Public health measures are doing more harm than good, according to a couple of groups in the Northwest Territories, and they're going to get a chance to confront the chief public health officer with their views.
Last week, the NWT Medical Association and business leaders in the territory put forward criticism of Dr. Kami KandolaSA国际影视传媒檚 safety regulations. The business alliance is calling on decision makers to SA国际影视传媒渟trike a better balance between public health requirements and plans to safely reopen."
This week, Kandola and her team are meeting with both groups to discuss concerns and have a more SA国际影视传媒渇ulsomeSA国际影视传媒� conversation, Kandola explained.
SA国际影视传媒淭here are always different opinions on the same subject and sometimes itSA国际影视传媒檚 more important to have the dialogue and talk, and hear each other out,SA国际影视传媒� she said.
The business leaders have called NWT's health measures a prolonged SA国际影视传媒渋nduced comaSA国际影视传媒� with SA国际影视传媒渂usinesses and their workers suffering the effects.SA国际影视传媒�
Meanwhile, the NWT Medical Association outlined several adverse effects mounting from Covid response restrictions, including: decreased access to social and emotional supports, increased domestic violence, delaying diagnosis of other ailments and negative impacts on physical and mental health.
Kandola will meet with the business advisory committee on Thursday evening and with the NWT Medical Association on Friday afternoon. When asked if she could be swayed to ease restrictions, Kandola said she has been SA国际影视传媒渆asing and easing for the past 10 weeks.SA国际影视传媒�
SA国际影视传媒�Every measure ISA国际影视传媒檝e taken has been more relaxed,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檝e always had essential services open, but now we have hair salons, massages, opticians. Regular offices are open. Restaurants are open. WeSA国际影视传媒檝e opened up indoor sports, outdoor sports, all these different businesses in phase two.SA国际影视传媒�
Kandola explained that, SA国际影视传媒�In a measured approach, [we are] opening safely.SA国际影视传媒�
While the NWT mines have their own machines that test for Covid, most samples from NWT residents are sent to Alberta, where it can take two to five days to get a response.
Although the NWT has a GeneXpert device that can process Covid test results in less than an hour without having to be sent to an outside lab, there are limitations.
SA国际影视传媒淭he only struggle is that we donSA国际影视传媒檛 have the cartridges to be able to provide that [for everyone]. So weSA国际影视传媒檙e really reserving that for high-risk scenarios,SA国际影视传媒� said Kandola.
One such scenario, she explains, would be an outbreak within the homeless population, where it wouldnSA国际影视传媒檛 be possible to trace all points of contact. One scenario that would be cause for concern would be community spread where the source cannot be tracked and the health system becomes strained and overwhelmed, she cautioned.
Obtaining more GeneXpert cartridges to increase rapid testing capacity is proving difficult.
SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a worldwide demand for cartridges. Hopefully theySA国际影视传媒檒l increase their ability to meet the demand but itSA国际影视传媒檚 one of those narratives where thereSA国际影视传媒檚 more demand than there is supply,SA国际影视传媒� Kandola said. SA国际影视传媒淏ecause of where we are, we are testing people who have symptoms. We have a travel restriction in place SA国际影视传媒� this is a good spot to be in and we want to maintain it."
