CCBI Resources for COVID-19 Matters – July 3 2020

Dear Friends of CCBI,

We can be encouraged by some of the reports that the effects of the first wave of COVID-19 are lessening in Canada, notwithstanding a rise in the numbers of cases, which is inevitable as some restrictions are lifted. Patios, some parks and public spaces are now open, again with restrictions and regional variations. For those who enjoy socializing with friends yet who possibly have limited outdoor facilities at their disposal, that is welcome news. In my region, splashpads, pools and even some summer camps for children are opening up, and provide welcome relief in the extreme heat in this area.

As mentioned last week, questioning the earlier government response to the pandemic is mounting, even as we are preparing to deal with at least a second wave as ‘opening up’ continues. A catch-all article from the Globe and Mail refers readers to many points of interest about the handling of the pandemic, but one phrase stood out to me: “Chief medical health officers across the country are now actively preparing for a possible second wave in the fall or winter, and are bracing for a scenario in which it coincides with flu season.” En garde!

Ottawa has been called on to help correct factors that caused carnage in Canada’s long-term care and nursing homes. A report from the Royal Society of Canada to the federal government demands that it “work with the provinces and territories on a national plan to overhaul the long-term care system to address widespread deficiencies, beginning with staffing.” Beginning with staffing is significant, considering all we have learned about hiring and staffing practices, conditions of employment, low level wages and so on in some facilities. These conditions either fostered negligence or, in some cases, exacerbated already existing negligent practices. Coincidentally, an excellent report on the structure of personal-support work was published by Cardus this week, which further explains systemic problems in that particular health care field.

Conditions under which migrant workers have been labouring in Canada are also being detailed more carefully than ever, particularly since the news of a large outbreak in one facility in Windsor-Essex, where it seems the Ontario Medical Officer of Public Health allowed workers to work side by side in non-distanced facilities, assuming they were showing no signs of COVID 19. He did so despite being implored by about 700 health care workers to rescind the order, and in fact the Windsor-Essex Medical Officer of Public Health did just that, on the basis that there should not be two rules of practice, one for migrant workers and one for everyone else. In fairness, it seems that the Ontario Medical Officer allowed the migrant workers to continue since many were concerned that they would not be paid if they could not work every day. This quote from the The Globe article below credits Ontario’s Premier with the following remark: “My emphasis to the workers is nothing’s going to happen – Ontario’s here to help you, make sure you get better, make sure you get healthy, that’s what we want,” Mr. Ford said, assuring workers that if they can’t work because of COVID-19, they won’t be deported and they will be paid. “We’re Canada. We aren’t some third-world nation that you have to run from the authorities.” To my mind, if it’s genuine, that’s the best statement any Canadian politician has yet made about COVID -19, in line with both social justice and good health practices.

Pope Francis has requested that the Church’s prayer intention for July is ‘to accompany families with love, respect and guidance.’ While this applies equally to all families, perhaps extra prayers could be offered for the families of health care front line workers, including personal support workers; the families of those who have died or are seriously ill because of COVID-19; the families of migrant workers who may be panic-stricken over the numbers of their (mainly) menfolk who have contracted the virus here in Canada, far from home and loved ones.

There are many more families at risk, and not only from COVID-19. Questions of racism and poverty exist in our so-called developed world as well as in what we term ‘underdeveloped’ nations. We plan to focus more on those important areas in our next Bulletins, to give them the attention they deserve without overextending this week’s Bulletin.

Our Lady, Health of the Sick, Pray for us!

That all families be accompanied with love, respect and guidance, we pray to the Lord!

Warm regards,

Moira McQueen, LLB, MDiv, PhD
Executive Director, Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute
Lecturer, Faculty of Theology
University of St. Michael’s College in the University of Toronto

The Globe and Mail

Coronavirus Update: Hospital, ICU visits drop as cases become less severe in Canada

The Globe and Mail:

Coronavirus Update: When the first wave of COVID-19 hit Canada, the response from governments and health officials was slow and scattered

The Globe and Mail: Report calls on Ottawa to overhaul long-term care system

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-report-calls-on-ottawa-to-overhaul-long-term-care-system/

Cardus: The Structure of Personal-Support Work

https://www.cardus.ca/research/work-economics/reports/structural-challenges-to-personal-support-worker-funding/

The Globe and Mail:

Confusion as Health Unit Effectively Shuts Down Farm Operation over COVID-19 Cases

Pope Francis: Prayer Video Message

https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2020-07/pope-francis-prayer-video-message.html