Thread by @ChenderClaudia

Some big news today. March 21 all remaining Covid restrictions will be gone. We’re all tired. We are done with Covid, but is it done with us? #nspoli

Where is the evidence for the sudden shift where we essentially skip an entire phase? From the beginning of the pandemic it was clear that Public Health was sharing the table with the Premier, and was driving the key decisions.

Those health decisions were enacted (sometimes well and sometimes not so well) by government. This doesn’t feel that way. Is this a political decision, consistent with Conservative governments across the country, or one that is based science, and community care?

This premier won and elxn pledging to fix healthcare. We have 352 people in hospital with covid in NS right now. What is the plan for a new variant or surge? Dr. Strang acknowledged that our surge capacity is woefully inadequate.

With these changes, our progress will likely slow according to Dr. Strang. How are healthcare workers feeling about this? What about people whose surgeries have been delayed, who are waiting for tests and follow ups? Who are immunocompromised, or whose parents or children are?

There is no plan after March 21, but Covid will not be done March 21. We’re told to focus on “things we can do, like stay home when we’re sick” except many people can’t do this without #paidsickdays.

But this seems to be part of the plan. It was foreshadowed with a call for “individual responsibility” in the last briefing. The Houston government is done with Covid. But it’s not done with us, or our healthcare system.

The premier says to wear a mask ‘if that’s comfortable for you’. What a terrible message. It’s not comfortable to wear a mask, and that’s beside the point. I wear a mask for my community, for my family, and for people who can’t protect themselves.

This is about community care and science, not personal responsibility and comfort. Let’s try to remember that, and remind our government of that, as we go forward.