'We need mandatory masking': B.C. doctor calls for courage from health officials
A doctor who works at BC Children’s Hospital says courage is missing from the province’s response to a surge in pediatric hospitalizations due to a trio of respiratory illnesses.
Dr. Sanjiv Gandhi spoke at a joint news conference Monday with BC Green Party Leader Sonia Furstenau, just 90 minutes after B.C. health officials announced plans to launch a “vaccine blitz” this weekend in an effort to protect children during flu season.
The announcement came on the heels of a “code orange” being activated at BC Children’s Hospital on Saturday. While it was only active for 28 minutes, the alert is usually reserved for natural disasters and mass casualty events.
DOCTOR URGES B.C. TO MANDATE MASKS
Gandhi, who works there as a pediatric cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon, says that while vaccinations are an important part of the solution, the province should reach for more tools. He added that he normally doesn’t deal with patients with respiratory illnesses, but many have required his support in recent weeks due to the complications those diseases can cause.
“We need mandatory masking in closed indoor spaces, we need mandatory masking in schools,” said Gandhi. “It’s not easy to mandate masks…but sometimes you have to have the courage to do things that may not be universally popular to help those kids that may be most vulnerable.”
While there may be vaccines for COVID-19 and the flu, there isn’t one for the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). That’s why Gandhi thinks public health measures concerning prevention, testing and isolation need to be brought back amid what is being dubbed a tripledemic.
“We have all the tools to change the trajectory of this horrible situation,” Gandhi told reporters Monday. “What we’re lacking is courage from health officials to be transparent about the current situation and mandate the changes that are necessary to prevent more illness and death.”
WHAT IS BEING DONE AND WHY?
Furstenau called for greater transparency from public health officials, pointing to the findings of an independent review of B.C.’s COVID-19 response, which was released Friday.
“People aren’t being given access to the research that is informing their decisions,” said Furstenau. “I had hoped to see something more from (health officials) than what we’ve heard for weeks which is ‘get vaccinated.’”
Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province has taken a series of actions to prepare the health system for a surge in pediatric hospitalizations since the last public health briefing on Nov. 16.
Those efforts include bringing pediatricians to work in the emergency room at Victoria General Hospital, and the activation of BC Childrens' emergency satellite clinic from now until next March. Next week, Surrey Memorial Hospital will have a new process for redirecting patients from its strained emergency department to the city's urgent and primary care centres.
In addition, children and youth in White Rock and South Surrey will be able to access a rapid care clinic at Peace Arch Hospital.
“One of the differences we’ve seen is in 2020 and 2021, we had a relatively mild influenza seasons and that has a significant effect on people getting flu shots,” Dix said.
NO MANDATES COMING
B.C. health officials faced questions during Monday’s update over their decision not to reintroduce mask or mandates or set up flu and COVID-19 vaccine clinics at schools.
Provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry emphasized that it’s unclear whether those measures would be effective, since schools are not the only setting where respiratory viruses are transmitted.
“We have to balance risk and the measures that we have that can help prevent transmission that don’t interfere with all of those important social activities that especially children need, but we all need in our communities,” Henry said.
On Monday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also spoke to the rise in respiratory illnesses among children, and the strain that’s putting on the country’s struggling health care system.
Trudeau is urging Canadians to get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and influenza and says officials will consider the advice of public health authorities when it comes to measures like mandatory masks.
He says it's everyone responsibility to “step up again” to get vaccinated and keep their families and communities safe from what could also be a resurgence of COVID-19.
With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Couple randomly attacked, 1 stabbed, by group of teens in Toronto, police say
A man has been transported to hospital after police say he was stabbed in a random attack carried out by a group of teens in Toronto on Friday night.
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with Maple Leafs, dead at 79
Ron Ellis, who played over 1,000 games with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a member of Canada's team at the 1972 Summit Series, has died at age 79.
Fort Nelson, B.C., wildfire doubles in size as 3,000-plus ordered to evacuate
The wildfire that sparked Friday and caused evacuation orders for more than 3,000 people in Fort Nelson, B.C., and the nearby Fort Nelson First Nation, has grown to nearly 1,700 hectares in size, according to a Saturday morning update from the BC Wildfire Service.
Eurovision Song Contest final kicks off after protests, backstage chaos and a contestant's expulsion
The final of the 68th Eurovision Song Contest kicked off Saturday in the Swedish city of Malmo after days of protests and offstage drama that have tipped the feelgood musical celebration into a chaotic pressure cooker overshadowed by the war in Gaza.
IN PICTURES Northern lights dance across the night sky in southern Ont.
From London, to Grand Bend, Collingwood and Guelph, here are some highlights of Friday night and Saturday morning's northern lights display.
Haitians demand the resignation and arrest of the country's police chief after a new gang attack
A growing number of civilians and police officers are demanding the dismissal and arrest of Haiti's police chief as heavily armed gangs launched a new attack in the capital of Port-au-Prince, seizing control of yet another police station early Saturday.
opinion How to use your credit card as a powerful wealth-building tool
Irresponsibly using a credit card can land you in financial trouble, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew says when used properly, it can be a powerful wealth-building tool that can help grow your credit profile and create new opportunities.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
'I am angry': Alberta farmers will continue fight over world class motorsport resort
The rolling hills leading to the hamlet of Rosebud are dotted with sprawling farms and cattle pastures -- and a sign sporting a simple message: No Race Track.