COVID-19 – What does “flattening the curve” mean?
COVID-19 – What does "flattening the curve” mean?
The Rural Municipality of West St. Paul is committed to providing residents with timely and relevant information relating to the COVID-19 pandemic. We want to break down some of the terms you have been hearing in the media:
What does "flattening the curve” mean?
Slowing a virus' spread so that fewer people need to seek medical treatment at any given time is known as "flattening the curve". The objective is to keep the rate of new cases – especially serious ones – from rising too quickly, so that the virus doesn’t completely overwhelm the finite resources in our health care system.
The faster the infection curve rises, the quicker the health care system gets overloaded beyond its capacity to treat people. A flatter curve, on the other hand, assumes the same number of people ultimately get infected, but over a longer period of time. A slower infection rate means a less stressed health care system with fewer hospital visits on any given day.
Social distancing is a vital component to ensure our communities can flatten the curve of the COVID-19 virus.
As the COVID-19 pandemic evolves, all Manitobans have a role to play in slowing its spread and minimizing its impact on the health-care system and in communities. Social distancing strategies include:
- cancelling or postponing any large-scale events with more than 250 attendees;
- minimizing prolonged (more than 10 minutes), close (less than two metres) contact between other individuals in public;
- avoiding greetings that involve touching such as handshakes;
- disinfecting frequently used surfaces;
- following public health advice related to self-monitoring and self-isolation if you have travelled or have been exposed to someone ill with the virus; and
- considering avoiding travel, crowded places and events, especially if you are at higher risk.
- wash your hands regularly with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds and make sure to dry hands thoroughly, or use an alcohol-based hand cleanser if your hands are not visibly dirty.
- cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, or cough or sneeze into your sleeve.
More information about the coronavirus can be found at https://www.gov.mb.ca/health/coronavirus/