We should be ready for the subsequent pandemic, say northern Ontario public well being officers

Three years after the World Well being Group (WHO) declared COVID-19 a pandemic, public well being officers in northern Ontario say it is essential we be ready for the subsequent pandemic.

Dr. Carol Zimbalatti, affiliate medical officer of well being with the North Bay Parry Sound District Well being Unit, mentioned health-care employees and public well being officers discovered the right way to take care of a large-scale pandemic due to COVID-19.

A type of classes, she mentioned, is that those that confronted challenges, together with having a decrease earnings, much less schooling, precarious employment, or residing in insufficient housing, fared worse than those that did not. 

“To be higher ready for the subsequent pandemic, or emergency, we’ve got to deal with methods that enhance resilience in people, communities and populations,” Zimbalatti mentioned.

Zimbalatti mentioned the pandemic additionally taught public well being officers concerning the risks of misinformation and the necessity to counter it with info primarily based in science and reality.

Reduction and concern

Dr. Glenn Corneil, the Timiskaming Well being Unit’s performing medical officer of well being, mentioned three years after the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic, he feels a mixture of reduction and concern for the longer term.

“Reduction that our acute care system did not collapse, and I actually marvel on the science of the vaccine rollout,” he mentioned.

“However then additionally concern that we preserve public well being funding and that we’re ready for what’s coming subsequent, together with a possible surge in COVID instances.”

Corbeil mentioned COVID-19 instances are at present underneath management in his area 

“Proper now we haven’t any outbreaks in our excessive threat establishments,” he mentioned.

Dr. Imran Khan, the director of sexual well being, vaccine-preventable illnesses and COVID vaccination at Public Well being Sudbury and Districts, mentioned the Sudbury area is at present at a average COVID-19 threat.

“Regardless of being by means of the acute part of the pandemic, you understand, we’re shifting in the direction of restoration however COVID continues to be with us and will likely be with us for a while,” he mentioned.

Khan mentioned the well being unit has been in a position to resume numerous its common actions and is working to atone for areas the place it fell behind earlier within the pandemic, corresponding to routine vaccinations.

“Public well being wants to stay steadfast in guaranteeing that our workforce and native communities are ready for future public well being emergencies,” he added.