Mixed messaging from the province adding to frustration taken out on B.C. health-care workers?
Mixed messaging from the province may be adding to frustrations being taken out on B.C. health-care workers.
Workers at testing sites, many of whom are working overtime shifts, are now dealing with threats and intimidation as well from those waiting for tests.
The long lineups for COVID-19 tests are causing frustration, and increasingly health-care workers are facing intimidation, threats and verbal abuse.
"We've seen a dramatic increase in demand for testing … people waiting a long time and not getting the test they want, and in some cases they took out their frustration," Health Minister Adrian Dix said in an interview Thursday.
He said some cases were so bad that police had to be called in. Health-care centres have "bubble zones" around them to prevent harassment, and additional security is being considered.
The message from officials is that the behaviour is unacceptable, though the root cause is understood.
Everyone is frustrated, including those working in health-care, said interim vice-president of the B.C. Nurses' Union Danette Thomsen.
"We're all done with the pandemic," she said.
"We just need to realize that everybody in health care is doing everything they can right now, everywhere across this province, to try to support their patients."
Provincial health officials say that those with mild symptoms, who are vaccinated, should assume they have COVID-19 and self-isolate, but skip the test.
Some health authorities are directing people to an app called Thrive, which will tell a user with enough symptoms that they should get a test. But the app makes no mention that the user may not even be able to get one, as PCR tests are now prioritized for health-care workers, young kids, older adults and people with conditions that make them high risk.
When that was pointed out, Dix said it was a good point, and that ministry staff will "take a look" at the app.
After missing the mark and having people wait way longer than they thought they'd have to, one health authority – Vancouver Coastal – gave up on posting test wait times.
For now, the best thing for the public to do to stay safe is get vaccinated and get their booster shots, Thomsen said.
"I think we all need to try to stay out of the lineups and keep ourselves safe."
But with hours-long waits for booster shots at some clinics in Vancouver, even with an appointment, avoiding lineups may not be an option.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.