Doctors, patients and caregivers demand safe access to healthcare outside BC Health Minister\u2019s Office in Vancouver<\/i><\/p>\n
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\u2019s Human Rights Commissioner<\/a> (and doctors and researchers worldwide), healthcare workers, patients and caregivers will tell their stories, and demand measures to protect the most vulnerable.<\/p>\n The protest and press event follows a recent open letter<\/a> from over 50 organizations and expert signatories warning the BC government of another fall \u201ctripledemic.\u201d It also comes at a time when BC\u2019s 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 \u2018Eris\u2019) has landed in BC.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s now obvious we\u2019ve started a Covid surge with a new variant, right when flu and RSV are about to hit,\u201d says protest speaker Dr. Karina Zeidler, a Vancouver physician and co-founder of the independent public health group Protect our Province BC<\/a>. \u201cOur 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cUntil masking is restored I, like many other high risk patients, can\u2019t access medical care safely,\u201d says Hannah Siden, a young Vancouverite who has an upcoming surgery. \u201cMy underlying condition worsened in the wake of multiple viral infections, resulting in the need for this surgery. I shouldn\u2019t have to worry whether I\u2019ll be given another virus and more health damage while I\u2019m at the hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n With many of the most vulnerable unable to attend in-person, the protest features readings of personal stories<\/a> that have been shared as part of a province-wide campaign called \u2018Postcards for Public Health.\u2019 The readings will be followed by a symbolic presentation of some of the messages to the Health Minister\u2019s office. To learn more and take part in the ongoing #Postcards4PublicHealth campaign from across BC, visit https:\/\/bit.ly\/Postcards4PublicHealth-kit<\/a>.<\/p>\n When:<\/b> Monday, August 28th @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm About DoNoHarm BC:<\/b> We are a non-partisan action group of British Columbians advocating for evidence-based safety measures in high-risk settings. https:\/\/linktr.ee\/DoNoHarmBC<\/a><\/p>\n Follow the story:<\/b> #DoNoHarmBC #Postcards4PublicHealth #KeepMasksInHealthcare #UnsafeSeptember #CovidIsntOver<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n\u2018Postcards for Public Health: Delivery Day\u2019 protest & press event<\/h2>\n
\nWhere:<\/b> Outside the MLA office of Minister Adrian Dix (5022 Joyce St, Vancouver, BC V5R 4G7)
\nAccessibility:<\/b> 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.<\/p>\n