Thread by @littleann4ever

🧵1/ So, I wrote this letter to @KasariGovender:
"Dear Commissioner,
In your Mar16/22 letter to Dr. Henry, you stated that it's 'part of your statutory responsibility to act as an impartial advocate for the promotion & protection of HR in BC.'" #bcpoli

2/ "You also stated that lifting the mask mandate will do 'disproportionate harm to those already marginalized' & that 'parents who may be vulnerable w/b faced w/difficult decision to send their children to schools w/increased risk of transmission.'”#bced

3/ "Since then, situation has only worsened re: compounding impact of mask removal on vulnerable people, incl those parents & now their children. In fact, all children are high risk now, making those children w/underlying cond, med complex needs & disabilities even more at risk."

4/ "@Protect_BC @SafeSchoolsBC are calling on our Premier, MoH & MoEd to immediately reinstate universal masking in all indoor spaces, incl schools. As per their recent letter, 'children's hosp around country are in a dire strait, w/triple surge of RSV, Influenza & Covid-19..."

5/ "There's also ample evidence emerging &...cited in this same letter that previous #Covid19 infections are damaging immune systems, increasing susceptibility to other infections. Evidence too that re-infections will have profound effect on mortality, hosp & adverse outcomes."

6/ "Along this vein, there’s indisputable proof approx 80% of BC kids were infected by Aug/22 as per Henry’s co-authored study. Predisposing them to serious illness amidst no protections & now tragic consequences are playing out in unprecedented deaths of 6 children & youth.."

7/ "In her recent stmt, finally acknowledging the deaths & yet still stopping short of a reinstatement of protections, masking or otherwise, Henry also declared that 'this is an unusual season w/unusual characteristics, incl an early & intense surge in cases.'”

8/ "Her words intimating that the virulence of this bout of seasonal viruses was somehow unforeseen, accounting for a lack of preparedness, incl a shortage of vital treatments, influenza vaccines & further over-stretched hospital capacity."

"But was it unexpected though?"

9/ "...just mth ago, Henry said 'an Omicron surge in Australia & New Zealand was paired w/early onset of influenza w/severe peak.' She also said 'the worst-case scenario is BC will face Covid surge in Nov & Dec, amid waning immunity for some that coincides w/influenza surge…'”

10/ "Prior to this, Henry would h/b also privy to warnings from southern hemi 'that May was worst flu season on record' & 'groups w/highest rates of disease are children aged 5-19, followed by children under 5 yrs...' Yet, still, our BCPH response was to *watch* & do nothing..."

11/ "In her Mar31/22 reply, Henry claimed 'vast majority of BCians are protected...thru immunization & those who can't be immunized, mostly children U5, continue t/b at very low risk...' She also said 'school-aged children…are among those at lowest risk of serious outcomes...'”

12/ "Henry concluded in her letter to you by saying, 'that we will continue to monitor the pandemic around the globe & in BC & should conditions change, we will adapt our response & the measures in place as needed to protect public health.'”

13/ "Well, here we are w/ 3-fold viruses circulating, causing deadly secondary infections, w/previous proof from 'around the globe' about its devastating impacts on morbidity & mortality & BC is already exp 1st hand that children are most seriously impacted & most at risk."

14/ "So, it’s past time that Dr Henry followed through on her words above, that 'should conditions change,' she will 'adapt' and put in measures 'needed to protect public health.'''

15/ "If she continues to refuse to reinstate universal masking to protect children & all those made even more marginalized & at risk now, pls call on @adriandix to do what is needed & req'd by exercising his powers to "establish directives & standards" as per the PH Act." #bcpoli

16/ "BC’s children and all those made even more vulnerable now, are counting on you." @humanrights4BC @SoniaFurstenau

My full letter w/all supporting links here: docs.google.com/document/d/1Pw…

17/ Also if you haven’t yet, PLEASE sign this urgent request for @KasariGovender @humanrights4BC to initiate an immediate inquiry into BC’s discriminatory policies developed by PHO/PHSA, based on physical &/or mental disabilities & age by not providing safe services/facilities.⬇️

https://twitter.com/OhCasavant/status/1600260131014709248