A Catholic Perspective: Triage Principles & Moral Distress in Pandemic Scarcity
N. Kenny OC MD FRCP(C), J. Kotalik MD MA FRCPC, L. Herx MD PhD CCFP(PC)…
CCBI Resources for COVID-19 Matters – October 9, 2020
Dear Friends of CCBI,
We are experiencing another rollercoaster week heading towards Thanksgiving, which most of us assume will involve small celebrations, if not virtual. People seem to be accepting this prospect as fair, if inevitable, now that the numbers of those with COVID-19 have increased by 40%! This jump in numbers took many of us by surprise, although those who understand the exponentials involved in this field had predicted this would happen. According to The Star, October 8: “Canada’s largest province is reporting the most new cases of COVID-19 it’s had in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic. Ontario has announced 797 new cases of the virus, and Health Minister Christine Elliott says 57 per cent of those infected are people under the age of 40. Quebec’s surging numbers continue with 1,078 new cases.” Today’s numbers (Friday, October 9) come to 939 in Ontario, prompting suggestions of further restrictions. We shall see…
Is poor communication from authorities partly to blame? The Ontario government is under fire for sending mixed messages: are we allowed 10 inside / 25 outside? Does the composition of the groups matter? Do groups outside need masks and must they self-distance, even if they are all in the same family? Should they bring their own food? cutlery? drinks? Should the bubble of ten that is allowed comprise one or two families only, or include couples or individuals from outside? In time of pandemic these matters need to be CLEAR, since even family members are saying different things to one another. For example, in Ontario some think the Premier and Health Minister are doing a reasonable job of communicating, but many would rather hear directly from the Medical Officer of Health and experts in the field. Politicians are rarely qualified to give medical forecasts or detailed explanations. BC is rightly proud of Dr Bonnie Henry for her way of communicating with the public, and their numbers seem more consistent than in other numerically large provinces, so there may be something to that. I realize that most of us can work things out by ourselves and act prudently, but others need to have the message reinforced, since they don’t seem to believe the havoc this virus can cause…even after all we’ve learned. Bravado does not exempt anyone from its dangers, as we saw last weekend!
Sad to say, there are now more outbreaks in long term care homes. In New Brunswick, which had been doing so well along with the other Atlantic areas, thirteen residents of one home and four staff have contracted the virus, even as Ontario is working to contain outbreaks in fifty homes. Any illusion that this would not happen again has been shattered already. The clip from the CBC reminds us that COVID-19 is relentless, and that it is exceedingly difficult to prevent these outbreaks, since staff members or visitors can be symptomless, bringing the virus, unaware, into the residences. At least the homes now have, or should have, the required PPE and better protocols, but the numbers involved are alarming and many residents must still share rooms in older homes.
Another alarming development concerns our indigenous communities. Partly because of their remoteness, COVID19 cases were fairly low at the beginning of the pandemic, but there are fears about containing the current outbreaks. The associate deputy minister of the federal department of Indigenous Services Canada said that some First Nations are concerned about an increase in community transmission because people have no choice but to travel to the closest cities for many health care services, cities that are reopening their economies and where COVID-19 cases are rising. She added that it is difficult for communities to maintain their own restrictions when non-First Nation communities are open, and now there is greater fear of community spread coupled with a lack of immediate medical help. A vicious cycle in play again….
A sector that is sometimes ignored is the homeless, which includes young people without shelter. Homelessness has become ever more evident in our cities and towns, and groups such as ‘The Homeless Hub’ https://www.homelesshub.ca/ are extremely helpful in working towards improving that situation. A report has just been issued on youth homelessness which is worth reading for its research, information and suggestions for ways forward, now and beyond the pandemic. The thought of anyone ‘sleeping rough’ (as they say in the UK), with all the indignities and dangers involved, is an issue which agitates and disturbs many of us. Needless to say, this is another area in which Pope Francis is active, hoping that some of us will follow his example.
Our Lady, Health of the Sick, pray for us!
We pray that by the virtue of baptism, the laity, especially women, may participate more in areas of responsibility in the Church! (Pope Francis’ Intentions for the month of October)
Happy Virtual and Safe Thanksgiving!
Moira and Bambi
The Globe and Mail
Mixed messaging leads to distrust
| Mixed messaging on COVID-19 pandemic is leading to distrust in Ontario, experts sayThe public has not been properly prepared through communications to expect a rollback of restrictions, thereby making behaviours difficult to changewww.theglobeandmail.com |
CBC
Second Round of Outbreaks in Nursing Homes
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1797477955906
| Ontario scrambles to contain 2nd round of COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes | CBC.caThere are at least 46 confirmed outbreaks at Ontario long-term care homes as the province scrambles to prevent a second wave of COVID-19 from getting out of control. But after almost 1,900 deaths …www.cbc.ca |
The Globe and Mail
Second Wave, Anxiety in First Nations Communities
The Homeless Hub
Youth and Homelessness, Transformative Approaches in Mental Health
| EXECUTIVE REPORT Responding to Youth Homelessness during COVID-19 and Beyond3 INTRODUCTION Understanding the youth-serving sector’s need for early-stage, applied research and evidence on the impacts of COVID-19, A Way Home Canada and the Canadianwww.homelesshub.ca |
Vatican News
Pope Francis – Key Themes of Life
| Pope addresses key themes of life during pandemic in interview – Vatican NewsPope Francis grants an interview to the Spanish edition of the monthly periodical “Il mio Papa”, reflecting on key issues which have emerged during …www.vaticannews.va |