University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services to test wastewater for COVID-19 - Punjabi6/29/2020 RADIO - Red FM 106.7 Roshni - Calgary, 26/06/2020 - NEWS, Punjabi Summary Translation: The University of Calgary and Alberta Health Services will together investigate Calgary's wastewater so that COVID-19 cases can be detected early on. The University’s Cumming School of Medicine Professor Michael Parkins said that in this collaborative project, other than the City of Calgary’s wastewater plant, samples from different locations and wastewater collection systems will be investigated so that locations where active COVID-19 patients are living can be detected. Dr. Parkins said that this investigation will not be limited to wastewater plants alone and will be expanded to the pipes into which residents’ toilets are flushed so that exact locations can be detected. The virus that causes COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, is present in the excreta of pre-symptomatic, asymptomatic, and symptomatic patients. With such a study, professionals will get help in detecting COVID-19 cases before they become clinically evident.
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RADIO - East FM 102.7 - Toronto, 25/06/2020 - News, Tamil Summary Translation: A new study finds the proportion of Canadian COVID-19 deaths that have occurred in long-term care facilities is about twice the average of rates from other developed countries. The analysis released by the Canadian Institute for Health Information provides a damning snapshot of senior care as of May 25, when long-term care residents made up 81 per cent of all reported COVID-19 deaths in the country compared to an average of 42 per cent among all countries studied. The contrast in long-term care deaths is even more stark between provinces and territories, says the report, which notes long-term care deaths represented more than 70 per cent of all COVID-19 deaths in Quebec, Ontario and Alberta and 97 per cent of all deaths in Nova Scotia. Alberta has experienced among the highest number of COVID-19 deaths at long-term care facilities compared to other provinces, according to the latest analysis from the Canadian Institute for Health Information (CIHI). Image Source: East FM Twitter
More than a third of nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates are immigrants - Chinese6/24/2020 WEB - 51.ca - Toronto, 23/06/2020 - NEWS, Chinese Image Source: 51.ca website Summary Translation: In 2016, 245,500 people were employed as nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates in Canada. Of these workers, more than a third (87,925) were immigrants. Furthermore, the share of immigrants among nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates varied significantly from one province to another. In 2016, half of the workers in these occupations in Alberta were immigrants, compared with only 2.9% in Newfoundland and Labrador. Link to original article: https://m.51.ca/info/news/canada/2020-06/900467
WEB - Vansky - Vancouver, 15/06/2020 - ARTICLE, Chinese Image Source: Vansky website Summary Translation: No Byline - After a 15-year-old Chinese boy was beaten by a White man for no reason, the Chinese in Saskatchewan finally stood up to fight against racial discrimination in relation to the coronavirus. On June 14, 200-300 Chinese residents of Saskatoon gathered in Kingsman Park to oppose racist behavior in the province. According to participants of the rally, there was more racial discrimination against the Chinese community since the pandemic, and some people accused the Chinese of being carriers of the virus. Earlier on May 22, a 15-year-old Chinese boy who lived in Saskatchewan was beaten by a 40-year-old White male while he rode his bicycle in the park. According to the media, the boy’s father, Mr. Chen said the man pushed his son to the ground, punched him in the head, and accused him of bringing the COVID-19 to Saskatchewan. In order to prevent more Chinese from being bullied, the Chinese community in Saskatchewan decided to unite against racial discrimination. Saskatoon Mayor Charlie Clark made a speech at the rally, expressing his anger about this incident and hoped that Saskatoon will be a harmonious society again. Netizens who participated in the rally said it was very well organized Link to original article: https://www.vansky.com/news/soci/177620.html
WEB - Philippine Canadian Inquirer - National, 16/06/2020 - ARTICLE, English Summary: Ryan Greer, Canadian Chamber of Commerce - Co-chair of the National Cannabis Working Group and Cannabis Policy Lead at the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Ryan Greer, issued a statement regarding the notice of intent from Health Canada to consult on providing the cannabis industry with financial relief amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He said that, “The National Cannabis Working Group welcomes the notice of intent from Health Canada to consult on the potential deferment of the 2.3 per cent annual regulatory fee for licensed producers. However, a deferral falls short of what is needed for Canada’s cannabis industry at this time." He said that, "We welcome the acknowledgement by Health Canada that the cannabis industry merits financial relief during the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to working with the government to find a solution that will position the industry to emerge from the crisis in a better position and to support the government’s objective of displacing the illegal market."
PRINT - Jewish Post and News - Winnipeg, 10/06/2020 - COMMENTARY, English Summary: Harris D. Gulko - Because seniors are so vulnerable to COVID-19, health officials have asked people 70 years of age and over to self-isolate at home. But, after three months at home, most want to go out into the world again. COVID-19 is exacerbating loneliness, especially among seniors. Even before the onset of this terrible virus, many older people were experiencing an epidemic of social isolation and depression. One study found that loneliness is as dangerous to one’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. It can lead to dementia or Alzheimer’s, heart disease, a weakened immune system and a shorter lifespan. Until now, the loneliness epidemic has been fought with programs like Meals on Wheels, seniors centres, etc. But now, Meals on Wheels have barred physical, and thus social, interaction, and seniors centres are closed. This is having a serious physical and mental effect on many of them. Dr. Samir Sinha, director of geriatrics at Sinai Health and University Health Network in Toronto, says COVID-19 has shown Canada how much more needs to be done to protect seniors’ health and well-being. In addition to the risks to physical health, both Sinha and Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada’s chief public health officer, note that the protective measures of physical distancing and isolating seniors can take a toll on their mental health. “Staying connected has never been more important,” Tam said, encouraging Canadians to keep in touch with loved ones through phone or video calls. Many seniors also don’t have people they can rely on to bring essential supplies to their door — and can’t afford store delivery services. These are areas that non-profit agencies are trying to address. Seniors Minister Deb Schulte said that seniors who qualify for Old Age Security (OAS) will be eligible for a one-time, tax-free payment of $300, and those eligible for the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) will get an extra $200. Those eligible for both will receive $500. Schulte said seniors are facing extra dispensing fees for prescriptions, added costs for grocery delivery services and taxi fees when they might normally take the bus. “It’s all small amounts, but it adds up,” she said. Image Source: https://www.jewishpostandnews.ca/
RADIO - Red FM 106.7 The Evening Show - Calgary, 05/06/2020 - COMMENTARY, Punjabi Image Source: cbc.ca Summary Translation: Monica Oberoi - Since the emergence of COVID-19, the monitoring of oilpatches has stopped in Alberta. The monitoring is conducted to determine how much smoke is being produced, to ascertain the need for repairs if greenhouse gas methane is leaking, and so on. Some First Nations and seven environmental groups have written a letter to the Energy and Environment Ministries asking when they will restart the oilpatch monitoring that had been suspended because of COVID-19. The Pembina Institute, a clean energy think tank, said that they want to know when monitoring will be restored. Last month, the province's energy regulator suspended environmental monitoring requirements. The regulator said the decision was made in order to protect workers from COVID-19. The NDP's Rachel Notley had even asked then for the decision to be changed because this would stop foreign investment in the energy sector. She also said that while it was considered acceptable for workers to work closely in plants, it was strange that experts' testing of air and water was not considered safe. Foreign investment will not come in if monitoring is not done regularly.
TV - OMNI 1 TV 8:00 PM Italian News - Toronto, 22/05/2020 - FEATURE, Italian Summary Translation: Canadian Medical Association's Dr. Sandy Buchman has warned that more needs to be done to prepare for a second wave of coronavirus infection as the country proceeds with the gradual opening up. He said unless we take additional precautions and gather more information, we won't be prepared for a second wave. For example, we need more PPE, a better understanding of the exposure of front-line health care workers and information on whether grocery clerks or transit drivers are becoming infected because they are exposed to large numbers of people. He also said testing and contact tracing needs to improve. In addition, he pointed out that doctors and other healthcare workers experience high levels of burn-out at the best of times. A survey 1 1/2 years ago showed that 80% of doctors reported high resilience, and yet about a third of them were experiencing significant burn-out. The first wave of the COVID-19 has been likened to the Spanish Flu of 1918-1919. University of Ottawa Math Professor Robert Smith said with the Spanish Flu, the second wave was 45 times larger than the first wave, and the first wave for COVID-19 looks very similar to the first wave of the Spanish Flu. Dr. Doug Manuel of the Ottawa Hospital Research Institute Clinical Epidemiology research program said people have a range in their optimism. When people said at first that 50-70% of people would get COVID, he didn't think that would happen because people were going to clamp down as the numbers increased. This is not destiny, it's in our hands, and we have successfully flattened the curve.
RADIO - CJMR 1320 AM Radio 7 Zycie - Mississauga, 25/05/2020 - NEWS, Polish Image Source: Radio 7 Zycie Face Book Translated Summary: Tomasz Piwowarek - Canadian Medical Association (CMA) President Dr. Sandy Buchman warns that Canada is not fully prepared for a second wave of COVID-19. Dr. Sandy Buchman told the Senate's social affairs committee that Canada cannot handle a second wave of COVID-19 cases. A shortage of personal protective equipment and poor testing numbers are leaving Canadians vulnerable. British Columbia's top doctor says that a second wave of COVID-19 is inevitable in Canada.
RADIO - East FM 102.7 - Toronto, 21/05/2020 - Analysis, Tamil Image Source: East FM 102.7 Face Book page Summary Translation: If Canadians want to avoid more pandemic-induced lockdowns, they need to do their part in keeping an expected second wave of COVID-19 infections under control by wearing masks, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said. As authorities prepare for a possible new surge of COVID-19 infections in the fall, key to controlling future outbreaks will be individual actions that citizens take, including wearing a mask when physical distancing is not possible, Trudeau said. Dr. Theresa Tam, the chief public health officer for Canada, has recommended Canadians wear non-medical face masks in public when they aren’t sure they will be able to physically distance. Meanwhile face masks are dangerous to the health of some Canadians and problematic for some others say Dr. Tam. “Be very aware of those with different types of cognitive, intellectual disabilities, those who are hearing impaired and others,” Dr. Tam said. “Don’t assume that someone who isn’t wearing a mask or is wearing something different doesn’t have an actual reason for it,” she added. Meanwhile, Asthma Canada‘s president says that simply wearing a mask could create risk of an asthma attack.
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