by caracampbell
POSTED OCT 3, 2021
Medical devices are seen at Ochsner Medical Center in the New Orleans suburb of Jefferson, La., on Tuesday, Aug.11, 2021. (AP Photo/Stacey Plaisance)
CALGARY (CityNews) ─ Two Alberta doctors are calling the province’s COVID-19 strategy “cold blooded,” and an experiment on the people of Alberta.
Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s former chief medical officer of health, and Dr. Noel Gibney penned an open letter to the province, saying Albertans have a right to know what the next few months of modelling data looks like.
“You think you’ve fallen asleep, and you’re having this nightmare, and you try to wake up from it, and you can’t,” said Talbot. “It’s like a living nightmare.”
Alberta is dealing with a COVID-19 crisis that has seen well over 1,000 new cases a day for weeks while filling intensive care wards to almost twice normal capacity.
The province’s health delivery agency has had to scramble and reassign staff to handle the surge of intensive care patients far above the normal capacity of 173 beds.
Talbot describes what it’s like watching the COVID-19 situation unfold in Alberta as a medical professional.
“You know, I have friends, family, people I care about who are on the front lines,” he said. “I get a steady stream from them that people don’t seem to understand, and the government doesn’t seem to understand how unbearable this situation is for them.”
In recent days, doctors have called for a swift lockdown or a “firebreak” to immediately reverse the tide of COVID-19 patients.
That would mean a mass shutdown of schools, non-essential businesses and mass gatherings.
Intensive care physicians, emergency ward doctors, the executive of the Alberta Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association have issued such pleas in recent days.
Talbot says based on the decisions made by the Jason Kenney government, the strategy seems to be to let COVID-19 run its course.
“We think that they should come clean with that and let us know,” said Talbot. “Are they prepared to let this number of people die for two more weeks, two more months, for four more months?”
The province’s health delivery agency has had to scramble and reassign staff to handle the surge of intensive care patients far above the normal capacity of 173 beds.
Talbot describes what it’s like watching the COVID-19 situation unfold in Alberta as a medical professional.
“You know, I have friends, family, people I care about who are on the front lines,” he said. “I get a steady stream from them that people don’t seem to understand, and the government doesn’t seem to understand how unbearable this situation is for them.”
In recent days, doctors have called for a swift lockdown or a “firebreak” to immediately reverse the tide of COVID-19 patients.
That would mean a mass shutdown of schools, non-essential businesses and mass gatherings.
Intensive care physicians, emergency ward doctors, the executive of the Alberta Medical Association and the Canadian Medical Association have issued such pleas in recent days.
Talbot says based on the decisions made by the Jason Kenney government, the strategy seems to be to let COVID-19 run its course.
“We think that they should come clean with that and let us know,” said Talbot. “Are they prepared to let this number of people die for two more weeks, two more months, for four more months?”
Other researchers support the open letter, saying it’s important that the models are available for scientific scrutiny and to check for accuracy.
That’s something that didn’t happen before this summer.
“Alberta made mistakes,” said Gosia Gasperowicz, a developmental biologist at the University of Calgary. “The chief medical officer of health (Dr. Deena Hinshaw) and the government had absolutely wrong assumptions. Had they been put under scrutiny, the mistake could have been caught early in the summer. And other scientists could say, ‘hey, you’re assumptions are wrong, let’s not go this way.’”
Added Talbot: “Knowing that it’s all preventable, just makes it more horrible.”
In a statement to CityNews, Alberta Health said: “Recently, the Premier cited Alberta Health Service’s ‘early warning system’, an internal capacity-planning tool. This is not modelling data. It shows a wide range of potential scenarios at a given time, updated constantly based on the latest trends. The worst case informs contingency planning but, as the Premier said, government is working to ensure that does not happen.”
—With files from The Canadian Press
That’s something that didn’t happen before this summer.
“Alberta made mistakes,” said Gosia Gasperowicz, a developmental biologist at the University of Calgary. “The chief medical officer of health (Dr. Deena Hinshaw) and the government had absolutely wrong assumptions. Had they been put under scrutiny, the mistake could have been caught early in the summer. And other scientists could say, ‘hey, you’re assumptions are wrong, let’s not go this way.’”
Added Talbot: “Knowing that it’s all preventable, just makes it more horrible.”
In a statement to CityNews, Alberta Health said: “Recently, the Premier cited Alberta Health Service’s ‘early warning system’, an internal capacity-planning tool. This is not modelling data. It shows a wide range of potential scenarios at a given time, updated constantly based on the latest trends. The worst case informs contingency planning but, as the Premier said, government is working to ensure that does not happen.”
—With files from The Canadian Press
'Cold-blooded' handling of the pandemic, say prominent Alberta doctors in letter taking aim at UCP government
Author of the article: Hamdi Issawi, Anna Junker
Publishing date: Oct 01, 2021
Author of the article: Hamdi Issawi, Anna Junker
Publishing date: Oct 01, 2021
Dr. James Talbot, co-chair of the Edmonton Zone Medical Staff Association strategic COVID committee. Postmedia, file
On Friday, an open letter from prominent Alberta doctors requested the province share its predictive modelling for the fourth wave of a pandemic that’s crippling Alberta’s health-care system, criticizing the government’s “cold-blooded” handling of the pandemic.
Co-written by Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s former chief medical officer of health, and Dr. Noel Gibney, a former critical care department head for the province’s health authority in Edmonton, the letter questioned the modelling that led the provincial government to previously decline assistance from Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, which they say is “badly needed and welcome.” Alberta changed its mind Thursday, saying a small team from Newfoundland and Labrador would be heading west to help out in Fort McMurray.
“Like most Albertans, we would like to know how long the fourth wave is going to last, how many more Albertans are projected to die and when we can expect elective surgeries to begin and ICUs to return to normal,” the letter read.
According to predictive modelling from University of Victoria professor Dean Karlen, the letter notes, Alberta’s fourth wave will peak near mid-October, but ICU admissions will continue to increase through to the end of the month.
By failing to share its own predictive modelling, the doctors argue, the government denied Albertans the opportunity to make good decisions and protect themselves.
In sharp contrast to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s promise of a “best summer ever,” the letter notes that the deadly fourth wave meant the “last summer ever” for 350 Albertans and more who continue to die from the disease.
The doctors recommend seven medium-term and short-term actions to bring down the province’s case count, including patient transfers to ICU facilities in Ontario, the use of vaccine passports and employment mandates to increase immunizations, renewed contact tracing efforts and measures to prevent indoor transmission.
Even with Alberta’s enhanced ICU capacity, doctors say that the province doesn’t have enough trained professionals to care for critically ill patients, which makes a “fire break” crucial to reducing transmission.
Alberta reported 1,630 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday after 15,857 tests were completed over the last 24 hours for a positivity rate of about 10.3 per cent.
Across the province, there are currently 20,215 active cases of COVID-19, a decrease of 40 from Thursday.
There are 1,066 Albertans hospitalized with the virus, a decrease of 17. Of those, 263 are in intensive care units, which remains unchanged from Thursday.
Fourteen more deaths from COVID-19 raised the provincial death toll to 2,731.
Of Albertans aged 12 and older who are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, 83.8 per cent have received one dose, while 74.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
About 63 per cent of Alberta’s total population is fully immunized against the virus.
Meanwhile, the third and final winner of Alberta’s $1 million vaccine lottery was announced Friday.
Hayley Hauck, of Sherwood Park, was awarded the prize after her name was drawn from more than 1.9 million entries that were received between June 10 and Sept. 23.
A total of 623 Albertans have received lottery prizes for getting immunized against COVID-19.
On Friday, an open letter from prominent Alberta doctors requested the province share its predictive modelling for the fourth wave of a pandemic that’s crippling Alberta’s health-care system, criticizing the government’s “cold-blooded” handling of the pandemic.
Co-written by Dr. James Talbot, Alberta’s former chief medical officer of health, and Dr. Noel Gibney, a former critical care department head for the province’s health authority in Edmonton, the letter questioned the modelling that led the provincial government to previously decline assistance from Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey, which they say is “badly needed and welcome.” Alberta changed its mind Thursday, saying a small team from Newfoundland and Labrador would be heading west to help out in Fort McMurray.
“Like most Albertans, we would like to know how long the fourth wave is going to last, how many more Albertans are projected to die and when we can expect elective surgeries to begin and ICUs to return to normal,” the letter read.
According to predictive modelling from University of Victoria professor Dean Karlen, the letter notes, Alberta’s fourth wave will peak near mid-October, but ICU admissions will continue to increase through to the end of the month.
By failing to share its own predictive modelling, the doctors argue, the government denied Albertans the opportunity to make good decisions and protect themselves.
In sharp contrast to Alberta Premier Jason Kenney’s promise of a “best summer ever,” the letter notes that the deadly fourth wave meant the “last summer ever” for 350 Albertans and more who continue to die from the disease.
The doctors recommend seven medium-term and short-term actions to bring down the province’s case count, including patient transfers to ICU facilities in Ontario, the use of vaccine passports and employment mandates to increase immunizations, renewed contact tracing efforts and measures to prevent indoor transmission.
Even with Alberta’s enhanced ICU capacity, doctors say that the province doesn’t have enough trained professionals to care for critically ill patients, which makes a “fire break” crucial to reducing transmission.
Alberta reported 1,630 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday after 15,857 tests were completed over the last 24 hours for a positivity rate of about 10.3 per cent.
Across the province, there are currently 20,215 active cases of COVID-19, a decrease of 40 from Thursday.
There are 1,066 Albertans hospitalized with the virus, a decrease of 17. Of those, 263 are in intensive care units, which remains unchanged from Thursday.
Fourteen more deaths from COVID-19 raised the provincial death toll to 2,731.
Of Albertans aged 12 and older who are eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine, 83.8 per cent have received one dose, while 74.5 per cent are fully vaccinated.
About 63 per cent of Alberta’s total population is fully immunized against the virus.
Meanwhile, the third and final winner of Alberta’s $1 million vaccine lottery was announced Friday.
Hayley Hauck, of Sherwood Park, was awarded the prize after her name was drawn from more than 1.9 million entries that were received between June 10 and Sept. 23.
A total of 623 Albertans have received lottery prizes for getting immunized against COVID-19.
Military aid for Alberta to arrive Monday; doctors say provincial ‘fire break’ is more impactful step
Morgan Black
Morgan Black
© THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes A member of the Canadian Armed Forces is shown at Residence Villa Val des Arbres a long-term care home in Laval, Que., Sunday, April 19, 2020, as COVID-19 cases rise in Canada and around the world.
Critical care nurses are set to arrive in Alberta on Monday -- reinforcements sent by the Canadian military in an effort to help the province's drowning medical system.
"The Canadian Armed Forces is preparing to provide up to eight critical care nurses to assist in intensive care units in hospitals in Alberta," read a statement from Bill Blair, the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
Read more: COVID-19: Edmonton doctor recounts calling woman to share her mom’s dying moments
Just days after saying assistance offered to Alberta by the federal government and Newfoundland and Labrador was not immediately necessary, Premier Jason Kenney announced his province has now agreed to accept help as the health-care system is under “enormous pressure” because of the fourth wave of COVID-19.
Kenney said eight to 10 staff from the Canadian Armed Forces will be coming, likely to CFB Edmonton, along with up to 20 trained staff from the Canadian Red Cross, who will likely be deployed to the hard-hit Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
He said his government is in the process of finalizing plans to bring in a medical team from Newfoundland, likely to be deployed to Fort McMurray’s hospital. Alberta Health Services confirmed to Global News the process will likely happen this week.
Read more: COVID-19: Kenney says Alberta to accept help from feds, N.L. as health system under ‘enormous pressure’
“These contributions may help us to staff four or five additional ICU beds,” the premier said, noting that every little bit helps.
"Alberta Health Services is grateful for the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Red Cross in providing additional medical personnel to help alleviate the increased pressure on our health system as a result of COVID-19," read a Sunday statement from AHS.
"Specific details of where these medical personnel will be deployed is still being finalized, but it is expected the Canadian Armed Forces will be stationed in Edmonton."
Blair's statement said the initial team will be "in position" by Monday and will seek to confirm where and how the nursing officers will be integrated into the Alberta health-care system.
Read more: Alberta Premier Jason Kenney refused COVID-19 help from N.L. premier
The release said the Canadian Red Cross is planning to provide up to 20 medical professionals with "some intensive care unit experience" to augment or relieve existing staff working in Alberta hospitals.
Dr. Darren Markland, an intensive care physician, said this move does not address the problem of hospitals being overrun and surgeries being an "afterthought."
"This is not a solution. It's appreciated, but we really need to focus our political will on things that will make a difference," he said.
Markland cited the need for a "fire break" -- something major medical groups have been calling for at the provincial level for weeks.
That measure would include the reintroduction of more sweeping restrictions for Albertans.
"If we don't do this soon... what is in my job description for next week is to be involved in looking at making choices for triage," Markland said. "We aren't there yet, but eventually, we are going to pay a price."
'It's not enough'
Danielle Larivee with the United Nurses of Alberta said though she can't give enough thanks to those coming to assist on the front lines, the reality is that there would need to be hundreds of nurses sent to the front lines to make a difference.
"It's very welcome, but it's not enough. We need to stop the flood of ill people into the hospitals," Larivee said. "Our health-care system is actively collapsing."
Read more: COVID-19: Alberta ICU nurse dies as pressure on health-care system continues to mount
A request for federal assistance is initiated when an emergency event overwhelms or threatens to overwhelm the resources of a province or territory and federal government help is needed to support the region.
"The Government Operations Centre is working closely with federal and provincial partners to co-ordinate the federal response to the situation in Alberta," read a release from the federal government.
"Short term, this is appreciated. In the long term, we don't see an end to this with the way it is now. We need to stop community spread," Larivee said.
– With files from Phil Heidenreich
Critical care nurses are set to arrive in Alberta on Monday -- reinforcements sent by the Canadian military in an effort to help the province's drowning medical system.
"The Canadian Armed Forces is preparing to provide up to eight critical care nurses to assist in intensive care units in hospitals in Alberta," read a statement from Bill Blair, the minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
Read more: COVID-19: Edmonton doctor recounts calling woman to share her mom’s dying moments
Just days after saying assistance offered to Alberta by the federal government and Newfoundland and Labrador was not immediately necessary, Premier Jason Kenney announced his province has now agreed to accept help as the health-care system is under “enormous pressure” because of the fourth wave of COVID-19.
Kenney said eight to 10 staff from the Canadian Armed Forces will be coming, likely to CFB Edmonton, along with up to 20 trained staff from the Canadian Red Cross, who will likely be deployed to the hard-hit Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.
He said his government is in the process of finalizing plans to bring in a medical team from Newfoundland, likely to be deployed to Fort McMurray’s hospital. Alberta Health Services confirmed to Global News the process will likely happen this week.
Read more: COVID-19: Kenney says Alberta to accept help from feds, N.L. as health system under ‘enormous pressure’
“These contributions may help us to staff four or five additional ICU beds,” the premier said, noting that every little bit helps.
"Alberta Health Services is grateful for the assistance of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Canadian Red Cross in providing additional medical personnel to help alleviate the increased pressure on our health system as a result of COVID-19," read a Sunday statement from AHS.
"Specific details of where these medical personnel will be deployed is still being finalized, but it is expected the Canadian Armed Forces will be stationed in Edmonton."
Blair's statement said the initial team will be "in position" by Monday and will seek to confirm where and how the nursing officers will be integrated into the Alberta health-care system.
Read more: Alberta Premier Jason Kenney refused COVID-19 help from N.L. premier
The release said the Canadian Red Cross is planning to provide up to 20 medical professionals with "some intensive care unit experience" to augment or relieve existing staff working in Alberta hospitals.
Dr. Darren Markland, an intensive care physician, said this move does not address the problem of hospitals being overrun and surgeries being an "afterthought."
"This is not a solution. It's appreciated, but we really need to focus our political will on things that will make a difference," he said.
Markland cited the need for a "fire break" -- something major medical groups have been calling for at the provincial level for weeks.
That measure would include the reintroduction of more sweeping restrictions for Albertans.
"If we don't do this soon... what is in my job description for next week is to be involved in looking at making choices for triage," Markland said. "We aren't there yet, but eventually, we are going to pay a price."
'It's not enough'
Danielle Larivee with the United Nurses of Alberta said though she can't give enough thanks to those coming to assist on the front lines, the reality is that there would need to be hundreds of nurses sent to the front lines to make a difference.
"It's very welcome, but it's not enough. We need to stop the flood of ill people into the hospitals," Larivee said. "Our health-care system is actively collapsing."
Read more: COVID-19: Alberta ICU nurse dies as pressure on health-care system continues to mount
A request for federal assistance is initiated when an emergency event overwhelms or threatens to overwhelm the resources of a province or territory and federal government help is needed to support the region.
"The Government Operations Centre is working closely with federal and provincial partners to co-ordinate the federal response to the situation in Alberta," read a release from the federal government.
"Short term, this is appreciated. In the long term, we don't see an end to this with the way it is now. We need to stop community spread," Larivee said.
– With files from Phil Heidenreich
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