Thread by @globeandmail

Alberta’s intensive-care units are nursing a record number of patients ill with the coronavirus, and physicians are warning the province’s health system could fail within four weeks.

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There were 209 patients with COVID-19 in Alberta’s ICUs as of Monday afternoon, according to Alberta Health Services’ internal data, obtained by The Globe and Mail.

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The province is cancelling surgeries and procedures to free up the equipment, space and health professionals needed to care for this surge of patients, most of whom are not immunized against the virus.

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Physicians on Monday said they are on the verge of triaging care because Alberta’s health system is overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients.

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Infectious-disease physicians, in a letter to Premier Jason Kenney, calculate the number of people with COVID-19 in Alberta’s ICUs will double every two weeks at the current rate.

“Our health care system is truly on the precipice of collapse."

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Doctors are begging Mr. Kenney to immediately introduce vaccine passports for non-essential services, in order to break the virus’ chain of transmission and avoid restrictions imposed in the first three waves of the pandemic.

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