The Covid-19 situation in Atlantic Canada remains concerning with high infection rates that continues to impact health, social, and frontline essential services. There seems to be an increasing amount of hospital/ER closures (I haven’t seen anyone tracking specific data on this), It is clear that regular ER closures or limits to critical life-saving care is becoming the norm. In Eastern Canada where many families don’t have a primary care physician, it means they might not have access to healthcare until their situation becomes an emergency. Despite what some politicians may say, privatization is not the answer. Private clinics still require staff at a time where there is a severe shortage: This means they will have to poach staff from the public system, further contributing to staff shortages in other service areas and ultimately lead to increased MSI cost for Government.
Vaccines have provided some protection against severe outcomes, but they are clearly not the magic bullet we had hoped for. Covid-19 continues to evolve and in the past week at least 1 of 2 new variants of concern have showed increased immune evasion such that many treatments are no longer effective according to early studies.
What remains highly effective in reducing transmission despite Covid-19 viral evolution is masking and improved air quality through filtration and ventilation. Despite the growing body of evidence on the importance and effectiveness of masking and air quality, Governments have yet to use these tool to control Covid-19 transmission so that we can all return to a safe new normal. The consequences of this failure is becoming even more apparent in the case data as discussed below. The Provinces received a LOT of funding to improve air quality, particularly in schools. I’m sure we can all agree that better air quality and keeping kids in safe schools is a good thing.
Given how highly political social and health care have become, this may require a bigger public discussion with elected officials, who are there to represent us. Please write your MP’s and MLA/MHA’s to express your concerns on how public health is currently being managed by political agendas and contrary to science and evidence-based policy. Contact information can be found below:
Atlantic Summary:
The current Covid-19 situation is currently worse this year when compared to past years. This is true for Atlantic Canada and the rest of the country as described by Bill Comeau HERE. Weekly data updates from Canada Covid-19 resources are also concerning and can be viewed HERE in detail or as summarized below by province. More detailed information is also available through other provincial groups like PoP (protect our province) found under the advocacy link above.
If you are a data/stats/Epi enthusiast with professional experience and want to give further context to your regions, please feel free to message!
New Brunswick
Please note we haven’t yet entered the next wave anticipated by public health officials, so this is likely to get worse as we enter late fall/early winter, as seen in past years and consisted with Bill Comeau’s bar graph above.
Please note we haven’t yet entered the next wave anticipated by public health officials, so this is likely to get worse as we enter late fall/early winter, as seen in past years and consisted with Bill Comeau’s bar graph above.
Newfoundland & Labrador
Please note we haven’t yet entered the next wave anticipated by public health officials, so this is likely to get worse as we enter late fall/early winter, as seen in past years.
Nova Scotia
Please note we haven’t yet entered the next wave anticipated by public health officials, so this is likely to get worse as we enter late fall/early winter, as seen in past years and consisted with Comeau’s bar graph above.
Prince Edward Island
Hospital Overcapacity is at 11.5% showing there is a clear strain on healthcare resources, suggestions PH protectins are needed to preserve essential emergency services and protecting our healthcare workers from additional preventable burnout. This is a critical issue that must be addressed before we can expect routine healthcare services.
Please note we haven’t yet entered the next wave anticipated by public health officials, so this is likely to get worse as we enter late fall/early winter, as seen in past years and consisted with Bill Comeau’s bar graph above.
Atlantic Covid-19 Resources 