Alberta Doctors and Businesses React to New COVID-19 Measures, Vaccine Passport | The Canadian News

The reaction is coming after the Alberta Government Announced Public Health Emergency and New COVID-19 Measures On Wednesday.

Prime Minister Jason Kenney said the government has “reluctantly decided to adopt the restraint waiver program,” that is, a vaccine passport system. He called the fourth wave of the pandemic an “unvaccinated crisis.”

‘A skilled contortionist’

Protect Our Province Alberta, a group of doctors, scientists and advocates formed in July that held its own briefings on COVID-19 after the government eased restrictions, conducted an emergency update Wednesday night, with many saying that the information of the province is a lot to digest and several health experts had predicted this terrible scenario.

“With today’s announcement, Jason Kenney has proven himself to be a skilled contortionist, virtually leaning on a pretzel to appease a small fringe but vocal group of individuals who oppose vaccination,” said Edmonton infectious disease physician, the Dr. Ilan Schwartz. .

“As a result, we are left with a hodgepodge of measures that are confusing and consequently likely to be ineffective.”

COVID-19 is ‘predictable and preventable’

Kenney said: “There is one thing that we have all learned through COVID, which is the unpredictability of the disease.”

Family physician Dr. David Keegan addressed Kenney’s claim.

“Scientists projected the exact scenario we are in at the moment, and the government ignored them,” he said.

“COVID is predictable and preventable. It can be prevented and predicted months in advance. There are jurisdictions that have a perfect response to a pandemic, which is the Canadian Atlantic, among others, and New Zealand, ”said Dr. Gosia Gasperowicz.

“I am very happy that the government is finally treating this COVID crisis seriously, so it is a good step forward. But I’m afraid the measures might not be strong enough to turn the curve immediately, and we need to turn the curve immediately to stop the disaster that is happening. “

Whether or not these public health measures will be enough remains to be seen, said Dr. Neeja Bakshi, a front-line COVID-19 physician.

“One thing we all agree on is that they take time to arrive. Our health care system … is in dire straits. We are in positions that none of us have been in before, ”he said.

“Every day we are faced with the fear of having to implement triage or make difficult decisions.“

Doctors warned that if people don’t change their behaviors, many will suffer and die.

“I am deeply saddened to have to be in this position again, and I do not understand why the leadership of this province took so long to recognize the growing crisis in the health system and the realities of COVID,” he said. Infectious Diseases Physician Dra. Leyla Asadi.

Spread in schools

Dr. Wing Li with Support Our Students Alberta said that a large void at the province’s press conference was addressing the spread of COVID-19 in schools.

“Incorporating provincial masking for grades 4-12 will mitigate transmission; that was necessary. Then the masking should extend from kindergarten through third grade. We need contact tracing reinstated at the school. I didn’t hear that, ”he said, noting that there are at least 40 schools with 10 percent or more absenteeism due to respiratory illnesses.

“Public health does not offer guidance, so why not offer rapid tests in schools as a follow-up option if there is exposure?

“The government’s role is to lead, and instead of being at the forefront of student health and safety, we are always pushing them to catch up.”

‘Why should a company issue a mandate?’

In Edmonton, O’Byrne’s Irish Pub general manager Cathal O’Byrne said the announcement brings “a bit of pressure on businesses,” especially for restaurants and bars.

“It is our social responsibility to protect our local community, so of course we will participate in the waiver program to make sure we protect our community and make sure everyone is safe and that we take the pressure off hospitals. . ,” he said.

The province said that as of Sept. 20, companies or event organizers “who choose to implement a program that checks customers for government-issued proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test purchased privately. “shall be exempt from restrictions. If a company chooses not to require proof of vaccination, it must follow the new health measures, the government said.

“It is going to be a learning process for us. It’s going to be step by step, ”O’Byrne said. “How do we treat people who are not vaccinated? What do we tell them? How do we reject them? It is for the safety of all, not only of our guests, but [also] our staff, our employees, our family.

“This is a family business and it is going to be difficult, but we are going to make it happen.”

Ernie Tsu, president of the Alberta Hospitality Association, echoed the confusion doctors expressed about how the new measures will be implemented, adding that he does not understand why companies are pushing to enforce these rules.

“It will be almost impossible for not just our industry, fitness or any other industry to enforce it. We are already in a divided cultural situation here, ”he said.

“Why is the government not leading? I’ll tell you why. The government has been absent for the last four weeks when the cases started to increase, and now we are in this situation. Why should a company have to issue a mandate? “

Megan Clark of Studio B Fitness in Edmonton said the facility has had a vaccination policy since Sept. 1. She has many questions, but is grateful to remain open.

“We have required double vaccination from the beginning, and now, because of the way their program looks, they are intervening in it to allow people to have time,” he said.

“Do we have to follow that one? Can we continue to follow or have our own guidelines that require both vaccines? So I need to spend a little more time finding out. “