COVID-19 Response

Our health care workers need your support.

They are staying at work to help all of us. We need you to help all of them. Please donate now to support our health care heroes on the frontline.

In addition, we launched the COVID-19 Research Fund in partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute to support innovative projects aimed at tackling clinical challenges related to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Your support has already made a difference! Download our report to learn how your donations are supporting the most urgent needs of our health care teams.

How you may be able to help others with the virus
The Canadian Blood Services are part of national clinical trials to test if COVID-19 convalescent plasma could be a safe and effective treatment option for patients with the virus. Learn more and register to donate convalescent plasma today.

Vancouver Coastal Health Updates

We are working with our partners at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) to provide BC’s most up-to-date information about novel coronavirus (COVID-19).

For health-related questions and concerns we recommending reaching out to VCH directly. For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 visit their info page: vch.ca/COVID19.

Vaccine Information

Vancouver Coastal Health has moved into Phase 2 of the COVID-19 immunization plan.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccines please visit www.vch.ca/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine

Medical Supply Donation

‎All donations of supplies to Vancouver Coastal Health are now being directed through the Provincial COVID-19 Supplier Hub at www.gov.bc.ca/supplyhub

Prevention

From Vancouver Coastal Health:

There are some measures you and your family can take right now to reduce the risk of infection. The best protection is proper hand washing, including before and after you eat your meals. Hand washing is the best way of preventing all respiratory virus infections.

Avoid touching your eyes and nose prior to washing your hands.

You can also help stop the spread of viruses by practicing good cough and sneeze etiquette. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue. Throw the used tissue into a garbage can and then wash your hands. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your sleeve.

Finally, if you are ill, have symptoms of flu like a fever or cough, you should stay home.

Click here for more information on prevention.

Self-Assessment Tool

If you think you have symptoms of COVID-19 (for example, dry cough or fever), please stay home, and self-isolate for 14 days. COVID-19 presents as a mild illness in the majority of patients; testing is not recommended for those who have mild respiratory symptoms.

Symptoms: Reported signs and symptoms include: fever, coughing, and/or difficulty breathing. If you think you are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 you can try this quick, online self-assessment tool: https://covid19.thrive.health/

If respiratory symptoms worsen, please call 811 or your health care provider.

Click here for more information about symptoms.

Testing

Testing is available for all who need it but not everyone requires a test. If you think you have symptoms, use the BC COVID-19 Self-Assessment Tool to help determine if you need further assessment or testing for COVID-19. You can complete this assessment for yourself, or on behalf of someone else, if they are unable to.

Click here for more information on testing, and to find testing locations.

All VCH Facilities Restricted to Essential Visits Only

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are working closely with the Ministry of Health to protect the health of everyone in B.C., including patients and residents at all Vancouver Coastal Health sites.

Essential visits include:

Compassionate care (e.g. end of life, critical illness)
Visits paramount to patient, client, resident care and well-being, such as assistance with feeding or mobility
Existing registered volunteers providing services related to the above

Long-term care
At our long-term care homes, VCH has issued a Public Health Order further restricting visitation to the immediate family members and spiritual advisor of residents who are clinically assessed to be at the end of their lives.

These restrictions are in place to protect the health of our patients, clients, residents, staff and physicians. Thank you for your understanding. We will advise the public when they are lifted.

Free Parking at Hospital Sites

Minister Dix announced a suspension of parking fees for health-care workers, and in coordination with that, VCH announced that health-care workers, staff, visitors and the public will no longer have to pay for parking at our owned and operated sites. Pay parking will be suspended until further notice, effective April 1, 2020. This change makes it easier for individuals to avoid touching screens and buttons at payment kiosks that may have been touched by someone previously and also supports physical distancing measures that have been mandated by Dr. Henry.

Join us in transforming health care – find out how your donations make a difference

Stay up to date with VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation by joining our email list. You’ll receive stories of remarkable recoveries, reports on the impact of your donations, and our Vital magazine.

Self Care Tips

Taking care of yourself in highly stressful times is important for your health and well-being! We’re sharing some tips on how to practice self care. Check back as we add more!

Care for your body

Care for your heart

Practice health habits

Take care of your body! Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate.
Continue to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
Avoid excessive exposure to social media or sensational coverage. While being informed is important, it can be detrimental to your mental health to constantly take in stressful information. Consider ways to find balance with activities you normally enjoy.
Stay connected with loved ones and continue to maintain healthy relationships.

Social Distancing

Come together for your community by staying apart! Stay home and practice social distancing to help stop the spread of COVID-19. Tips on how to social distance:

Stay home and avoid non-essential gatherings
Avoid greetings like handshakes
Keep a distance of 1-2 metres (3-6 feet) from others
Limit contact with higher risk folks (i.e. older adults and those with underlying health conditions)

Health Care Heroes

Share messages of support to our front-line health care heroes on social media by tagging @VGHFdn and #HealthCareHeroes #COVIDCourageYVR. Check back as we develop images to share your message.

You can also celebrate your #HealthCareHeroes by joining our online gallery. Express your thanks by uploading a photo of yourself or your #HealthCareHeroes. And be sure to write a message of support!

Join our online gallery

Have more to say? Create your own video message of thanks and encouragement for our dedicated health care workers! Submit your video below to join us in showing our appreciation for those working on the front lines to keep our community safe! You can also tag us @VGHfdn on Instagram Stories, remember to include #HealthCareHeroes #COVIDCourageYVR!

Submit your video

Foundation President & CEO Updates

Check back for the latest updates from VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation President & CEO, Angela Chapman.

March 19, 2020

The collective response to the COVID-19 emergency has been extraordinary, and our health care heroes across the province have been rapidly preparing for a potential surge in cases. Our actions now are vital – from social distancing to working from home, checking in on family, friends and neighbours, and helping out those who are isolated for their protection — we can all play our part to fight back against the spread of COVID-19 in our community.

We know it can feel difficult and even scary at times, but remember, we are all in this together. The decisions and actions we are taking today are saving lives, and our health care partners – our health care heroes – are counting on our support.

While we are all changing our daily lives due to COVID-19, we are going to continue to do our work to support our vital health care teams, with your continued support.

Foundation Office Closure
As of Tuesday, March 17 the Foundation office has been closed to the public. We are continuing to operate remotely and are maintaining a small staff team on site.

While our physical location is closed until further notice, you can still contact us to provide support. And, now more than ever, we are working closely with our partner Vancouver Coastal Health to ensure donor funds are available to support current priority areas.

• Email us at info@vghfoundation.ca and we will respond back to you as soon as possible.
• Call us at 604-875-4676, Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
• Many inquiries can also be answered via our website at vghfoundation.ca.

Events cancelled until end of April
We have cancelled all VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation-led events until the end of April 2020. For events in May and beyond, we are monitoring the situation and will update you as further plans are made.

Our number one priority is the health and safety of our supporters, donors, volunteers, staff and health care partners. Given the official COVID-19 response in BC, we are following the advice of our health care leaders and medical experts to help slow down the spread of this disease, including the restriction of public gatherings.

Take care of yourself, your loved ones and neighbours
Here are some things you can do to support the well-being of yourself and others during this time:
• Stay connected with loved ones and continue to maintain healthy relationships.
• Reach out to friends and neighbours – particularly those who may be staying indoors – we all need to support each other, and some may need help to get groceries and medication.
• Stay up-to-date with the latest news and listen to the health care experts at Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH).

Support our Health Care Heroes
BC’s health care system has been made stronger and more resilient because of your support. Thank you. We are standing by to help our health care workers where needed in the coming weeks and months. We’ve let our hospital leaders know this. And we’ll need your help.

We have opened two new philanthropic funds:

COVID-19 Response Fund — Support our health care teams on the front lines to provide the best possible care.
COVID-19 Research Fund — Support our researchers as they mobilize with others from around the world to treat and cure COVID-19.

As always, your donation will be fully tax-receiptable.

We have also created a COVID-19 Response page where you can learn more about donation options, Foundation news, and stay connected to VCH updates and self-care tips.

Thank you and take care,

Angela Chapman
President & CEO
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation

March 13, 2020

As you are no doubt aware, COVID-19 is a topic currently impacting us all in one way or another. Protecting our communities is a shared responsibility at a time like this. The very idea of an outbreak can feel stressful.Consulting a reliable source of information can be re-assuring, and we recommend you stay up-to-date with the latest news from Vancouver Coastal Health. Here are some things you can do to support the well-being of yourself and others during this time:

Take care of your body! Take deep breaths, stretch or meditate.
Continue to eat healthy, well-balanced meals, exercise regularly and get plenty of sleep.
Avoid excessive exposure to social media or sensational coverage. While being informed is important, it can be detrimental to your mental health to constantly take in stressful information. Consider ways to find balance with activities you normally enjoy.
Stay connected with loved ones and continue to maintain healthy relationships.

Fear and anxiety about a disease may feel overwhelming at times. By trusting the facts, sticking with the latest protocols, looking out for one another, and practicing good mental health habits, we can protect ourselves and our communities.

Take care of yourself and others,