A study aimed at countering online misinformation finds that health measures taken by governments to protect against COVID-19 helped save lives and reduce the number of people hospitalized in 2020.
Comments closedTag: public health measures
Topic: universal maskingView all posts for the topic: universal masking
With COVID surging, should I wear a mask?
COVID is on the rise again, with a peak likely over the holiday season. Given this, health authorities in a number of Australian states have…
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WA public hospitals strengthen mask-wearing requirements in response to surging COVID cases
Surging COVID cases in Western Australia has seen the first public health measures introduced since the state’s COVID-19 ‘state of emergency’ declaration was dropped.
From Monday, all staff and patients in high-risk hospital clinical areas must wear masks.
Comments closedTopic: human rightsView all posts for the topic: human rights
Physicians’ Refusal to Wear Masks to Protect Vulnerable Patients—An Ethical Dilemma for the Medical Profession
On May 11, 2023, the US federal government put an end to the COVID-19–related public health emergency. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends routine universal masking in most health care settings. Many clinicians and staff at hospitals, clinics, and nursing homes around the country have stopped regularly wearing masks. A conflict might arise when patients who are immunocompromised or have other risk factors that increase their susceptibility to COVID-19 complications seek health care and encounter an unmasked clinician. Individuals who have such conditions are considered disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Those disabled patients nowadays must embark on a “personal crusade for public health” to have their needs met.
Comments closedTopic: YukonView all posts for the topic: Yukon
COVID-19 : la justice rejette la contestation de la loi sur les mesures d’urgence au Yukon
A Yukon judge rejected legal challenges to the Territorial Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA) that was used to implement and enforce health rules during the…
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Yukon court dismisses challenge of law used to enact COVID-19 rules
A Yukon judge has dismissed a legal challenge of the territory’s Civil Emergency Measures Act (CEMA), the legislation used to create and enforce public health rules and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Seven plaintiffs sued the territorial government in 2020, arguing that CEMA was unconstitutional and gave politicians too much power without sufficient oversight. They wanted the legislation struck down.
Comments closedTopic: AlbertaView all posts for the topic: Alberta
Preston Manning’s Prescription for a Pandemic Disaster
The right-wing godfather’s Alberta government report promotes politicians over scientists and doctors.
Comments closedTopic: public health measuresView all posts for the topic: public health measures
Substantial decrease noted in severe respiratory illness during first 2 years of pandemic
Compared to the 3 years prior to the pandemic, children with medically complex conditions and otherwise healthy children saw decreases in severe non-COVID respiratory illnesses in 2020 and 2021, the authors of a study yesterday note in JAMA Network Open.
The cross-sectional study, based on 139,078 respiratory hospitalizations in Canada, shows that the mitigation efforts used during the first several months of COVID-19 likely prevented serious outcomes from respiratory illness complications, including hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, and death.
Comments closedTopic: the death of public healthView all posts for the topic: the death of public health
‘Endemic’ SARS-CoV-2 and the death of public health
SARS-CoV-2 is now circulating out of control worldwide. The only major limitation on transmission is the immune environment the virus faces. The disease it causes, COVID‑19, is now a risk faced by most people as part of daily life.
Comments closedTopic: vaccinesView all posts for the topic: vaccines
Covid-19 vaccines prevented 16,000 deaths in Ireland, study says
Ireland’s Covid-19 vaccination programme prevented 16,000 deaths and hugely reduced hospital and intensive care admissions, according to a Health Service Executive study.
Comments closedTopic: New ZealandView all posts for the topic: New Zealand
New Zealand Covid response saved 20,000 lives, study says
Government’s strategy, which included closing the border, meant death rate was 80% lower than in the US, according to the New Zealand Medical Journal.
Comments closedTopic: Nova ScotiaView all posts for the topic: Nova Scotia
Restrictions likely helped curb spread of COVID-19 in N.S., Dalhousie researchers find
A new report from six Dalhousie University researchers has found government restrictions that limited movement during the first two years of the pandemic likely helped curb the spread of COVID-19.
It also found infection, hospitalizations and deaths increased when restrictions eased and the highly infectious Omicron variant arrived.
Comments closedTopic: New YorkView all posts for the topic: New York
New York State sending masks, COVID-19 tests to schools for start of classes
New York State is sending masks and COVID-19 rapid tests to school districts that request them for the start of the 2023-24 school year.
Comments closedTopic: universal maskingView all posts for the topic: universal masking
School mask mandates again? Why some experts believe it’s a good idea
“Children are not going to wear masks unless there’s a mask mandate, because we saw how quickly kids stopped wearing masks when they didn’t have to. The peer pressure that affects children in school, it’s really extraordinary. We’re still going to need to make it a rule for children and young adults to wear masks in school.”
Comments closedTopic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response
COVID response confounds SARS expert
Comments closedWe 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.
Topic: Ottawa-GatineauView all posts for the topic: Ottawa-Gatineau
COVID-19 case numbers are rising again: What does that mean?
Comments closedWe’re seeing new data all the time on the long-term consequences of infection, whether it’s long COVID or the impact on the heart.
Topic: public health measuresView all posts for the topic: public health measures
Lockdowns and face masks ‘unequivocally’ cut spread of Covid, report finds
“When looking at the use of face masks and mask mandates, studies consistently reported the measures were an effective approach to reduce infection. The evidence further indicates higher-quality respirator masks – such as N95 masks – were more effective than surgical-type masks.”
Comments closedTopic: pandemic responseView all posts for the topic: pandemic response
Public health reset urgently required
“A hard public health reset is urgently required in Canada to protect the vulnerable and prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed by long COVID patients. Policymakers should immediately implement a pandemic action plan to save lives in the coming weeks and months.”
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