COVID-19 exposed ‘inequities,’ Tam says
‘Everything has been done to prevent the repeat’ of deaths in Canada’s long-term-care homes
Long-term-care deaths accounted for nearly 80 per cent of COVID-19 cases in Canada during the first wave of the pandemic, but the country’s chief public health officer thinks a repeat can be avoided amid a new spike in cases.
A snapshot of Canada’s COVID -19 situation during the first wave of the pandemic was outlined in Dr. Theresa Tam’s annual report released Wednesday, one day after Canada passed 10,000 COVID-19 deaths.
“Everything has been done to prevent the repeat of what we’re seeing in the first wave,” Tam said, adding that more support and stricter rules are in place in facilities housing the country’s most vulnerable population.
“I think what we have seen is there has been a number of best practices, infection prevention control practices within longterm-care facilities, and they have to be followed diligently.”
Tam said the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing inequalities involving groups such as seniors, essential-service workers, agriculture sector employees, women and racialized Canadians.
She says those groups are disadvantaged in Canadian society and were disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
“The virus didn’t create new inequities in our society,” Tam said. “It exposed them and underscored the impact of our social policies on our health status.”
She said strong leadership, firm data and sustained funding for public health are all keys going forward in fighting the pandemic. “One thing that is difficult for public health is to advocate for sustained investments and avoid the sort of boom and bust,” Tam said.