Jewish people were blamed for spreading disease, and considered expendable victims.
Comments closedTag: SARS-CoV-2
Topic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators
As supply of N95-style respirators grows, some say it’s time to upgrade our masks
Since the pandemic began, masking recommendations in Canada have centred on the idea of protecting others: my mask protects you, your mask protects me. However, more contagious and potentially more dangerous variants of COVID-19 have some asking if it’s time for an upgrade, so that people can rely on their masks to protect themselves as well as others.
Comments closedTopic: zero-COVID policiesView all posts for the topic: zero-COVID policies
All countries should pursue a Covid-19 elimination strategy: here are 16 reasons why
The past year of Covid-19 has taught us that it is the behaviour of governments, more than the behaviour of the virus or individuals, that shapes countries’ experience of the crisis. Talking about pandemic waves has given the virus far too much agency: until quite recently the apparent waves of infection were driven by government action and inaction. It is only now with the emergence of more infectious variants that it might be appropriate to talk about a true second wave.
As governments draw up their battle plans for year two, we might expect them to base their strategies on the wealth of data about what works best. And the evidence to date suggests that countries pursuing elimination of Covid-19 are performing much better than those trying to suppress the virus. Aiming for zero-Covid is producing more positive results than trying to “live with the virus.”
Continue readingAll countries should pursue a Covid-19 elimination strategy: here are 16 reasons why
Comments closed Topic: New ZealandView all posts for the topic: New Zealand
Ardern reveals the moment she chose Covid elimination strategy
New Zealand’s decision to eliminate coronavirus stemmed as much from fear as ambition, the prime minister, Jacinda Ardern, has revealed, saying there was a point at which she realised the health system simply couldn’t cope with a big outbreak.
Comments closedTopic: labour rightsView all posts for the topic: labour rights
Almonte hospital workers file grievance to access N95 masks
One of the country’s top arbitrators has been asked to settle a pandemic-related grievance filed by Almonte General Hospital health care workers, who want N95 respirators made available to them.
The hospital now issues N95 masks only to staff involved in aerosol-generating medical procedures, such as intubations.
Comments closedTopic: science denialView all posts for the topic: science denial
COVID-19 et climat : Contrer les mécanismes du déni par un vaccin démocratique
Whether it’s about COVID or the climate, conspiracy theories are the sign of a deep evil: the weakening of democracy.
Comments closedTopic: New ZealandView all posts for the topic: New Zealand
New Zealand suspects ‘some failure at the border’ after COVID-19 returns
New Zealand officials and scientists are eying a breach in isolation security as the possible cause of the first cases of community transmission in the country in 102 days. Investigators are exploring several possibilities, but experts believe the alternatives—that the virus was circulating undetected or that it entered the country on a freight shipment—are unlikely.
Comments closedTopic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators
Video | The Astounding Physics of N95 Masks
The physics of N95 respirators is pretty incredible.
Comments closedTopic: universal maskingView all posts for the topic: universal masking
Opinion: Want to save lives and the economy? We need mandatory masks laws
Mandatory public masking has been saving lives and leading to an earlier (and safer) reopening of societies around the world. Despite this, Canadian officials have been reticent to support this cheap, effective measure.
As of May 12, 13 U.S. states, including Illinois, New York and Massachusetts, and 84 countries, including Israel, Germany, Austria, Czechia and France, have laws mandating public masking. And zero Canadian jurisdictions.
Comments closedTopic: wastewaterView all posts for the topic: wastewater
New research examines wastewater to detect community spread of Covid-19
A series of crucial setbacks in Covid-19 testing has made it difficult to keep up with the virus’ rapid spread, and has inspired some researchers to look to wastewater to help fill in the gap of measuring how prevalent SARS-CoV-2 is in a given community.
In a paper posted Tuesday to the preprint server medRxiv, researchers collected samples in late March from a wastewater treatment plant serving a large metropolitan area in Massachusetts and found that the amount of SARS-CoV-2 particles in the sewage samples indicated a far higher number of people likely infected with Covid-19 than the reported cases in that area.
Comments closedTopic: N95 respiratorsView all posts for the topic: N95 respirators
Ontario, Alberta change policy limiting N95 masks as health-care workers demand greater access
At least two provinces have bowed to union pressure to let some health professionals use specialized respirator face masks when treating COVID-19 patients, sparking concern among infection-control experts this will undermine health workers’ trust in their advice.
Alberta and Ontario have reached agreements with unions to allow some health-care workers to use N95 respirator masks if they feel it is necessary. Nova Scotia’s largest nursing union is now calling on provincial officials to do the same.
Comments closedTopic: OntarioView all posts for the topic: Ontario
Roughly 55 million N95 masks in Ontario expired before coronavirus hit
Millions of face masks stockpiled by Ontario in the aftermath of the SARS outbreak to protect healthcare workers during a future epidemic have expired, according to provincial officials and documents, raising questions about the readiness of Canada’s most populous province to deal with the spreading coronavirus.
Comments closedTopic: ChinaView all posts for the topic: China
Chinese officials investigate cause of pneumonia outbreak in Wuhan
Chinese health authorities said they are investigating 27 cases of viral pneumonia in the central city of Wuhan, after rumors on social media suggested the outbreak could be linked to Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS).
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