Big news about COVID-19 Vaccinations in US, UK and Canada to share before @PopAlberta explains this live today at 4pm.
The news is about vaccine mandates, passports, and 3rd doses.
Let's start with Dr Fauci speaking to Americans on @NewsHour, on which we Canadians eavesdrop because:
• he's world class
• Covid in Canada is like a lot of American states
• Alberta (and BC & SK) are like the worst of American states
Today, Canada's National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) is now recommending that some immunocompromised people receive three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Last night @CMOH_Alberta gave a presentation to Alberta family docs, and I got a chance to see it and take screenshots before the video was set to Private.
Whenever a politician wants to give you "Context", be wary of Deceptive Framing.
The damage was done in July with that steep rise of R > 1.2 during & after Stampede.
I'm sticking with Leading Indicators of the spread of #COVID19AB, because They. Lead. To. Severe. Outcomes, including Death.
You can't grow ICU Capacity to match exponential growth. You have to stop the spread up front to give your healthcare system a chance, Public + Private.
Sadly, today is the day we exceed Alberta's baseline ICU Capacity.
Again.
• Blue Exponential Growth Curve = Albertans in ICU with COVID-19
• Red line = Baseline Capacity
• Surge Capacity comes from Cancelling Surgeries & Redeploying Doctors, Nurses, other Healthcare Workers
I don't normally do one graph inset into another, but I wanted to show @GosiaGasperoPhD modelled this exactly, on 24 August.
She's a world-class biologist who could be doing this anywhere in the world, saying "Look what is happening over there in AB."
Every time I change the axes on my graph, I remember these are families suffering, and grieving.
The number of Albertans going to Hospital & ICU for COVID-19 is exploding, and our healthcare workers are throwing themselves on the blast to try to save us.
One day's data on ICU projection:
• Yesterday: cross baseline on 13 Sep, 250 on 21 Sep
• Today: 12 Sep; 19 Sep
Silver lining on dark clouds today:
• Looks like leading indicators have paused a bit
• Severe outcomes still out of control
• Albertans are going to Hospital and ICU, and Dying at levels not seen since 3rd Wave Peak in May.
I think as a province we're beaten down, and looking for compassionate & trustworthy leadership.
We went into July thinking this would be a turnaround summer. It turned the wrong way.
So enjoy good news when you can. R < 1.1 for first time since mid-July, and Test % Stalled.
Because Severe Outcomes - real people in pain - Ouch.
More Canadians have died from Covid in AB than in any other province but ON:
• 42 in the last 7 days
• 69 in the last 14 days
ICUs are over capacity, causing widespread backups and consequences.