Rhino's Ramblings - The Physician's Town Hall

By Robert Thomas Opinion/Commentary

Over the last year the Coronavirus scientifically known as SARS-CoV-2 and its variants which causes the more commonly known COVID - 19 has come to, whether we like it or not, the most dominate force on the planet Earth. Escaping it is next to impossible - including even island safe spots as Australia and New Zealand.

The virus has entrenched itself into our life everywhere and it dominates, once again whether we like it or not, most things we do.

In their latest physician’s town hall the Saskatchewan Health Authority has publicly revealed the full extent of what medical professionals are up against and the potential for the spread of COVID - 19 with the recent rise of Variants of Concern (VOC).

For those of you out there VOCs are mutations of the original virus which makes it more readily transmissible and in some mutations more virulent. We are not talking about the potential mutations of the virus which may make it less of a threat to humans. And also remember all viruses do in fact mutate to make them more easily contractible by their host organisms.

But what the SHA showed to physicians this past week is not a message of hope it seems but rather it shows a virus - largely assisted by VOCs - as spreading. If you look at the latest map below.

The map now shows a majority of the southern portions of the province at the same epidemic transmission risk as the City of Regina. At the present time the risk of the Third Wave is equal across the grain belt.

And those promised vaccinations which are suppose to stop the spread are, despite now being slammed into arms as quickly as they become available, are seemingly losing the race.

Assessed Risk of Epidemic Transmission - SOURCE SHA Physician’s Town Hall

So what is the solution to the entire scenario? How do you play catchup and turn the map above into green or “The New Normal”?

That is what the town hall in many ways addressed - that is if the medical profession suddenly became the ring leader and calling the pandemic response. Something that is not fully happening now.

Of course there is good news on the vaccination front with just over 26 percent of the Province’s population that has been vaccinated as the numbers edge ever higher to the ultimate of 80 percent plus of all residents/visitors vaccinated to hit the magic percentage to have what they call herd immunity.

Herd immunity, is the ultimate goal of vaccination, when we hit the magic number scientists believe is sufficient to protect both those who are vaccinated and those who choose to not be vaccinated.

A second graph presented to the province’s physicians shows that 66 percent of all confirmed cases of COVID - 19 are happening in settings which are largely out of the control of the SHA. It is all home related or the things we normally do in the course of our lives. The onus as such is falling upon the individual to stop the spread of the pandemic.

In my opinion the data shows that what we do in our personal lives away from work, school or shopping and other activities highly regulated by the SHA or rather the Provincial Public Health restrictions is the key factor in the virus’ ultimate spread.

Even more telling are some of the concerns raised about the spread of COVID - 19 in the physician’s town hall about where the spread is occurring and lots of it seems to be coming from intra-provincial travel. Something the Government of Ontario recently shutdown. If you are driving by car and want to get in or out of Ontario it is not happening right now due to the medically desperate situation COVID - 19 has had in that province.

A further look at the physician’s concerns might also lead many to garner what measures could be coming to stop the spread. Although I have not heard of any measures being considered if the number of youths not taking measures is a major concern are we looking towards a teenager curfew?

As I said it is something that has not been officially considered - as far as I am aware of - but in my opinion there are likely more than a few in the public health apparatchik that would welcome such a measure. But then again that is a fat chance given the public’s attitude and the return of spring and sometimes weather out there.

There really is no way the teens are going to be staying at home - unless we all of a sudden have a major shift into a disastrous few weeks of Antarctic weather right now.

But then again if you look at the concerns about spreading (in the page below) in the workplace is that because the workers are not fully participating in reporting cases, is it their employees or are both employees and employers not following the rules and co-operating with public health?

If those are the real reasons it needs to be asked how long until public health officials and those that enforce the rules do not fine an employer or two that flagrantly ignores the rules to set a major example for others who might chose to follow suit?

There has been one business so far in the province shut down and basically padlocked for very flagrantly not following the rules.

So what are the solutions according to the SHA’s physicians’ town hall?

How do we get to the New Normal let alone back to normal? How do we finally get this virus back into check as we all seemingly tire from the entire exerience and literally lose our minds or just simply say “to hell with it?”

From an SHA point of view it is a whole collection of measures that when properly coordinated will stop the onslaught before many of us go stark raving mad.

For medical professionals the keys to control seemingly lie in breaking the patterns which cause outbreaks to occur. Changes to our behaviour that were laid out well over a year ago.

Wash your hands, keep your hands unless properly washed away from your face, maintain a minimum social distance of two meters from others outside of your immediate household unless you are wearing a mask, limit the number of times one family member goes shopping to once a week, stay home if you are able to and now the added request to get vaccinated (if you choose) as soon as you are able to and above all stay the hell at home if you feel sick no matter how small you feel sick.

As for myself whenever I feel well enough with heart disease I plan to go for a walk, keep my distance from others and in general just enjoy the sunshine.

In a year when you get right down to it very little has changed in the way of prevention and despite the growing COVID - 19 fatigue just following a few simple rules is the only way to stop the spread and the total lockdown that it is likely to trigger.

For a better look at where I garnered my opinions in this column please CLICK THE LINK.