“It was a way of making sure we weren't overly cautious," said Dr. Henry when asked about non-outbreak protocols in BC care homes with an infected staffer.
"Enhanced surveillance" doesn't prompt a testing team nor trigger notifications.@CTVVancouver 1/
bc.ctvnews.ca/no-extra-testi…
"Enhanced surveillance" doesn't prompt a testing team nor trigger notifications.@CTVVancouver 1/
bc.ctvnews.ca/no-extra-testi…
He spent 4 mos in an FOI battle to find out how many times VCH & FH declared "enhanced screening" rather than outbreaks in the 2nd wave, and @ianjamesyoung70 did a deep dive into the stats w grim conclusions.
The health authorities still left out info. 2/
scmp.com/news/china/dip…
The health authorities still left out info. 2/
scmp.com/news/china/dip…
What are enhanced surveillance/monitoring protocols?
In Vancouver Coastal: hold a couple meetings and keep a close eye for more symptoms.
In Fraser: the above, plus shut down visits & group activities in affected wards.
Dr. Henry points out the majority don't see more cases. 3/
In Vancouver Coastal: hold a couple meetings and keep a close eye for more symptoms.
In Fraser: the above, plus shut down visits & group activities in affected wards.
Dr. Henry points out the majority don't see more cases. 3/
But those that DID see outbreaks afterward often had catastrophic death tolls: Little Mountain was one.
“They knew there was COVID going on and they failed to take strict measures to control,” Rose Chang told me. We've talked many times in the months since her mom died there. 4/
“They knew there was COVID going on and they failed to take strict measures to control,” Rose Chang told me. We've talked many times in the months since her mom died there. 4/
The enhanced monitoring/surveillance half-step has the same critical flaw as outbreak designation: no testing of asymptomatic staff or residents.
Despite huge testing capacity and death tolls at seniors' homes, it's only done at the investigating health officer's discretion. 5/
Despite huge testing capacity and death tolls at seniors' homes, it's only done at the investigating health officer's discretion. 5/
I pictured public health SWAT teams sweeping into care homes to test everyone, but it doesn't happen.
"This decision cost people their lives,” says @TerryLake19 of the policy not to test asymptomatic residents/staff, care homes that did were reprimanded.6/
bit.ly/3oidoR1
"This decision cost people their lives,” says @TerryLake19 of the policy not to test asymptomatic residents/staff, care homes that did were reprimanded.6/
bit.ly/3oidoR1
The @SrsAdvocateBC is in the middle of a review of care home outbreaks to see why some saw only 1 case while others had staggering death tolls.
The report WILL include enhanced surveillance/monitorg because they fit BC's ORIGINAL outbreak definition of ANY case in a care home.7/
The report WILL include enhanced surveillance/monitorg because they fit BC's ORIGINAL outbreak definition of ANY case in a care home.7/
"This is moot."
No. There are still outbreaks bc majority residents are vaxxed but many staff aren't. A new vaccine-evading variant and we're back at square one.
Is enhanced rather than outbreak the best response? BOTH should include blanket testing. 8/8
bit.ly/3oidoR1
No. There are still outbreaks bc majority residents are vaxxed but many staff aren't. A new vaccine-evading variant and we're back at square one.
Is enhanced rather than outbreak the best response? BOTH should include blanket testing. 8/8
bit.ly/3oidoR1
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
