As a Canadian, Albertan, hockey-loving, public health specialist doctor, I feel like I should write this down somewhere:
I think this playoff hockey plan in Edmonton and Toronto is a bad idea.
I think this playoff hockey plan in Edmonton and Toronto is a bad idea.
Even if every player, team staff, official, arena/ice crew, security person, food/bev worker, hotel staff, delivery driver, bus driver, etc etc can follow every aspect of the plan (excursions, room restrictions, testing and all), there are major messaging and equity issues.
People are fatiguing of public health messaging asking them to "continue to be cautious because COVID19 is still here."
In early May 92% of Canadians reported practicing physical distancing. In late June it had decreased to 77%.
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quoti…
In early May 92% of Canadians reported practicing physical distancing. In late June it had decreased to 77%.
www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/daily-quoti…
On one hand we're saying:
"Keep maintaining 2m distance, avoid large gatherings and unnecessary travel."
"Keep washing your hands frequently."
"Keep wearing a mask."
and on the other:
"BTW, men in their 20s are having a large full contact sporting event for our entertainment."
"Keep maintaining 2m distance, avoid large gatherings and unnecessary travel."
"Keep washing your hands frequently."
"Keep wearing a mask."
and on the other:
"BTW, men in their 20s are having a large full contact sporting event for our entertainment."
Public health specialists and authorities ask *a lot* of people during outbreaks and pandemics. We have to respect the sacrifices we ask people to make in the interests of public health and the common good.
Those sacrifices have been huge during COVID19.
Those sacrifices have been huge during COVID19.
"You can't
😰have your wedding if you want more than X# of people to attend
😰visit the newborn baby in your family
😰go see your scared loved one in the long term care facility
☹️go to work because it's closed
😡go to work because there's no child care
😰attend a funeral"
😰have your wedding if you want more than X# of people to attend
😰visit the newborn baby in your family
😰go see your scared loved one in the long term care facility
☹️go to work because it's closed
😡go to work because there's no child care
😰attend a funeral"
People understood that, so long as infection transmission remained high in the community, accommodations couldn't be made for these activities to be safe for them or for the public's health, and they complied. Even though it hurt them.
It wouldn't be irrational for people to conclude that having large sporting events means either that
🤔community transmission is no longer high, or that
🤔public health is willing to make accommodations for hockey to be safe, but not for your wedding, your family or your job.
🤔community transmission is no longer high, or that
🤔public health is willing to make accommodations for hockey to be safe, but not for your wedding, your family or your job.
Having to wait a week for a phone call to confirm that COVID test you did was negative (so you can get back to life) might be more frustrating when you know athletes in a "bubble" are getting tested every 48 hours with rapid results. It might feel to you like inequity.
Of course there are nuances and complicating factors, but public health messages need to be clear, sincere and believable (including the "everyone counts" and "we're all in this together" ones) and public health measures need to be equitable.
So even if there are no hiccups in the infection prevention plan for playoff pandemic hockey (between July and Oct 👀), with the messaging risks and the risk of disrespecting the sacrifices people/families continue to make for the common good, I think this is a mistake.
