Doctors, patients and caregivers demand safe access to healthcare outside BC Health Minister’s Office in Vancouver

On Monday, August 28th at 12:00 pm, British Columbians will gather outside the MLA office of Health Minister Adrian Dix to demand the restoration of universal masking in healthcare settings, alongside other key safety measures like clean air. Echoing guidance from the WHO and calls from BC’s Human Rights Commissioner (and doctors and researchers worldwide), healthcare workers, patients and caregivers will tell their stories, and demand measures to protect the most vulnerable.

The protest and press event follows a recent open letter from over 50 organizations and expert signatories warning the BC government of another fall “tripledemic.” It also comes at a time when BC’s COVID-19 hazards are rising, with around 1 in 33 people currently infected; as a BC healthcare crisis leaves ERs and hospitalized patients without doctors; and as a new variant of interest, EG 5.1 (codename ‘Eris’) has landed in BC.

“It’s now obvious we’ve started a Covid surge with a new variant, right when flu and RSV are about to hit,” says protest speaker Dr. Karina Zeidler, a Vancouver physician and co-founder of the independent public health group Protect our Province BC. “Our healthcare system is on its knees. We have the tools, and we need to use them. Not restoring mask protections to healthcare would be criminal.”

“Until masking is restored I, like many other high risk patients, can’t access medical care safely,” says Hannah Siden, a young Vancouverite who has an upcoming surgery. “My underlying condition worsened in the wake of multiple viral infections, resulting in the need for this surgery. I shouldn’t have to worry whether I’ll be given another virus and more health damage while I’m at the hospital.”

With many of the most vulnerable unable to attend in-person, the protest features readings of personal stories that have been shared as part of a province-wide campaign called ‘Postcards for Public Health.’ The readings will be followed by a symbolic presentation of some of the messages to the Health Minister’s office. To learn more and take part in the ongoing #Postcards4PublicHealth campaign from across BC, visit https://bit.ly/Postcards4PublicHealth-kit.

‘Postcards for Public Health: Delivery Day’ protest & press event

When: Monday, August 28th @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Where: Outside the MLA office of Minister Adrian Dix (5022 Joyce St, Vancouver, BC V5R 4G7)
Accessibility: Masks (respirators) required, including when speaking; spares available on site. Please do not attend if you have a confirmed/suspected COVID exposure or symptoms of infectious illness. Sidewalk is paved and wheelchair accessible. Safety personnel will be on site. Digital, remote and asynchronous campaign participation welcomed.

About DoNoHarm BC: We are a non-partisan action group of British Columbians advocating for evidence-based safety measures in high-risk settings. https://linktr.ee/DoNoHarmBC

Follow the story: #DoNoHarmBC #Postcards4PublicHealth #KeepMasksInHealthcare #UnsafeSeptember #CovidIsntOver