‘People are dying in their hands’: Nurses union demands bold action against third wave

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – The head of a national nurses union says even with the military helping in some provinces, it’s still not enough to help battle the third wave of COVID-19.

The Canadian Federation of Nurses is demanding governments take bold steps to counter this latest wave adding there are not enough health care workers available now.

“We’re seeing nurses, doctors, respiratory technicians, paramedics, the list goes on, that are just holding on by threads,” said President Linda Silas. “They’re burning out, they’re telling us they want to leave but they can’t leave because people are dying in their hands.”

To flatten the curve and give ICUs some reprieve, Silas said governments need to take aggressive action, including ramping down non-urgent care, limiting international and inter-provincial travel, and stepping up immunization efforts, with an increased focus on fully vaccinating frontline nurses, health care workers and other essential workers.

She added that not doing this could lead to more trouble at hospitals and with health care workers.

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“Scientists are telling us that this virus is airborne, it’s transmitted through air when we get close to each other. The only way to stop it is with herd immunization. In between, the only way to stop the virus is that we stay at home.”

On top of strict measures, she is also calling for better paid sick leave for all essential workers, regardless of income or status, adding that more than 85,000 health care workers have contracted the virus since the start of the pandemic.

Silas is also renewing an earlier call for the federal government to invoke the Emergencies Act to better safeguard the health care system, especially when provinces are calling on each other to send nurses and other health care workers.

While she understands many Canadians are tired of restrictions and lockdowns, she said COVID-19 is still a major risk that can’t be ignored.

“I get that people are fed up with lockdowns. But right now, one social gathering, one meetup with family, one playdate – that’s like striking a match in a dry forest.”

As of Tuesday, Health Canada reported more than 83,000 active cases of COVID-19. Alberta still has the highest rate of infection per capita while Ontario has the most active cases currently at just under 40,000.

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