill their prescriptions so that they do not have to go to a pharmacy or clinic if they do become sick.
Pharmacists can provide renewals for patients in line with the expectations Practice Policy 58 – Medication Management (Adapting a Prescription). See:
Practice Policy 58 Orientation Guide – Medication Management (Adapting a Prescription) (December 2008 – revised February 2011/April 2016/October 2016).
PROVIDING AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY OF PRESCRIPTION DRUGS
A pharmacist should not hesitate to exercise their professional judgment to provide a patient with an emergency supply of prescription drugs for continuity of care under Professional Practice Policy 31 – Emergency Supply for Continuity of Care. The policy provides broad latitude for pharmacist decisions on emergency supplies, provided it is in the patient’s best interest and all decisions are properly documented with rationale. If pharmacists have grave concerns over doing so, they should fax or phone the prescriber rather than sending the patient to the prescriber.
Professional Practice Policy 31 – Emergency Supply for Continuity of Care
A pharmacist may exercise professional judgment to provide a patient with an emergency supply of prescription drugs for continuity of care using the following principles:
Individual competence: The pharmacist has appropriate knowledge and understanding of the condition and the drug being dispensed for emergency supply;
Sufficient information: The pharmacist has sufficient information about the patient’s health status to determine that dispensing an emergency supply is appropriate in the given circumstances;
Appropriate quantity: The pharmacist should determine an appropriate quantity of the emergency supply based on what is reasonable in the given circumstances, and based on the drug involved;
Informed consent: The pharmacist has obtained the patient’s or the patient representative’s informed consent before undertaking an emergency supply;
Documentation: The pharmacist responsible for making the decision to provide an emergency supply should:
Document in the patient’s record the rationale for the decision and any appropriate follow-up plan;
Ensure the PharmaNet dispensing record includes the College of Pharmacists of British Columbia pharmacist registration number in the practitioner ID field to identify the pharmacist responsible for the decision; and
Notification of other health professionals: Where possible and appropriate, the pharmacist should notify the practitioner in a timely fashion and should make a record of this in the patient’s record.
Learn how to make PharmaCare claims for patients affected by an emergency
See information for from PharmaCare on Patient Care During States of Emergency and Evacuations.
MEDICATION DELIVERY AND PICKUP
A pharmacist should confirm if their patient is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or are self-isolating prior to delivering medications. In addition, a pharmacist should consider how to maintain social distancing while delivering medications to a patient.
Pharmacies are able to deliver medications, or provide medications to patient representatives in line with College policies which include confirming identity and providing counselling. See:
Professional Practice Policy - 54 Identifying Patients and Patient Representatives in Community Pharmacy and Telepharmacy Settings
CONTROLLED DRUGS AND OAT
Health Canada’s policy position Transportation of Controlled Substances in Canada permits pharmacists to transport controlled substances to patients with an appropriate prescription.
Delivery of OAT
New delivery requirements for Opioid Agonist Treatment, allowing pharmacists to use their professional judgement to deliver the drugs to a patient if they feel it is safe , appropriate and in the best interest of the patient to do so, came into effect March 17, 2020.
This means prescribers no longer need to authorize delivery for Opioid Agonist Treatment drugs.
For the health and safety of the public and pharmacists, a pharmacist should confirm if their patient is experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 or are self-isolating prior to delivering OAT. In addition, a pharmacist should consider how to maintain social distancing while delivering medications to a patient.
For more information, see:
PPP71 – Delivery of Opioid Agonist Treatment
Changes to the Delivery Requirements for OAT Now In Effect
INFORMATION FROM PHARMACARE
20-003 March 13, 2020 (PDF) - COVID-19 Information for Pharmacies
COVID-19 IN A PHARMACY
In the event that someone in a pharmacy (a patient or employee), is known to have COVID-19, they should contact their regional medical health officer.
UNANTICIPATED TEMPORARY CLOSURE
If a pharmacy will be closed temporarily due to unforeseen circumstances, the pharmacy manager is required to complete the steps included in section 18(2)(dd) of the PODSA Bylaws.
See Unanticipated Temporary Closure
INFORMATION FOR BC’S FIRST NATIONS COMMUNITIES
As of March 11, 2020, there have been no cases of COVID-19 reported in any of BC’s First Nations communities.
In order to help BC’s First Nations Communities prepare for prevent further spread of the COVID-19, the First Nations Health Authority has released an information package, available below.
Important Steps for Communities to Take – First Nations Health Authority
The FNHA will provide further updates as the situation evolves.
Information from the First Nations Health Authority on the novel coronavirus (COVID-19)
Information for First Nations Community Health Care Providers
QUESTIONS AND CONTACTS
PROVINCE OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
The province has created a phone service to provide non-medical information about COVID-19, including the latest information on travel recommendations and social distancing. Information is available in more than 110 languages, 7:30 am - 8 pm at 1-888-COVID19 (1-888-268-4319) or via text message at 604-630-0300.
LOCAL PUBLIC HEALTH UNITS
If you have questions about the novel coronavirus as a health care provider or for a health care facility, the BC CDC recommends you contact your local public health unit.
To find your local health unit go to immunizebc.ca/finder.
CONTACTING YOUR REGIONAL HEALTH AUTHORITY
Questions about communicable diseases, environmental health and other public health issues should be directed to your regional health authority:
Fraser Health
Public: 604-587-3936
Health Professionals: 1-866-990-9941
Interior Health
Public: local health centre
Health Professionals: 1-866-778-7736
Island Health
South Island: 1-866-665-6626
North Island: 1-866-770-7798
Northern Health
By Phone: 250-565-2990
Vancouver Coastal Health
By Phone: 604-675-3900
COLLEGE OF PHARMACISTS OF BC
For questions related to pharmacy practice and providing continuity of care for patients during an of emergency, contact the College’s practice support at practicesupport@bcpharmacists.org.
FIRST NATIONS HEALTH AUTHORITY
Pharmacy professionals and patients can contact the First Nations Health Authority at 1-855-550-5454 to verify patient identification information.
Publicly funded (free) vaccines are available through health units (also called public health units, community health centres and primary care homes), doctors' offices, and pharmacies (for those 5 years of age and older). Services vary across B.C.
