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Tag: N95 respirators

Study: Infection-control measures stemmed COVID spread in hospitals from 2020 to 2022Lieutenant (junior grade) Kayla Marthy, from Long Island, New York (left), and Lieutenant (junior grade) Brianna Garcia, from St. Petersburg, Florida, treat a patient in the intensive care unit aboard the hospital ship USNS Mercy (T-AH 19), on April 13, 2020. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Ryan M. Breeden.
Topic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators

Study: Infection-control measures stemmed COVID spread in hospitals from 2020 to 2022

Published January 17, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: CIDRAP
Published on:
By Mary Van Beusekom

Implementation of ventilation standards of at least five clean-air changes per hour, COVID-19 testing, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and universal wearing of respirators prevented most SARS-CoV-2 transmissions in a California healthcare system from 2020 to 2022, suggests a study published yesterday in Clinical Infectious Diseases.

For the study, University of California (UC) researchers used electronic health records and movement data of patients and staff to conduct viral genomic and social network analyses to estimate COVID-19 spread in the UC–San Diego Health system. The team analyzed 12,933 viral genomes from 35,666 infected patients and healthcare workers (HCWs) (out of 1,303,622 tests [2.7%]) from November 2020 to January 2022.

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Topic: the pandemic is not overView all posts for the topic: the pandemic is not over

COVID Isn’t Going Anywhere. Masking Up Could Save My Life.

Published January 17, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Teen Vogue
Published on:
By Alice Wong

The answers lie in poop. Based on the latest national sample of wastewater taken on January 13, 2024, the concentration of the SARS-Cov-2 virus is 1,132 copies/mL of sewage, an alarming increase compared to 280 copies/mL six months ago. This is one sign that cases of COVID infections have been rising, resulting in more hospitalizations, deaths, and people developing long COVID.

Like millions of other high-risk people who are service workers, older, chronically ill, disabled, or immunocompromised, I have done everything I can to remain as safe as possible. Due to neuromuscular disability and respiratory failure, my chances of surviving an infection are slim to none. With the latest JN.1 variant likely even more contagious – or better practiced at evading immune system defenses – than previous ones, I wonder if this is the surge when I will become infected, which is terrifying.

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JN.1 is Canada’s new dominant COVID-19 subvariant. Here’s what to knowThis scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 virus particles (yellow), isolated from a patient in the United States, emerging from the surface of cells (blue/pink) cultured in the lab. Image captured and colourized at NIAID’s Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana. Credit: NIAID.
Topic: JN.1View all posts for the topic: JN.1

JN.1 is Canada’s new dominant COVID-19 subvariant. Here’s what to know

Published January 5, 2024

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Global News
Published on:
By Katie Dangerfield

A new COVID-19 subvariant, known as JN.1, has emerged and is now the prevailing strain across Canada, prompting health experts to caution that it may be more infectious and could even have extra symptoms.

Currently, the subvariant makes up the highest proportion of all COVID-19 variants, accounting for more than half (51.9 per cent) of all infections in Canada, according to the latest data from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

JN.1 was first detected in Canada on Oct. 9, and since then has rapidly increased.

Continue readingJN.1 is Canada’s new dominant COVID-19 subvariant. Here’s what to know
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Topic: United StatesView all posts for the topic: United States

States are trashing troves of masks and pandemic gear as huge, costly stockpiles linger and expire

Published December 20, 2023

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Published by: The Associated Press
Published on:
By Jennifer Peltz, David A. Lieb

When the coronavirus pandemic took hold in an unprepared U.S., many states like Ohio scrambled for masks and other protective gear. Supplies were so limited in 2020 that the state bought millions of medical gowns from a marketing and printing company and spent about $20 million to try to get personal protective equipment made in-state.

Three years later, as the grips of the pandemic have loosened, Ohio and other states are now trying to deal with an excess of protective gear, ditching their supplies in droves.

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Topic: letter to the editorView all posts for the topic: letter to the editor

We must invest in COVID programs

Published December 9, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Ottawa Citizen
Published on:
By Mike Buckthought

Re: Ottawa Public Health to let go most remaining COVID-19 staff as province ends special pandemic funding, Dec. 3.

I’m deeply disappointed to hear that Ottawa Public Health will be cancelling COVID-19 programs, including immunization services for the general population. The pandemic is not over. According to Statistics Canada, COVID-19 was the third-leading cause of death for Canadians last year.

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Ontario: Keep masks in healthcare!Line drawing of an N95 respirator, accompanied by the text: Keep masks in healthcare #CovidIsNotOver
Topic: take actionView all posts for the topic: take action

Ontario: Keep masks in healthcare!

Published November 6, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

📣 Let hospital CEOs and MPPs know you want universal masking with respirators in Ontario hospitals

✉️ Send letters to voice your support for universal masking with respirators in hospitals. You can use your own email software to send the letters.

Why take action? SARS-CoV-2 is an airborne, level 3 pathogen. We need universal masking with respirators to prevent COVID-induced health issues, including long COVID, cognitive issues, and cardiovascular diseases.

Please take a moment to voice your support for universal masking with respirators in Ontario hospitals!

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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Dr. Lyne Filiatrault discusses masks in healthcare

Published October 17, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Peak
Published on:
By Eden Chipperfield

On September 27, BC provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and health minister, Adrian Dix, announced mandatory masking would be re-established in healthcare environments as COVID-19 cases are rising at a rapid rate. Starting October 3, masks became mandatory once again in healthcare settings.

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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

BC’s new masking guidance isn’t enough

Published October 17, 2023

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Published by: The Peak
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By Michelle Young

As of October 3, masks are mandatory for healthcare workers and visitors in settings that are accessible to patients, including areas where they receive care. This includes spaces like the rooms where doctors and nurses serve patients directly, or areas where patients may stay while waiting, such as lobbies. The policy also extends to contractors or volunteers in the area, but does not include private clinics or patients themselves.

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Topic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators

Expected CDC guidance on N95 masks outrages health care workers

Published September 16, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: NBC News / KFF Health News
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By Amy Maxmen

Nurses, researchers and workplace safety officers worry new guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention might reduce protection against the coronavirus and other airborne pathogens in hospitals.

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Topic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response

Where Have All The Masks Gone? And Why Is The CDC Missing In Action?

Published September 7, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Forbes
Published on:
By Judy Stone

The Biden administration has made a political choice—not a scientific or public health one—to downgrade the national response to COVID-19. Included in this is the reticence or outright avoidance of mentioning masking even as cases rise in the US. The CDC director, in talking about this late increase in COVID cases, bends over backward to mention hand-washing, but not N95s. Without question, N95s offer individuals protection against infection and leaving out that fact is a disservice and an abdication of duty.

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Topic: hospital-acquired infectionsView all posts for the topic: hospital-acquired infections

The CDC Doesn’t Care if You Get Sick and Die in The Hospital

Published August 25, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: OK Doomer
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By Jessica Wildfire

“You might’ve heard the CDC is about to make things even more dangerous for patients when they vote on new, lower standards for infection control this November. This decision will hurt everyone. It will hurt doctors and nurses. It will hurt seniors. It will hurt children. It will hurt young, healthy adults (who goes to the hospital when they’re feeling great?) There’s only one small group it will help, and that’s healthcare CEOs and their bottom lines.”

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Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Four months after healthcare mask mandate dropped, a protest calls for its return

Published August 25, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: The Georgia Straight
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By V. S. Wells

“It’s now obvious we’ve started a COVID surge with a new variant, right when flu and RSV [respiratory syncytial virus] are about to hit. 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.”

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Topic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response

COVID response confounds SARS expert

Published August 24, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: Kingston Whig Standard
Published on:
By Geoffrey P. Johnston

We don’t understand all the implications of long COVID. Basically, this virus gets into your body and it doesn’t leave. […] And it invades the lining of the blood vessels and every organ of your body.

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Topic: universal maskingView all posts for the topic: universal masking

Everyone Has The Right to Mask

Published August 20, 2023

Still COVIDing Canada Posts

Published by: OK Doomer
Published on:
By Jessica Wildfire

Dozens of studies have shown that not only do N95 masks work on an individual level, but they lower transmission when people actually follow guidelines. Even the strongest critics of mask policies are forced to admit that masks themselves are effective.

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