Discussed study is flawed. However:
"Masking, admission testing, and visitor screening are likely the highest yield interventions."
"We believe strategic use of selective prevention measures during periods of increased transmission remains warranted."
jamanetwork.com
"Masking, admission testing, and visitor screening are likely the highest yield interventions."
"We believe strategic use of selective prevention measures during periods of increased transmission remains warranted."
jamanetwork.com
At the beginning and throughout the current Ontario (and Canadian) covid surge I have recommended universal masking in hospitals. Hospitals were slow to react and generally have only budged on staff masking. Covid is airborne. Everyone is at risk.
Why do hospitals insist on running our most vulnerable and elderly sick patients through ER and crowded waiting room gauntlets at the height of a covid resurgence? This is dystopian and unethical.
Aerosol studies and the epidemiological observation of tracked superspreader events have underlined the importance of source control - ie masking the sources of infection is critical and a hospital de facto has a higher likelihood of infectious sources.
The consequences are clear, a recent BC study pointed to the increased health risks and hospital burden to be expected from the elderly segment who have not yet been infected. Hospitals are ignoring their elevated risk for some inexplicable reason. Source control matters.
What is the overarching harm of requiring masks during this high infection period? I can find nothing of substance in the scientific literature. But I can logically expect that some vulnerable are avoiding ER and needed care due to these lax policies. That will cost lives.
The province is also showing no leadership in issuing updated hospital orders at this critical time as RSV and Flu season arrive on top of covid. Never too late to get back on course.
cc @SylviaJonesMPP @fordnation
cc @SylviaJonesMPP @fordnation
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