UNDER PRESSURE
Dr. Henry looks back on grim year
Last Christmas, while most British Columbians were blissfully enjoying the holidays, Dr. Bonnie Henry began to worry about a strange pneumonia in China, and wondered how the province could prepare if visitors brought it here.
Her gut told her this could be like SARS in 2003, when she played a major role in Toronto's response to that coronavirus outbreak. So, the provincial health officer raised a red flag with officials in early January.
By February, B.C. would have the most COVID cases of any province, the first death in the country, and the first instance of community transmission. And it would get much, much worse. B.C. has recorded more than 44,000 cases, 2,300 hospitalizations, and nearly 700 deaths.
Day after day, Henry told British Columbians to abide by unprecedented restrictions, forcing us to drastically change the way we live and crippling the province's economy and people's livelihoods.
Despite being the bearer of harsh news, many residents rallied around Henry, naming shoes after her and dressing up as her on Halloween. But there are also critics who questioned her decisions around masks, rapid testing, and certain restrictions. She has even received threats and requires security at her home.
What has that pressure been like for the last year, during which she has taken just six days off work?
In this year-end interview, we ask her about her toughest decision, the emotional moments, and what's ahead for 2021.
Q You began to worry last Christmas. Did you ever think a year later B.C. would be under such tough restrictions and have lost so many lives?
A I was very optimistic early on that we could push this virus back into nature, like we did with SARS. But it became apparent to me, I think back about when we started having community transmission in April, May ... the probability of having it come back again in the fall. ... This has been the most challenging part of this entire pandemic, these last few weeks.
Q Why do you say that?
A Because things worked for us during the summer and even in the early fall, but we're learning about this virus more. And it just transmits so much more easily
in the winter months. And we don't have enough immunity in the population. We had that taste of freedom, where we could do things, and it's very hard to go back. ... This virus transmits through people, it doesn't recognize that we're tired, it doesn't care that we haven't seen our family in months, it just finds those opportunities to spread.
Q Since announcing B.C.'s first COVID case on Jan. 28, you have been under the spotlight, holding regular media briefings and releasing public updates. But you are an epidemiologist, not a politician. What's that been like?
A It's a little bit surreal in many ways, because people recognize me and I'm not used to that. I'm very much an introvert, it takes a lot of energy for me to speak publicly. But I also really learned a lot from the SARS outbreak about the importance of telling people what could happen, preparing people. ... In terms of my own personal stuff it's been a bit nerve-racking. I used to be much more private and anonymous. ... I am pretty tired. But I think we're all tired.
Q How many days have you had off this year, and how many hours a day have you worked?
A I had about six days off, I think, this year. ... I get up about 5:30. And then my days finish usually around 7 p.m., other than Saturdays and Sundays when I try and have shorter days.
Q How frequently do you receive messages from the public?
A I've got hundreds and hundreds of cards from people with messages. Since schools came back, I've got packages of letters from young people. So many of them are positive. And this is what helps balance some of the negative angry voices that are out there quite a lot. ... Whenever something changes, like we put in new measures, I sort of see a big flood of, `Oh, my God, you're taking away all my rights and freedoms, you've gone too far.' And then on the other side I get, `You're not doing enough. Lockdown, lockdown.' That's usually when I know we're sort of somewhere in the middle, when I'm getting half and half.
Q Do you answer the messages?
A I do write back to individuals as well as to some of the school classes and things. I'd love to be able to write back to them all. And I have to say the challenging thing as well, and it comes and goes, is some people going through this — the uncertainty, the anxiety — people lash out. And I've become the face of that, as well. My colleagues across the country are facing very similar challenges. The vast majority of people are very pleasant. But there are some people who, my face and voice are attached to their vitriol, and that is very hard.
Q You said in September that you've received death threats and have security at your home. Has that continued?
A That actually started way back in January, and it sort of waxes and wanes, but I've had security systems put in the house and I have people that are
monitoring things for me. And I have to say, it's become more challenging again in the last few weeks. I think when, as across the country, we're heading into this challenging period of time, and there's more restrictions put in place, that it's triggered some more (threats). That's hard. It's hard for my family.
Q As the year progressed, you received more criticism. Dr. David Fisman, a University of Toronto epidemiologist, said this month you were wrong about “testing, aerosol, asymptomatic transmission, masks.” Teachers are critical that masks aren't mandatory in schools. The seniors advocate has called for the rapid testing of care home staff. How do you make your decisions and maintain confidence in them?
A I don't make them in isolation, obviously. There's a lot of discussions that have gone on. And schools are a case in point. There was a lot of stakeholder engagement. ... The masks are one piece, and it's important, but it's not going to change the world, it's not going to solve everything. There's no one single simple thing that's going to solve everything. I think that's what we want, what all of us want. But it's not that easy. Testing is another thing where there's a whole lot of misinformation: if you just test everybody it will be fine. But it's not that simple, either ...
The ethical challenge is to do just enough to stop the transmission and prevent the hospitals being overwhelmed, prevent death as much as we can and people getting really sick, minimize disruption in our society. But finding just enough is incredibly difficult. And so I know from the very beginning, we'll be accused of either doing too much or not doing enough. I'm happy with the decisions that we make given the information that we have, and can justify them and have understood the ethical underpinnings of them.
Q What was the hardest decision you've made?
A The hardest ones are really around long term care, and around visitation. ... We're doing harm by not allowing people in and by the restrictions that are in place in long term care. But there's also tremendous harms that are done if we don't do enough.
Q On March 7, you became emotional when announcing an outbreak at a care home, and since then seniors have represented the majority of COVID fatalities. How do you prepare for the daily death stat tally?
A Every time I open up the report, my heart sinks and there's a lump in the back of my throat. It's really, really hard. ... Right now we have over 1,000 residents of long-term care homes who are sick with COVID, so I know that there's going to be death. We have a vaccine now and soon will be able to protect people in longterm care, but it's too late for the people who are dealing with it right now. So if we could all just protect (residents) for another few weeks, we'll be able to be in a different place.
Q What was it like this week to witness residential care worker Nisha Yunus receive the first vaccine in B.C.?
A She was just so proud that she was going to be the first to get it and that she loved her job and loved the people that she cared for. So anyway, it was emotional, incredibly emotional. ... And the geek in me, the science nerd, is really excited about how people actually came together and pulled this new technology together in such a short span of time.
Q What are your biggest worries as the vaccine continues to roll out in 2021?
A Once we start getting enough vaccine that we can broadly immunize people in the community, it's going to stop really quickly. So if we can just make it to Easter, and to the spring, we're going to be in a lot better place.