Thread by @TorranceCoste

Are people without kids or without someone in their life who works in a school aware of how bad things are right now?

My partner teaches a grade 1-2 split, and almost a third of her class has been off sick at any give time since late October.

#bcpoli #fluseason
1/12

It's similar in other classes at her school, and talking to other teachers, at other schools too. Just a huge amount of learning being missed by students, and a massive toll on parents who have to
a) take time off with sick kids, and
b) take more time off when they get sick
2/12

We have a two year old, and either her, my partner, or I have been sick at any given time since late Oct. I just got over the last one, and now the toddler is down again. It's fucking exhausting.

"Rest and get your immunity back up."

Rest? With a sick kid at home? Lol.
3/12

Both Lisa and I have jobs with decent paid sick days and family leave, so we've been able to make it work so far.

But this isn't the norm. Lisa has students in her class whose parents are having to choose between sending their kids to school sick and getting paid.
#bcpoli
4/12

Sending a sick kid to school is brutal, but so is missing work and not being able to make rent or afford groceries.

Understandably, many parents are choosing the former.

Meanwhile, the BC government (and in other places too) continue to do nothing to address this problem.
5/12

Childhood covid and flu immunization rates remain extremely low, and all Minister @adriandix and Dr. Bonnie Henry are doing is holding occasional press conferences encouraging people to get their family their shots.

This isn't enough. It's not.
6/12

The 90%+ covid dose 1 and 2 vaccination rates in 2021 weren't because of Dix and Dr. Henry encouraging people to get their shots at press conferences -- they were because of the clear, consistent message that public health risk was high, sent not with statements but...
7/12

...with public health measures.

Mask requirements and other measures when needed send the "take this seriously" message more effectively than ten thousand @adriandix press conferences.

I don't know much about infectious diseases but I do know a bit about communications.
8/12

The consistent "covid is over, there is no risk" message sent by the @bcndp (from a total absence of public health measures to the cabinet swearing in ceremony with not a mask in sight) is effective.

People aren't getting shots or staying home when they're sick. #bcpoli
9/12

No one in the real world pays attention to what Minister @adriandix and Dr. Henry say. They pay attention to what they *do.*

And, when it comes to taking measures to limit the spread of respiratory illnesses, they aren't doing anything. #bcpoli #fluseason #Covid19
10/12

In an after-hours announcement yesterday, Dr. Henry announced her department would begin weekly reporting of child deaths from the flu.

Weekly reporting of families being ripped apart, but no talk of measures to prevent this happening.

https://twitter.com/PennyDaflos/status/1601048528679501824?s=20&t=WRsX2pFu9H_0snJamL7zcQ

#bcpoli
11/12

Don't take my word for it on this -follow local nurses, teachers, doctors on here, seek them out in your lives. There isn't a lot of hope that things won't continue to get worse.

Looking after each other should be the only thing we're measured on. We're not doing well.
12/12