Health groups stress need for caution

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This article was published 16/02/2022 (1311 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As the province moves to eliminate COVID-19 measures next month, physicians and medical organizations are urging the public to exercise caution.

This is a very complicated issue, said Dr. Derry Decter, who runs the Rosser Medical Group in Brandon.

He said it’s a big unknown how lifting restrictions so sudden will play out, and not having all the data from the government doesn’t help to alleviate fears.

“I’ve been doing this for 42 years and I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

“The system is on its back from this pandemic, and I really see no plan from the government on how to address issues post-COVID.”

Since the government has only been counting PCR tests done at sites, it’s hard to tell how many actual COVID-19 cases there are currently in the province.

Decter said it is likely higher than what is being reported.

Decter praised the doctors, nurses and health-care staff across the province for everything they have done to save lives, but he has heard from many colleagues that burnout is catching up to them fast.

From what he has been hearing, the health-care system is under serious threat of collapse in the foreseeable future if the government doesn’t form a solid plan to fix the damage done to the system and present it to the public.

This pandemic has shown how “hollowed out” the system has become from years of cutbacks.

Without people, the system can’t work, he said.

Overall, Decter said everyone should still remain cautious for the near-term future to protect themselves and the health-care system in general.

The Manitoba Nurses Union echoed this concern.

Doctors and nurses have seen firsthand the devastation caused by COVID-19 and are still dealing with the fallout of the fourth wave.

Hospitals continue to struggle with capacity, and will for quite some time, said union president Darlene Jackson.

“If this wave doesn’t dissipate as quickly as modelled, one cannot help but wonder what happened to the science that once guided decision-making,” she stated in an email.

“If we are hit with another variant wave, we may in fact see a system collapse under pressure.”

She couldn’t help but wonder if more patience could’ve been applied to ensure the province is truly “out of the woods” before removing all restrictions.

Caution now will ensure we don’t end up making the omicron wave last even longer, a spokesperson from Doctors Manitoba stated in an email.

“Doctors strongly recommend for all Manitobans to continue following public health COVID-19 guidance even if it is no longer reflected in a government restriction,” the spokesperson stated. “We also strongly recommend all eligible Manitobans to get vaccinated including a booster shot.”

Only about 40 per cent of all Manitobans have received their third dose, which is much lower than countries like Denmark and the U.K. that are lifting restrictions, they added.

As the province shifts its approach to dealing with the pandemic, Prairie Mountain Health and Shared Health will continue working to meet the needs of patients, residents and clients as the province shifts its approach to dealing with the pandemic.

This includes constant communication with staff and physicians on how any changes in provincial direction such as visitation, PPE and vaccination status, to name a few, are co-ordinated, Prairie Mountain Health CEO Brian Schoonbaert stated in an email.

However, health-care facilities and operators regularly assess and revise guidance in place across the system intended to minimize the risk of COVID-19 transmission within facilities. As vaccine rates increase and cases dissipate, work is underway to consider appropriate changes to visitor guidelines and infection prevention and control protocols, a Shared Health spokesperson wrote in an email.

While the health-care system continues to deal with COVID-19 patients, the situation appears to be stabilizing, and a gradual return to regular operations will happen but will take some time, health officials have said.

As of Tuesday, the province moved into the yellow (caution) level of the pandemic response system.

Other changes coming into effect include ending capacity limits at venues such as restaurants, licensed premises, entertainment venues, indoor and outdoor sporting events and gatherings at private residences. The province is also removing capacity limits at outdoor public gatherings, but indoor public gatherings will be limited to 50 people unless proof of vaccination is required. Youth aged 12 to 17 participating in indoor sports and recreation will no longer have to provide proof of vaccination or recent testing.

As well, close contacts of COVID-19 cases don’t have to self-isolate. Self-isolation is still recommended for those who live in a household with people with symptoms or who have tested positive for COVID-19. Those who test positive still need to self-isolate.

All restrictions are to be lifted March 15.

» kmckinley@brandonsun.com

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