HEALTH
B.C. Liberals under Falcon are COVID no-shows
F
by Charlie Smith
or those who have paid attention to the science around COVID-19, the B.C. Liberals have been a colossal disappointment. It’s been particularly disheartening to those who have read literature in peer-reviewed journals about airborne transmission of the disease and who have immunecompromised family members. Moreover, the Official Opposition has offered no help to parents and educators who wanted HEPA filters and carbon-dioxide monitors in classrooms to reduce the spread of COVID-19. These measures have been advanced by the Ontario and Quebec governments, respectively, but not in B.C. Kids between 5 and 11 years old still have relatively low vaccination rates. And the B.C. Liberals, through their actions, have sent a signal that they’re okay with a proliferation of Long COVID in this age bracket. One of the few times when the B.C. Liberals actually acted as an ally for those who worry about the spread of this potentially crippling and fatal disease was when they spoke up for more rapid testing. Another time came when Peace River South MLA Mike Bernier continued advocating for vaccinations even after receiving death threats.
The B.C. Liberals were silent on the ending of mask mandates on transit. Photo by Getty.
But these instances of responsible political conduct have been more than offset by B.C. Liberal MLAs failing to hold the NDP government accountable for pursuing policies that ignore the reality of how COVID-19 is transmitted. Most COVID-19 cases result from tiny particles hanging around in the air in indoor settings, sometimes even after the person has left the room. The virus hitchhikes on these “aerosols”, which are exhaled by infected people when they talk, cough, and breathe, and can, in some
cases, travel well beyond two metres. The B.C. Liberals remained silent on the end of mask mandates on ferries and public transit. They did not rise up in outrage when the B.C. human rights commissioner noted that this would discriminate against marginalized groups and immunocompromised people. Is it any surprise that B.C.’s COVID-19 death rate surpassed that of Ontario, which retained a mask mandate on transit for three months longer than B.C.’s NDP government? That’s to say nothing of the dreadful image of so many B.C. Liberal MLAs, including the new leader, Kevin Falcon, refusing to wear masks in the B.C. legislature in the midst of a pandemic. Yet this month, the B.C. Liberal caucus had the gall to issue a news release on COVID-19 that twice mentioned the importance of following the “science” around the disease. It came in connection with a call to suspend the vaccine mandate for provincial employees, just as the federal government has done for its workers. Since becoming B.C. Liberal leader, Falcon has gone out of his way to present himself as an economic saviour for B.C. Perhaps Falcon thinks that he can
stimulate the economy by promoting the spread of COVID-19. It certainly has the potential to increase demand for hospital and ambulance services. After all, COVID-19 attacks the vascular system and can cause strokes and neuromuscular disorders. So by sending a signal to public-sector workers that there won’t be consequences from remaining unvaccinated, Falcon might actually be promoting more use of rehab facilities over the long term. Yippie! That’s because the B.C. Liberal leader must know that the unvaccinated tend to suffer more severe consequences from COVID-19. And even the vaccinated, particularly those who are immune compromised, can be hospitalized and/or endure Long COVID after being infected. A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that “the risk of infection was markedly higher among unvaccinated people than among vaccinated people under all mixing assumptions”. Most troubling for the vaccinated, however, this same study found that their infection rate increased when they were put in contact with the unvaccinated. That’s the predictable outcome of Falcon’s approach for B.C.’s vaccinated public servants. g
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