{"id":5005,"date":"2024-03-14T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-14T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stillcoviding.ca\/en\/?p=5005"},"modified":"2024-04-18T01:17:48","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T05:17:48","slug":"vulnerability-isnt-seasonal-donoharm-bc-launches-campaign-to-keep-masks-in-bc-healthcare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stillcoviding.ca\/en\/communities\/british-columbia\/vulnerability-isnt-seasonal-donoharm-bc-launches-campaign-to-keep-masks-in-bc-healthcare\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cVulnerability isn\u2019t seasonal\u201d: DoNoHarm BC launches campaign to keep masks in BC healthcare"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vulnerable British Columbians call for continued protections from COVID-19, measles, and other airborne diseases<\/h2>\n

March 14, 2024 (British Columbia) \u2013 DoNoHarm BC<\/a>, a grassroots group advocating for evidence-based public health measures, is leading a province-wide campaign<\/a> to keep mask protections in BC medical settings. The campaign, \u201cVulnerability Isn\u2019t Seasonal\u201d, also calls to strengthen infection control with patient masking; wider use of N95 masks; and coverage in private practices like GP\u2019s offices.<\/p>\n

BC currently requires masks in hospitals and long-term care for staff, contractors, visitors and volunteers \u2013 but not for patients. While policy-makers have only guaranteed this measure for a \u201cfew months\u201d<\/a> over the winter, DoNoHarm\u00a0BC notes that the last time BC discarded healthcare masking, multiple medical facilities<\/a> suffered COVID outbreaks<\/a>. At the time, removal of healthcare masking contradicted guidance from the World Health Organization<\/a>, and prompted BC\u2019s Human Rights Commissioner<\/a> to state that the move \u201cdoes not uphold a human rights centered approach to public health.\u201d<\/p>\n

This time, vulnerable British Columbians are calling for mask protections to be maintained. \u201cA single COVID infection completely upended my life two years ago,\u201d says Kayli Jamieson, a 25-year-old Long COVID patient and researcher who has joined the campaign. \u201cUnless everyone is wearing a mask if they can do so, my vulnerable family members and I can\u2019t safely access healthcare. We all share the same air, and we should be preventing healthcare-acquired infections year-round.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cRemoving healthcare mask requirements would be an unforced error,\u201d says Dr. Karina Zeidler, a family physician and co-founder of the independent public health group Protect Our Province BC<\/a>. \u201cNot only is COVID transmission ongoing, but there is also a resurgence in other highly infectious airborne diseases like measles<\/a> and increases in tuberculosis<\/a>. The BCCDC is also warning of life-threatening invasive strep in kids<\/a>. Now is not the time to be downgrading healthcare safety and sustainability. Instead we should be improving it with wider use of respirators, which are the only masks<\/a> designed to protect<\/a> against airborne disease<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

DoNoHarm BC\u2019s campaign encourages people to write directly to policy-makers, while also spotlighting the stories of British Columbians impacted by this issue. The campaign launches at DoNoHarmBC.ca<\/a> on March 15th, 2024, coinciding with Long COVID Awareness Day<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Demands:<\/strong><\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Maintain and enforce mask requirements in BC hospitals and long-term care settings year-round for medical staff, contractors, visitors and volunteers.<\/li>\n
  2. Restore mask requirements for patients, with reasonable exceptions and accommodations.<\/li>\n
  3. Improve airborne precautions including wider use of N95-equivalent masks (respirators).<\/li>\n
  4. Issue a clear directive that private and community healthcare settings must meet the same minimum mask coverage as government facilities.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    -30-<\/p>\n

    DoNoHarm\u00a0BC<\/strong><\/span> is a non-partisan action group based in British Columbia, Canada. Their mission is to demand evidence-based safety measures in high-risk settings; to advocate for effective and equitable public health policies; and to help lead grassroots collective action promoting safety, equity, accessibility, and resilience in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. DoNoHarmBC.ca<\/a><\/p>\n

    Learn more:<\/strong><\/h3>\n