Durham Health yesterday posted 216 new Covid-19 cases for April 24, taking the region’s tally to 19,614 since the count began on February 29 2020.
Durham’s overall death toll stands at 335, with 217 of them occurring in LTCs.
Variants cases stood at 5,959. Recoveries stand at 16,611. There are 2,668 active covid cases.
89 cases are hospitalized with 32 in Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 2,579 people in home isolation.
Durham Health reported the highest number of cases so far in Ajax.
There were:
- 41 cases in Pickering
- 59 in Ajax
- 43 in Whitby
- 39 in Oshawa
- 26 in Clarington
- 4 in Uxbridge
- 2 in Scugog
- 2 in Brock
Of the 107 reported deaths in Pickering, 86 were in LTC
Of the 56 reported deaths in Ajax, 33 were in LTC
Of the 52 reported deaths in Whitby, 30 in LTC
Of the 58 reported deaths in Oshawa, 34 were in LTC
19 deaths were reported in Clarington [none in LTC]
24 deaths were reported in Uxbridge, 20 in LTC
17 deaths have been reported in Scugog, 14 in LTC
2 deaths have been reported in Brock
Note: The data were extracted from the integrated Public Health Information System in the afternoon yesterday.
Rethinking Personal Protection Equipment.
25 April 2021
Common Knowledge
The World Health Organization from almost the beginning has advised the use of masks to slow or stop of the Corona virus.
Their initial logic was to reserve the Medical masks for front line health care workers to ensure adequate supply to keep hospitals running and save lives.
Non medical masks were recommended for the general public to ensure supply of medical grade equipment.
Worldwide business stepped up and filled the void with non medical grade masks that would prevent the wearer from spreading the virus to other people.
We now have variants that are more deadly and transmitted easier. They are putting health care systems in jeopardy of failing.
More variants are likely to come along driving the pandemic for years to come before the entire world can be vaccinated.
Disconnection
From the book Animal Farm.“All animals are created equal; But, some animals are more equal than others.”
Non medical masks do little or nothing to protect the wearer of the mask from contracting the Virus and spreading it.
There is currently sufficient production and distribution capacity to produce billions of Medical grade masks and make them available to the public.
There is currently no medical or technical specifications available for non medical masks to verify the effectiveness of non medical grade masks in relation to the corona virus..
Solution
We must assume that everyone you come in contact with has the virus.
It does not matter where you got the virus. You got the virus and you are spreading it.
In order to slow the spread of the virus and save lives, we need to shift the focus of our production capacity to medical grade masks to allow everyone to have the same protection as front line medical workers.
It’s time for our leaders to step up and lead.
Possible stop gap.
We know the junk we are wearing is inadequate and we need to improve what we already have fast.
Hospitals also employ face shields for added protection. You may consider the same before you get on public transit.
It may be a good idea for all of us to use a face mask. You can also try something creative and add a piece of vapor barrier using hot glue to the outside surface of your cheap mask (3 sides, Top, Left and Right).
Don’t know if this is valid and I could not find funding to validate this via an independent lab.
We are all in this together,
Professor Roy Leslie, President
Optimist Club of Rouge Valley