CCBI Resources for COVID-19 Matters – October 23, 2020
Dear Friends of CCBI, The medical director of care at a large Toronto hospital is…
CCBI Resources for COVID-19 Matters – August 14, 2020
Dear Friends of CCBI,
A few weeks ago we talked about the dismantling of Canada’s international pandemic alert system and the devastating results of being unprepared for the attack of the coronavirus. Good news, then, to discover that the system has been put back in place. Lessons have been learned – the hard way – but now there will be a little more security about being ready for the next virus, whenever that will be. Bambi reminded me that Dr Rory Fisher, a wonderful supporter of CCBI, led a seminar for us on pandemic planning in 2010 (!) along with Dr Shawn Tracy. We’ve added both to the list for your interest.
The Chief of an Alberta First Nation, Chief Ouray Crowfoot of Siksika Nation, said that “the pandemic should be a wake-up call that drives long-term change.” Marlene Poitras, the Alberta Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations, said the federal government has been responsive during the pandemic, but agreed with Chief Crowfoot that there were long-standing problems before the pandemic that need long-term change “… in terms of the housing situations, the boil-water advisories, overall poor health conditions of our people.”
Quoting from a recent MaRS report: “Public health has always been the foundation of urban planning,” says Jennifer Keesmaat, former chief city planner of Toronto and CEO of The Keesmaat Group. “Some people just forgot.” Keesmaat asserts that “good, safe density” will help us overcome the pandemic and create a higher quality of life. For her, that manifests in simple yet powerful infrastructure like wider walkways, protected bike lanes and open parks… But to avoid transit-system collapse and congestion once the city fully re-opens, more steps need to be taken, Keesmaat argues. She’d like to see a stark increase in construction of affordable housing, as well as the creation of free, high-speed internet so that disadvantaged groups can benefit from things like remote work, communicating with loved ones, and even the welcome diversion of streaming movies.”
A timely article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) also looking through the lens of public health, tells us society has to make choices and work out priorities: “Ultimately, there is no route that will not disadvantage some groups, which means choosing carefully which aspects of our society and economy are most important to us. …For instance, if reopening of schools and reuniting families and caregivers with long-term care residents is to be prioritized, we may have to forgo the reopening of indoor bars and restaurants, as concurrency of these activities is likely to substantially increase SARS-CoV-2 transmission. Similarly, making children’s return to school as safe and inclusive as possible may require cancellation of higher-risk activities within schools, such as schoolwide assemblies and choir groups.”
Pope Francis has the last word in this video of his Audience, August 12: “If we don’t heal each other, we won’t heal the world!”
Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us!
Pray for those who work and live from the sea, among them sailors, fishermen and their families! (Pope Francis’ global prayer intention for August)
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
Canada’s International Pandemic Alert
| Morning Update: Canada’s international pandemic alert back in action, more than 400 days after falling silent – The Globe and Mail On Thursday last week, Canada’s international pandemic surveillance and risk assessment system issued its first alert since going silent on May 24, 2019. The alert focused on signs of human-to … www.theglobeandmail.com |
CCBI: Dr Rory Fisher, “Ethical Concerns in Pandemic Planning
| Ethical Concerns in Pandemic Planning – Rory Fisher – YouTube Hosted by the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute and the Order of Malta Dr. Rory Fisher is Professor Emeritus, Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, and a member of the Division of … www.youtube.com |
CCBI: Shawn Tracy, “Ethical Concerns in Pandemic Planning
| Ethical Concerns in Pandemic Planning – Shawn Tracy – YouTube Speaker: Shawn Tracy, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. Hosted by the Canadian Catholic Bioethics Institute and the Order of Malta _____ Shawn Tracy is a research associate in the Primary Care … www.youtube.com |
The Globe and Mail
COVID-19 underscores inequities that put First Nations at risk
| Alberta chief says COVID-19 scare underscores inequities that put First Nations at risk – The Globe and Mail The chief of an Alberta First Nation that went under lockdown in the face of a recent COVID-19 scare says the pandemic has laid bare inequities that continue to persist in Indigenous communities … www.theglobeandmail.com |
MaRS: A chance to transform Toronto
| COVID-19 offers Toronto a rare chance to transform the city – MaRS Discovery District – marsdd.com COVID-19 offers Toronto a rare chance to transform the city. Forget utopian thinking and science-fiction gadgets. Toronto already has the necessary tech, talent and resources to address its gravest problems. www.marsdd.com |
Canadian Medical Association Journal: good city planning around public health
Pope Francis: Taking care of each other, healing the world
| Pope at General Audience: “If we don’t take care of each other, we won’t heal the world” – YouTube The new Rome Reports app is now available! Download it here: Android: https://bit.ly/2SowpUn Apple: https://apple.co/2RHf58H Subscribe!: http://smarturl.it/R… www.youtube.com |