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Tag: Protect Our Province BC

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

BC health advocates demand return of mandatory masks in healthcare

Published May 14, 2024

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Published by: The Peak
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By Yashita Dhillon

In response to April’s removal of mandatory mask mandates in healthcare settings, BC’s health advocacy group DoNoHarm BC, joined by Protect Our Province BC and Masks4EastVan, are leading a campaign to urge the provincial government to reinstate these protections. The groups say that BC health authorities have ignored warnings about ongoing COVID-19 risks and other respiratory threats like measles and tuberculosis.

The decision to remove mask mandates in healthcare settings was announced by the Ministry of Health, “the peak of the respiratory illness season has passed.” Though COVID-19 levels typically lessen in the spring, COVID-19 has not been established as a seasonal illness.

The Peak reached out to Dr. Karina Zeidler who organizes with DoNoHarm BC and is the co-founder of Protect Our Province BC for more information. Zeidler referenced a research article from BC Medical Journal which noted that “for some of these most vulnerable patients, the air in the hospital can be deadlier than the diagnosis that brought them in.” This is due to hospital acquired infections, which can then lead to COVID-19 deaths.

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Advocacy group calls for stronger mask requirements in B.C.A young person with long black hair, a red headband and a black respirator holds two yellow signs reading: “1 in 33 in BC are currently infected” and “I’ve had long Covid for 20+ months. Please do not abandon us.” Photo: DoNoHarm BC.
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Advocacy group calls for stronger mask requirements in B.C.

Published March 16, 2024

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Published by: CityNews
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By Aastha Pandey-Kanaan

Advocacy group launches province-wide campaign to strengthen mask protections in healthcare.

DoNoHarm BC, a grassroots group advocating for public health measures, is campaigning to keep mask protections in the healthcare industry year-long.

In a release, the organization says healthcare workers are not required to stay masked everywhere. Last April, they were able to stop masking in various settings, including in ERs, children’s hospitals, and cancer centres.

“B.C. currently requires masks in hospitals and long-term care for staff, contractors, visitors, and volunteers – but not for patients,” DoNoHarm BC said in a news release.

“While policy-makers have only guaranteed this measure for a “few months” over the winter, DoNoHarm BC notes the last time BC discarded healthcare masking, multiple medical facilities suffered COVID outbreaks.”

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

Protect Our Province masking message on New West billboard takes aim at COVID

Published February 8, 2024

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Published by: New Westminster Record
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The pandemic has highlighted the lasting health impacts viruses can have, long after the acute infection is over and done with.

Many viruses, not just Covid, play a role in causing more serious long-term diseases. Epstein- Barr Virus (EBV), the mononucleosis or kissing disease virus, is associated with Multiple Sclerosis.

Recently, B.C. rolled out an at home self-test for Human Papilloma Virus, that’s because HPV can cause throat and cervical cancer.

After the Great Influenza of 1918, it took us years to learn that children born in and around that time were later at higher risk for Parkinson’s disease (remember Robert De Niro in the movie Awakenings), not to mention cardiac disease and diabetes.

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Now is not the time to end Covid-related services in BCPhoto of a healthcare worker who is wearing blue sterile gloves. Photo by Gustavo Fring via Pexels.
Topic: British ColumbiaView all posts for the topic: British Columbia

Now is not the time to end Covid-related services in BC

Published December 6, 2023

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Published by: The Georgia Straight
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By Dr. Karina Zeidler, Hannah Siden, E.S. Lee

After 2023, funding for Covid-related services is set to end in BC.

For nearly four years now, British Columbians have been grappling with Covid-19. We’re currently aided by health management initiatives like vaccination, testing, and protective equipment for healthcare workers. Since 2021, these measures have been funded by BC’s Pandemic Recovery Contingencies, a three-year plan that also sustains economic recovery programs and supports for vulnerable community members.

This plan expires at the end of 2023. After that, our government anticipates that “most initiatives will wind down or be integrated into existing government programs.”

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

How to stay informed on COVID-19

Published December 5, 2023

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Published by: The Peak
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By Michelle Young

BC public health has made it too confusing to keep up on COVID-19 information. With the government changing information about COVID-19 data and obscuring data collection, knowingly downplaying risks about transmission, and overall unclear messaging, it’s no wonder people are misinformed.

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

Most British Columbians Are Way Overdue for Their COVID Boosters

Published November 3, 2023

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Published by: The Tyee
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By Michelle Gamage

As the province rolls out its fall 2023 duo COVID-influenza vaccination campaign, the majority of British Columbians are overdue to shore up their viral defences by half a year.

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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

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Published by: The Peak
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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

Advocacy group calls for stronger COVID-19 measures this fall

Published September 19, 2023

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Published by: The Peak
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By Michelle Young

On August 28, DoNoHarm BC hosted a protest in front of the Minister of Health, Adrian Dix’s office to call for the return of universal mask protections in healthcare settings. The in-person protest featured 25–30 people, but thousands of postcards were mailed to MLAs as part of a campaign to amplify the experiences of those affected by the removal of masks in healthcare. The event organizers read some of the submitted stories to represent those who could not attend.

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

BC’s first annual clean air festival promotes immunocompromised accessibility

Published September 14, 2023

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Published by: The Peak
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By Eden Chipperfield

On September 2, BC’s first annual Clean Air Festival occurred at Trout Lake in East Vancouver. The event is supported by Protect Our Province, Safe Schools Coalition BC, Masks4EastVan, and DoNoHarm BC. It promoted an accessible space where immunocompromised individuals can find sanctuary among peers who relate to ongoing concerns around airborne pathogens, like COVID-19, and pollutants that significantly affect air quality.

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

British Columbians protest calling to restore mask protections in healthcare

Published August 23, 2023

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Published by: DoNoHarm BC
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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.

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

COVID-19: B.C. doctors, researchers and teachers warn of another triple epidemic

Published August 11, 2023

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Published by: Vancouver Sun
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By Katie DeRosa

I do feel like we are in a worse position (than last winter) because of the complacency of people. I think the pandemic has been downplayed this whole past year. And not enough has been explained to people about the long-term harm from previous COVID infections.

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

Group warns of ‘tripledemic’ repeat without B.C. government action to combat COVID-19 in schools

Published August 9, 2023

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Published by: Times Colonist
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By Bob Mackin

Currently in B.C., we have no mask protections in schools, no proof of indoor air quality in schools including monitoring of carbon dioxide levels during full class occupancy, no [high-efficiency particulate air] filtration units available in most classrooms, almost non-existent [nucleic acid] testing, and only the occasional provincial public health report (and those reports we do see are of limited value).

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

Dozens sign open letter urging ‘safe return to school’ amid respiratory illness concerns

Published August 8, 2023

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Published by: CTV News
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By Angela Jung

With students returning to B.C. classrooms in four weeks, an open letter to the province is outlining five things the signatories say must be addressed to ensure “a safe return to school.”

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

DoNoHarm BC protests the removal of mandatory masks in healthcare settings

Published May 15, 2023

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Published by: The Peak
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By Michelle Young

All COVID-19 patients (including vaccinated adults and children) are potentially at risk of long-term health damage or death, though some groups are disproportionately affected. These risks multiply with each reinfection.

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

DoNoHarm BC to stage a die-in protesting end of hospital mask mandate

Published April 27, 2023

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

Getting rid of masking means I can’t safely get the care I need. I need regular follow-up care, and because I’m immunocompromised, getting Covid in hospital is a massive risk… Right now, one of my greatest health risks is accessing medical care.

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Topic: mental healthView all posts for the topic: mental health

“I don’t feel protected”: How a lack of COVID-19 protections is impacting mental health

Published December 15, 2022

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

People who are COVID-aware or at high risk discuss the mental health burden of staying safe.

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