{"id":3813,"date":"2023-12-14T12:50:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-14T17:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stillcoviding.ca\/en\/?p=3813"},"modified":"2023-12-20T12:15:37","modified_gmt":"2023-12-20T17:15:37","slug":"the-covid-times-newsletter-the-activist-edition-december-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stillcoviding.ca\/en\/newsletters\/the-covid-times-newsletter-the-activist-edition-december-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"The COVID Times newsletter – the activist edition, December 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Welcome to the December issue of The COVID Times, a newsletter to provide updates and tips for navigating life as a COVID-safe person in Canada.<\/p>\n

In this edition, we\u2019ve included some opportunities for advocacy \u2014 if you have some time off, it could be nice to take a moment to write some emails.<\/p>\n

Hope everyone is staying safe! Happy holidays! \u2744\ufe0f<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Help support renewed funding for COVID-related programs in BC!<\/h2>\n

\u26a0\ufe0f Urgent! BC\u2019s funding for COVID-19 health initiatives is set to end! Please help ensure that there is continued access to vaccination, testing, and personal protective equipment (PPE).<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce3 Check out DoNoHarm BC\u2019s call to action<\/a>! Find easy-to-use email, phone, fax, and social media templates for contacting your MLA in support of forward-thinking investments in public health. Not from BC? You can share info about the campaign with your friends \u2014 let\u2019s help spread the word!<\/p>\n

News about Novavax<\/h2>\n

CBC News reports that Health Canada has approved an updated Novavax vaccine<\/a> to protect against COVID-19.<\/p>\n

The Novavax Nuvaxovid XBB.1.5 Omicron subvariant COVID-19 vaccine is authorized for people who are 12 years of age and older, and may be used both for those who were or were not vaccinated previously. For details, visit Health Canada\u2019s Novavax web page<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Statistics Canada report on long COVID<\/h2>\n

According to a new report from Statistics Canada<\/a>, by June 2023, one in nine Canadian adults (3.5 million people) experienced long COVID. Repeat infections dramatically increased the risks. For people with three or more infections, about 38% reported long COVID symptoms.<\/p>\n

Many of the people who have reported long-term symptoms are still suffering. As of June 2023, 6.8% of all Canadian adults (2.1 million people) continue to experience symptoms.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s clear that the current laissez-faire approach is not sustainable. We need preventative public health measures, and collective action.<\/p>\n

Keeping schools safe<\/h2>\n

The group Ontario School Safety (OSS)<\/a> has created a helpful video that explains how carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring in schools keeps students safe. You can watch the video on YouTube<\/a> and visit their Facebook page<\/a> for information on their latest calls to action.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce3 Speaking of action alerts, now\u2019s a good time to contact your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP)<\/a> \u2014 you can voice your support for the Improving Air Quality for Our Children Act.<\/p>\n

We need universal masking with N95 respirators<\/h2>\n

The COVID-19 viral wastewater signal has surged in most regions of Ontario<\/a>. There are many outbreaks at hospitals. In Ottawa, there have been 129 COVID-19 outbreaks at hospitals in 2023 so far, leading to 20 deaths and 1,027 known cases of COVID-19.<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udce3 Please take a moment to voice your support for universal masking with N95 respirators in Ontario. You can use a template with your own email software<\/a>, or take a couple of seconds to fill out a form and click send<\/a>.<\/p>\n

How bad is COVID in Canada right now?<\/h2>\n

Tara Moriarty\u2019s Canadian COVID Forecast: December 2\u201315, 2023<\/a> notes that about 1 in 39 people in Canada are currently infected.<\/p>\n

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Recent articles that caught our eye:<\/h2>\n