Alberta’s recent initiation of stricter masking guidelines for acute care facilities appears to be a matter of contention among several medical professionals, who contend that these provisions are both inconsistent and insufficient in their implementation and scope. Yesterday, Alberta Health Services propagated the directive in a preventative measure against the rapid spread of COVID-19, leaving its consequent enforcement in the hands of the respective zone and site leaders.
Strangely, by Thursday night, not a single acute care unit throughout the province had observed the new directive.
Dr. Gosia Gasperowicz, a developmental biologist, urged for conclusive action, advocating for a widespread masking protocol. “If we take this matter seriously, then a universal masking policy should be enforced — extending not only to healthcare but also to educational institutions, public transportation, and communal spaces,” she emphasized.
Dr. Gasperowicz’s concern stems from the concurrent spread of both COVID and influenza, as highlighted in Alberta Health’s updated respiratory virus dashboard released last Thursday. Between October 1 and 7, Alberta confirmed 857 COVID-19 cases, accompanied by 37 influenza cases. Concurrently, COVID-19 was responsible for 145 hospital admissions, seven of which landed patients in the Intensive Care Unit.
Dr. Paul Parks, an emergency physician and the Alberta Medical Association’s President, reported a surge in respiratory illness and COVID cases. “Our hospitals are seeing an unprecedented influx of patients due to these conditions,” he lamented.
While agreeing on the regional basis of implementing mask mandates, given the diverse challenges faced by different provincial regions, Dr. Parks criticizes the ambiguous nature of the directive. “The implementation has resulted in confusion and ambiguities, leaving even seasoned emergency physicians like me unclear about the exact policy,” Dr. Parks candidly admitted.
As per the directive, if any regional leaders choose to enforce a mandate, notification signs will be strategically positioned at the entrances to hospitals. However, the lack of uniformity in the implementation of the new masking guidelines continues to be a topic of significant concern among healthcare workers in Alberta.
