With fall 2023 now underway, the need for the community-at-large to take steps to prevent or at least minimize respiratory illnesses such influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 has also arrived.
In an extraordinary move, Alberta’s new minister of health has put out a call for parents, caregivers and others to work hard to protect children in particular from those illnesses in the days and weeks ahead.
“We all need to take the necessary steps to limit the spread of respiratory viruses,” said Adriana LaGrange. “I want to reassure you that Alberta’s government has the health and well-being of all young Albertans top of mind.
“We need to make doubly sure we are following proper hygiene protocols like hand washing and staying home when sick. It also means respecting those who choose to wear a mask.”
The COVID-19 pandemic, in particular, has shown in unmistakable fashion that respiratory illnesses can spread through the general population. And those illnesses cannot only make people sick, but they can also kill, with more than 5,800 Albertans dying from the virus since 2020.
As such, the call for all Albertans to do what needs to be done to make the upcoming respiratory illness season as mild as possible is timely and welcome.
In fact, Minister LaGrange should be applauded for her timely call for everyone to be vigilant and proactive when it comes to preventing and minimizing the spread of respiratory illness in the coming days.
Unfortunately with a new strain of the COVID-19 virus having already been identified in Canada, the possibility of new spikes in infections cannot be ruled out.
Hopefully the shocking deadly waves seen earlier will not be repeated in the fall of 2023. At any rate, preventive measures are always prudent.
Whether Premier Danielle Smith – a longtime and vocal opponent of steps such as mandatory vaccinations – would be willing and prepared to take drastic measures to stem future outbreaks remains an open question.
Dan Singleton is an editor with the Albertan.
