Doctors express outrage over Alberta's plan to eliminate COVID-19 quarantine rules
"What the hell."
Those were the words spoken by Dr. Joe Vipond, an emergency room physician in Calgary, who believes the Alberta government is putting the entire province at risk with its latest plan to eliminate COVID-19 quarantine rules.
“It’s insane, it’s this incredible experiment of how many people we can get sick, have long term disability and possibly die, like who does this to their own public?" he said.
As of Thursday, the province announced quarantine for close contacts of confirmed COVID-19 cases will no longer be required, only recommended.
Beginning Aug. 16, isolation following a positive COVID-19 test will also no longer be required, although still strongly recommended.
Masks will still be required in hospitals and continuing care facilities, but the province-wide mandate will be lifted for taxis, transit, and ride-share, along with schools.
The decision is now striking a nerve with dozens of doctors including infectious disease expert, Dr. Leyla Asadi.
“It didn’t have to be this,” she tweeted.
“Our government and public health officials didn’t need to gamble like this. The choice isn’t between going back to lockdowns or stopping all public health interventions for a novel pathogen against which only 64 per cent of the population is immunized.”
Asadi particularly took issue with the province’s removal of routine asymptomatic testing for close contacts of COVID-19 and new protocols which won’t require contact tracers to call close contacts of the virus.
“We could have added on rapid tests, undertaken airborne mitigation strategies with better masks/ ventilation/ filtration, we could have paid people to take time off when sick,” Asadi tweeted.
SHANDRO: ‘DECISION BASED ON SCIENCE AND DATA’
When responding to questions from reporters Thursday morning, Alberta Health Minister Tyler Shandro commended the work of Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. Deena Hinshaw
He says the decision to remove quarantine rules was discussed for weeks and months and made based on what Shandro calls a "milestone" in having 65 per cent of the population age 12 and up fully vaccinated.
“We live with a virus in our community and this is now a virus that is preventable by vaccines,” Shandro said.
“I’m not a physician, but this is a plan that is based on science and based on the data. We know throughout the last 16 months there are folks that have had anxieties on both ends of the political spectrum, who have had difficulty in believing the work that has been done in this pandemic response, but this is work that was done by public health based on the signs and baseline data."
Shandro says it was "irresponsible" for people to target Hinshaw’s work on the pandemic file, noting that her "deference, credibility and independence" should be trusted.
The province says Hinshaw and about 16 public health experts in her office, along with others in public health, the Ministry of Health, and Alberta Health Services helped to make the decision.
CTV Calgary asked VP of Alberta Health Services, Dr. Mark Joffe if he was consulted and if he endorsed the decision.
“We were aware of the discussions ongoing,” Joffe said.
“The discussions occurred primarily with the public health teams, both within Alberta Health and within Alberta Health Services, so the public health teams were certainly involved, engaged, and consulted along the way."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
DEVELOPING Live updates from the Trump hush money trial: Stormy Daniels, bookkeeper testify
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is on the stand a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump’s hush money case continues in Manhattan. Follow live updates here.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.
Wilfrid Laurier football player drafted despite only playing 27 games in his entire life
A Listowel, Ont. man, drafted by the Hamilton Tigercats last week, is also getting looks from the NFL, despite only playing 27 games of football in his life.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
BREAKING Sheldon Keefe out as head coach of Toronto Maple Leafs
The Toronto Maple Leafs have fired head coach Sheldon Keefe. The team made the announcement Thursday after the Original Six franchise lost to the Boston Bruins in seven games in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.