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Commentary: Town Hall provided COVID-19 update

Masks help to prevent others from being exposed, but might not stop wearer from contracting COVID-19
opinion

On May 28, your Olds Age-Friendly committee representatives attended a Town Hall meeting via teleconference with Josephine Pon, minister of Seniors and Housing and Dr. Deena Hinshaw, chief medical health officer.  

The discussion focused on COVID-19 and relaunching dates, changes for specific seniors’ services and personal protective equipment.  

The media has regularly advised us that nothing will be quite the same once businesses relaunch.  

What is so impressive is how much work is involved by many people while no one knows exactly how the COVID-19 virus will evolve.  

We all want life to return to normal, to go to work, to travel and to reunite with family

Two negative feelings publicly expressed is that there are many restrictions on individuals with no reason since no one they know has the virus and a belief the chief medical health officer is making legal changes without consultation.  

The need to relaunch carefully needs to be considered more than just how we as individuals are affected.  

We are continually reminded that it is seniors who are most seriously affected. It is true that our lives are most in danger.

What others may not remember, is that if enough seniors and those with underlying medical conditions are using hospital intensive care units, personal protective equipment or using most of the hospital beds, there will not be sufficient medical resources or personnel to take care of them following car accidents or more common medical emergencies such as knee surgeries.  

I want medical services to be available for my family while people with COVID-19 are being treated.

We know one person from a crowded event can cause many others to contract COVID-19.

Dr. Hinshaw spent most of the 90-minute Town Hall meeting answering questions about the many proposed business reopenings.  

She explained why and how decisions were made by her two major advisory committees.

Dr. Hinshaw indicated she would take issues that had not been resolved back to her committees for discussion and resolution.  

We were reminded that there remains much that is unknown about the COVID-19 virus and how it will change.  

Decisions have had to be made quickly and they may be changed after medical experts learn more about the virus.  

We should be able to help contain the virus if we remember and practise these significant medical recommendations:

• follow all medical recommendations

• maintain social distance (two metres or six feet apart)

• wash hands frequently

• find solutions to keep workers in one business location (seniors homes, meat packing plants, etc.)

We know that people can have the virus without exhibiting symptoms and pass the virus to susceptible people.  

While using masks helps others from being exposed to the virus, it may or may not stop us from getting the virus.  

The more people wearing masks, the safer for everyone.

People with access to the internet can go to COVID-19 Alberta to find the latest and most correct medical information about the virus, business reopenings and rules and expectations. Otherwise phone the Town of Olds administration office and ask for Katharine, the seniors advisor.   

Olds Age-Friendly Committee of Olds Institute

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