Read on Twitter
In assessing Canada's response to COVID-19, we must do so in the context of the information available, past precedent, and adherence to best practices.
To begin with, the information available from China was of mixed quality.
1/6 https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/corbella-criticism-of-dr-tam-by-premier-kenney-good-medicine/wcm/5a9dae19-9ead-4d52-b012-49c9d67ca770/amp/#aoh=15878256886397&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s
To begin with, the information available from China was of mixed quality.
1/6 https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/corbella-criticism-of-dr-tam-by-premier-kenney-good-medicine/wcm/5a9dae19-9ead-4d52-b012-49c9d67ca770/amp/#aoh=15878256886397&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&_tf=From%20%251%24s
While information such as the viral genetic sequence was freely shared, important data on mortality was not. This made it very difficult to fully assess risk. The explosion of COVID-19 in Italy brought the severity of the pandemic into focus.
2/6 https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/italian-covid-19-deaths-pass-chinas-total-cases-surge-europe
2/6 https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/news-perspective/2020/03/italian-covid-19-deaths-pass-chinas-total-cases-surge-europe
Past precedent recommended against travel bans, but intelligence agencies and the NIH were already thinking that this situation was different.
Hajdu and Tam chose a divergent path from the USA and followed the WHO recommendations instead of the NIH.
3/6 https://cnsnews.com/article/international/patrick-goodenough/new-travel-curbs-begin-nihs-fauci-credits-earlier
Hajdu and Tam chose a divergent path from the USA and followed the WHO recommendations instead of the NIH.
3/6 https://cnsnews.com/article/international/patrick-goodenough/new-travel-curbs-begin-nihs-fauci-credits-earlier
The principle of leaving the borders open is predicated on robust testing of travelers and contact tracing. It soon became clear that there were insufficient test kits and public health staff to follow every traveler who may have #COVID19 exposure.
4/6 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-19-canada-federal-response-1.5529263
4/6 https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/covid-19-canada-federal-response-1.5529263
As soon as diagnosis of those infected and contact tracing were not longer feasible, Health Canada and the Ministry of Health should have followed the NIH and closed our borders. They didn't, and that was a serious error with serious consequences.
5/6 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-testing-shortages-1.5503926
5/6 https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/covid-testing-shortages-1.5503926
Once containment protocols were overrun, we were forced into mitigation protocols. Leaving our borders open compounded Canada's problem.
India did a spectacular job of containment and their numbers reflect that.
Hajdu didn't follow protocols and we are paying the price.
6/6
India did a spectacular job of containment and their numbers reflect that.
Hajdu didn't follow protocols and we are paying the price.
6/6
