Thread by @DavidElfstrom

My wife & daughter traveled to @sickkids @SickKidsNews today for an appointment.

Several lapses occurred at screening. Most egregious:
They were made to remove their CA-N95 respirators for the blue surgical mask, shown below.

Let's go through all of them: /1

Your policy is to protect everyone, especially those at higher risk of COVID-19. How is downgrading masks consistent with that? What is the "right" amount of protection, anyway?
My wife and daughter were NOT offered the option of masking overtop. /2

Health Canada:
"If you're at higher risk, it's even more important to consider wearing a respirator if one is available to you"
"Respirators are designed to fit snugly on the face, which may allow for a better fit than a medical mask" /3
canada.ca/en/public-heal…

Contrary to your policy, after being made to remove their respirators, my wife and daughter were NOT given instructions for how to put the mask on properly. They were also not asked to clean their hands a second time. /4

So, they are asked to remove their well-fitting respirators (Health Canada advice) and instead wear a mask that has inherent gaps, without explanation on how to wear it or fit it in accordance with your instructions: /5

Have you considered the benefits of sourcing Canadian-made kid's respirators and providing them at screening entrance, @SickKidsNews? That would be amazing. There's even a new CSA Standard for respirators! It includes a breathability label! /6 csagroup.org/store/product/…

Omicron is barreling towards us.
Sick Kids has young patients, many have had only one vaccine dose, or none, and potentially higher risk. The Universal Making policy is weak for its stated purpose, and enforced in a way that makes it worse. You can do better! Will you lead? /7

There's been many replies about being assertive. Our daughter has an intellectual disability. It was a great success when she finally accepted CA-N95 over cloth. The hospital visit is stressful enough; disagreement would cause her to shut down and is counterproductive. /8

Perhaps this masking policy application issue should be brought to the attention of Risk Management department @SickKidsNews. /9

https://twitter.com/jmcrookston/status/1458214152472825857?t=G-PjIQdN4Bc_v_Y18IFEXA&s=19

@SickKidsNews Be more like Trillium Health Partners. Visits there have been both safer and less stressful because of a reasonable more equitable, and inclusive policy change. /10

https://twitter.com/THP_hospital/status/1378373648239759360?s=20

Thank you @SickKidsNews /11

https://twitter.com/SickKidsNews/status/1470809630246850576?t=CFTmTPPNY5Wo1bsRReKTOA&s=19