Thread by @jheighton3

Why are people questioning BC’s Covid response? If we look at BC’s situation with a calm, critical thinking lens, this is what a lot of people are seeing with our provincial response: (THREAD)

#RedFlagCovidBC
#bced #bcpoli
@CDCofBC @bcndp @adriandix
@JM_Whiteside

1/17

First #RedFlagCovidBC : BC doesn't acknowledge a- or pre-symptomatic spread of this virus, which scientists have documented in droves. Instead, BC tells contacts to “self-monitor” themselves for symptoms but keep going to school or work if they are symptom-free. #bced
2/17

Second #RedFlagCovidBC: Experts agree that community spread should be low (measured by test +ivity rates) for schools to operate safely. Yet BC (esp @Fraserhealth) has had consistently high positivity rates in the last several weeks. No change to the #bced plan, even in FH.
3/17

Third #RedFlagCovidBC: BC has a diff definition of “outbreak” for #bced than other provinces. It allows the HA to claim “low transmission” b/c outbreak unlikely w/ BC’s definition (transmission btwn cohorts).

Versus Alta’s definition=2 cases, same school, w/in 14 days.
4/17

Fourth #RedFlagCovidBC: BC stopped producing day-to-day data on school cases in early November and admitted to @VancouverSun that they weren’t keeping up. Keeping that data was “beyond our capacity” (using @adriandix words). Yet other provinces (& 2 BC Moms) are able to.
5/17

Fifth #RedFlagCovidBC: BC does not recognize aerosolization of #Covid19, despite most scientists' advice. Affects masks, ventilation, "close contacts" and distancing (2m indoors is not enough if space is poorly ventilated and you are in there for a significant ⏰).
#bced
6/17

Sixth #RedFlagCovidBC: BC is one of the last provinces to not mandate masks in #bced classrooms, from Grades 4-12. France, in comparison, is experiencing 📈; has now mandated masks, age 6+.

WHO="masks should be worn in all indoor public spaces, including schools".

BC??

7/17

Seventh #RedFlagCovidBC : Secrecy and problems with contact tracing in BC. Many “early exposure notices” are sent out 10-14 days after exposure, too late to self-isolate without infecting others first.

8/17

7th 🚩(con't) Also multiple examples of 1 exposure notice covering several +ve cases in a class. Discovered when parents compare notes & find out that other classmates tested +ve (along with own child) but the 1 exposure notice covered all of the cases. Trust?
9/17

7th 🚩(con't) Teachers are left out of contact tracing. Not asked for seating plan, no discussion of activities done, support teachers/EAs who may have interacted, nothing. Teachers find out if a +ve case in #bced school if the fogging machine shows up. No idea whose class.
10/17

Eighth #RedFlagCovidBC: BC's testing=worst in 🇨🇦, for a province that is 📈. And no symptoms=no test. If asymptomatic, BC won't find. For example there are lots of examples of a family member being +ve but the rest of family is told to go to school/work. #bced #bcpoli

11/17

8th 🚩(con't) Testing: If entire class is isolated, many students told not to get a test, even if they want it, and even if they sat next to the positive case. Discouraging those from finding out if there is #bced transmission. Told that the self-isolation is enough.

12/17

Ninth #RedFlagCovidBC: No 🇨🇦 #CovidApp. BC is still refusing to use the federally approved app, even though they admit that our contact tracers are overwhelmed at the moment (and therefore this tech solution would actually help them out). Why not find these cases?

13/17

If BC's PHOs were actually following the science & reporting the data, then people wouldn’t need to ask questions. However, many see the discrepancies between BC & other jurisdictions, and see what other epidemiologists recommend, like @DrZoeHyde @AshTuite @AmyGreerKalisz
14/17

When it’s clear that BC is doing things differently, then we do have a right to question. Especially when it’s @bctf @CUPEBC safety and the safety of our #bced school communities that could be at risk.

We are not trolls, we are critically-thinking citizens who care.
15/17

It’s a pandemic. DBH should be prepared to show the reasons why BC’s strategies are different than other places, and explain why she thinks they are safer. And prove it with scientific studies. Because currently, those studies are saying something different.

16/17

DBH should answer Q's clearly, honestly, w/ no vague circular talk. Media deserve to get real answers to their Q's. And members of the public should not be criticized for wanting to know this information.

If you continue to see BC problems, tweet w/ #RedFlagCovidBC

17/END