COVID Negative

 

Well, there ya have it. Worked from home for the last few days with cold and flu symptoms. Had a COVID test done yesterday at the amazing COVID Assessment Centre in Guelph. Results back in less than 24 hours. I was in the clinic for less than 15 min. You guys are amazing. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. Back to work tomorrow. Thank goodness. Medicine involves seeing and examining patients. I am grateful to have continued working from home during this, thankfully, minor illness but I look forward to getting back into the fray tomorrow. Under 3,000 new cases in Canada today. From a peak of almost 9,000 on January 8th, that is simply amazing. And, Ontario, you folks are outstanding. 745 new cases today Toronto numbers not included. ( My prediction was under 1,000 by Sunday but if we want to do better than that, I am all in. Just look at these 7 day rolling averages: Jan. 10 3945 Jan. 11 3555 Jan. 12 3523 Jan. 13 3480 Jan. 14 3452 Jan. 15 3273. Jan. 18 3035 Jan. 22 2703 Jan. 23 2359 Jan. 26 2346 And today.....1888 Look at the first graph on this page. https://newsinteractives.cbc.ca/coronavirustracker/ The most recent stay at home order started on Jan. 8th and look how far we have fallen....in a very good way. Staying home, essential trips only, social distancing and mask wearing works. No question about it. Not easy by any means but certainly effective. So many lives saved. Even better, new cases are down by 19 %, active cases are down by 17 %, deaths are down by 20 % ( close to tears now), hospitalizations down by 14% and ICU admissions down by 7 %. We are on a roll. Don't stop now. I attended an online meeting last night hosted by a very prominent and prestigious provincial medical group and attended by 1300 physicians and the medical leaders of your COVID 19 health care response. Here is what we learned: The fact that effective and safe vaccines were developed in less than a year when vaccine development usually takes up to 5 years is a modern day miracle. ( Remember, the process was not rushed. Every approved COVID- 19 vaccine has followed the rigorous standards of vaccine development. The world threw it's financial and resource might behind these vaccines. That is why they were developed so quickly. There were no short cuts.) Now we need the miracle of a massive, rapid, vaccine roll out. Despite the gloom and doom in the press, THERE WILL BE a major ramp up of vaccine delivery and distribution by April in seven settings. The 19 existing provincial sites Public Health Units Mass vaccination clinics Primary Care Community Health Clinics Pharmacies and Mobile Outreach This province will receive 5 million dose of vaccines per month starting in April and an complex, integrated roll out plan is being rapidly developed. The entire health care system is being mobilized to deliver 8.4 million vaccines in Ontario from April to September. A marathon of vaccinations is about to happen. Ah yes. The naysayers say it can't be done and the anti-vaxers would like to put a stop to all of these vaccine shenanigans but fear not. I have worked in this profession for 31 years. Your medical professionals (nurses, doctors, nurse practitioners and administrators) are a smart, serious, dedicated bunch. We will get this done. We are trained to put our lives, our well-being on the line for you. Say a little prayer for this team. We are exhausted and we just received marching orders to do what would appear to be next to impossible. The strength of an army is what we need. Good news about the variant strains. The present vaccines are 95 % effective against the B1.1.7. strain ( UK variant). But, even though the vaccines are effective, widespread vaccinations are 2 months away which leaves too much time for these new variants to do significant damage and reverse all the good work we have done. Hang on for 2 months. Wear masks and stay six feet apart even when the present emergency orders are loosened. We are almost there. Anne-Marie Please Share!! February is a very tough month at the best of times. Please reach out if you are feeling depressed or unable to cope. For mental health support here: https://familyserviceguelph.on.ca/ For local assistance with anxiety and depression: www.here4help.ca CMHA WW Website: www.cmhaww.ca Here 24/7 at 1-844-HERE-247 or www.here247.ca. And for post-secondary students, Good2Talk https://good2talk.ca/ For non-Facebook users, you can find this post here: https://braceletofhope.blogspot.com/ And if you'd like to help Bracelet of Hope work towards making sure that Lesotho has access to these vaccines, donate here: https://www.braceletofhope.ca/ways-to-