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Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
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4 Apr, 8 tweets, 3 min read
We are facing a reckoning in Canada, a highly contagious, deadly variant is firmly rooted in BC and spreading eastwards. We were shocked when UK variant Covid starting targeting young people, this will make it much worse. We need action now!
What's happened to the Vancouver Canucks is just the beginning. More young people will get very sick until we take decisive action to contain this threat.
We need to address these underlying issues with at-risk populations. These measures will protect all of us:
And we need to aim to be like the safe parts of Canada, that have near Zero Covid cases, and are living normal lives, have few shutdowns and have a thriving economy. #ZeroCovidCanada #masks4canada
What can happen when the P1 variant overwhelms a healthcare system. Even more reason to contain it now!

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More from @KashPrime

Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
2 Apr
Let's go over some simple reasons why this new 'lockdown' won't work and what we can do about it:

Essential workers 30s-50s are the bulk of new ICU admissions. There's been no change in working conditions to protect them from an airborne virus. They are at huge risk right now
1) This virus is airborne, like SARS1 before it. That's why these new variants are more contagious. Distancing won't cut it, being in closed, poorly ventilated spaces is hugely dangerous. As @AndrewChangCBC describes, we need to up our game on masks:
2) Wear a better mask, like a tightly fitting N95 or equivalent. All workers should be provided with these now. Wear one to your grocery run, or switch to pickup or delivery if you can't. They are plentiful now.

Here's a list of Canadian suppliers:
docs.google.com/document/d/1ma…
Read 10 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
31 Mar
We are facing our 3rd lockdown in parts of Canada. It sucks, could have been prevented, but here we are. How can we make sure this is the last time this happens? With vaccines and summer weather coming, we have a golden opportunity to eliminate Covid completely...
We should adopt common sense measures used by Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Australia etc. to hammer case numbers down. Life in these places is mostly normal, with brief lockdowns whenever an outbreak happens. Schools are safe, businesses are thriving, and no one is dying
Why is it important to do this? Although most adults will be vaccinated, children will be left unprotected. Most don't get seriously ill with Covid, but they can get disabling long-term symptoms. No one knows for how long, but can we take that risk with 10% of all children?
Read 10 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
30 Mar
Canada is having its wave ahead of America... something we haven't seen before. Usually we benefit from 2-4 weeks of warning from the US, now roles are reversed: we're the under performers, the canaries in the coal mine. h/t @jkwan_md for the figures.
And we we're the first in North America to see the new variants absolutely ravage younger and younger people:
And we are steadily seeing our ICU system fill up. We have far fewer critical care beds per capita than in the US
Read 4 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
21 Mar
This is thread of cases to get the point across that variant Covid is brutalizing young people. Please post your own cases in the replies.

35 year old teacher with no medical problems got severe Covid from a student. 65% sat on room air, went straight to our ICU. UK variant.
A colleague's case, 30 year old man admitted with Crohn's flare, deteriorated over night, required high flow oxygen and is now in the ICU
What it should look like:
Read 8 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
20 Mar
With the province opening up indoor dining to more people, I've decided to go into the restaurant business. Ventilators for every patron. Come for the steak, stay for our in-house ICU team!
But seriously, going out to a crowded restaurant is a really bad idea. Even if the government allows something doesn't mean it's wise to do it. Order lots of take-out to support businesses, but please, don't expose yourself right when vaccinations are kicking into high gear.
My colleagues and I are seeing many, many younger people with severe Covid, down to their 30s. These variants are a different beast, and even if you're young it may not spare you and loved ones from a lot of grief. What was safe to do before is simply not so anymore.
Read 5 tweets
Kashif Pirzada, MD Profile picture
28 Feb
We should consider #oneshot vaccinating as many people as quickly as possible, and that means delaying a second dose of the vaccine. We have enough doses coming in by the end of June, that would cover nearly the entire adult population. Why? We are ignoring two thing:
Firstly, there is natural fatigue with Covid measures. I can feel it talking to patients. Better weather is coming, the euphoria around vaccination drives is palpable, and people will let their guard down. It’s only natural, but contagious variants will rip through the public
Secondly, now that we’re quickly vaccinating elders at risk, deaths will become rarer, but we will be ignoring one very important factor - disability. ‘Long Covid syndrome’ can cause issues long after acute infection. And it can wreak havoc:
pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/featur…
Read 15 tweets

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