Thread by @CPita3

Let's unpack Dr. Conly on the Precautionary Principle.

Q: Why weren't HCW provided N95s, given the advanced warning that SARS2 might be Airborne?

Conly: "I need to see a much higher level of evidence..."
(🤔 That's not how the Precautionary Principle works)

🧵 1/

He then makes a pretty bold claim:

"certainly from our experience in Alberta, in Phase 1" the HCWs wore "gowns, gloves, medical masks"... and "not a single HCW transmission"... despite "highly infectious, hot viral patients"

*Phase 1* is defined here: MARCH-APRIL 2020

2/

So why the "Phase 1" qualifier? Why is he using evidence from a 1 to 2 month period that was over a year ago, and extrapolating out to "8 months of continuous contact time", rather than just telling us what happened during the past year?

Oh... crap..

3/

calgaryherald.com/news/staff-at-…

So in April 2020, there were at least 6 staff members in the Maternity Ward of Conly’s hospital that contracted COVID.

Gee.. what happens in the Maternity ward? Any heavy breathing, yelling or other aerosol generating activities happening there??

4/

"Just a blip" he said, sometimes there is "slippage".

Oops.. looks like there was some more "slippage" in September:

5/

globalnews.ca/news/7356957/c…

In the September Outbreak, at least 12 staff were infected, as well as 17 patients, including 3 deaths 😔.

How did it happen? Well according to Dr. Conly, it is "very complex".

Agreed.. explaining Airborne outbreaks via fomite hoop-jumping would certainly be complex.

6/

Well surely they learned from their mistakes and addressed the "slippage"?

Nope, as of Feb 2020, 47 patients, five visitors and 43 health-care workers were infected. Twelve patients died.

Read through the article for the laundry list of excuses.

7/

calgaryherald.com/news/local-new…

So what is Dr. Conly's explanation for these continuous lapses?

Listen for yourself...

"we have since had some hospital acquired transmission"..
"but when we've done anonymous surveys, we found they were not following the guidelines and recommendations"

ie.. Victim Blaming

8/

In summary, HCWs have been battling an Airborne virus with Droplet Precautions.

When people inevitably got sick and died, the Director of IPAC blamed the HCWs for not following the guidelines. He took zero accountability and made zero adjustments.

Stunning...

end/

Thanks to @akm5376 for the clips.

Typo... *Feb 2021