Margo Sanger

[𝚂𝚎á𝚗 𝙾’𝚂𝚑𝚎𝚊 Global News @ConsumerSOS]

Weekend plea to Canadians: please consume domestic press/media/TV/radio/online/newspapers: I can’t vouch for every story and certain outlets have their vested interests, but people need to stay alert and informed.
PS: if an entity is rage-farming or fundraising, based on its angry reporting, it is not, in my opinion, a legitimate voice for factual information.

[Canada Healthwatch 🍁 @CanHealthwatch]

Toronto's UHN hospitals reinstate masking requirements https://t.co/OPkH2JzqtI @ElissaMendes

https://t.co/1d6LNqgmwb 🍁 The most important health news, in one place.

[Jarett Wieselman @JarettSays]

Candice Bergen, who famously drew the ire of then-Vice President Dan Quayle when Murphy Brown raised a child as a single mother, reflects on how much has (not) changed since then in one of the #Emmys best moments.

[Tara Moriarty @MoriartyLab]

Typical Classroom and COVID

School is in session and many families, teachers, staff, and children are wondering how best to navigate the reality that COVID is also back in class.

The grandchildren head off to new schools this term, one to Elementary school and the other to Middle School. Nanny wonders how they’ll fare in classrooms where no one masks. What’s the air quality in the rooms? Will that help if it’s good or if they can open windows? Will they be able to stay healthy this year and not keep getting laid low by various illnesses? Should Nanny keep masking when she comes over for visits? How bad is it really?

We did some mathin’, as Stef calls it.

Using the Risk Scenario Estimator, we can answer the question people have but are afraid to ask: What’s the real risk exposure for COVID in a typical classroom?

Good news - examining the results, there are ways to reduce your or your child's risk in attending in person school during the year.

We've established our baseline risk level at times when the kids are quietly working away on a problem sheet at their desks or taking notes from the teacher. Of course, when they're singing, shouting, and having group discussions, these risks will increase.

There are two basic variables explored in the Data Cards, in two groups. Schools and air filtration.

First we’ll look at the type of school. There are MODERN schools, and OLDER schools. The Modern schools have addressed Indoor Air Quality with good up to code ventilation, from HVAC and forced air systems. As a simple reference, these are usually schools with air conditioning.

Older schools are without air conditioning, have a variety of ventilation systems, and generally have poor air quality. Good news, they may have windows that open, that can help with air quality. Opening windows and doors for natural ventilation helps keep the CO2 levels in the room down, increasing air changes per hour, improving the air quality.

Here’s a recommendation Nanny will be happy about. Encourage and support getting DIY Corsi-Rosenthal air purifier boxes into classrooms. Simple to make and very affordable.
https://t.co/W08KSLKHZR

The other variable is air filtration. We’ve done estimates for both types of schools looking at classrooms with and without a Corsi-Rosenthal box in the room.

Then, because the Estimator is amazing and can do these things, we looked at 5 timeframes to show the progression of risks and present possible opportunities to lessen them.

The table shows exposure estimates that assumes one person in a classroom for a 6-hour instructional day, looking at
1 day, a 5-day week, a Fall term of 74 days, a Winter term of 111 days, and the full School Year of 187 days.
(Length of terms is based on dates set by the Ontario Ministry of Education.)

You can see in the Data Cards, the various methods of reducing risk and the striking differences they make.

Schools with air conditioning, and that put C-R boxes in classrooms, have the lowest risk, no surprise. The data shows that for the full school year, people in those classrooms, not wearing masks, have a 27% chance of getting COVID during the year.

Twenty seven percent is a significant risk, but compare that to the older school classroom without a C-R box to boost the ventilation in the room. Those maskless humans have a 69% chance of getting infected in the year.

A helpful reference is, no matter which type of school it is, when a Corsi-Rosenthal box is set up and running in a classroom, the relative risk of catching COVID for those in the room is reduced by 1/3rd.

More good news - what about masks! When used, the scary risk levels reduce enormously!

Even with just a cloth mask there’s a 10% reduction in risk. It’s even better when you’re able to both improve air quality and wear a mask. Any mask is better than no mask.

Get the children, staff and teachers to wear bright, cheery, colourful N95’s and the % risks reduce by a factor of 10, down to 3% and 5% for the year, from those hefty double digits. There ARE ways to navigate the waves to keep everyone’s health intact.

Everyone is going back to school right now at a time of high infection levels. Even if you usually don’t mask, this is an excellent time to bring them out again.

Can Nanny convince the grandchildren to wear the Pokemon and Goth patterned N95’s she stocked up on? That remains to be seen. It will need a critical mass of the community normalizing the precautions that can be taken, who understand how important it is to protect our children’s health.

[Thomas Piggott MD PhD @twpiggott]

We had a regional table top sim with partners today to prepare for the fall respiratory season. One of my key messages: COVID is still here, and it’s preventable.

DYK: COVID is still causing severe illness (12 deaths in our @Ptbohealth region so far this year, which is ++ more than pre-COVID flu annual avg) & disability (through Long COVID/PCC)

[Margo Sanger @margsang]

@Billius27 Thank you and take care!

[John Dupuis @dupuisj]

Guelph General Hospital reintroduces mask mandate https://t.co/3TUZsvmGs3 via @guelphtoday

[Tara Moriarty @MoriartyLab]

Canadian COVID Forecast: May 25-Jun 7, 2024

SEVERE: none
VERY HIGH: none
HIGH: SK
MODERATE: CAN, AB, BC, MB, NB, NL, North, NS, ON, QC, PEI

About 1 in 67 people in Canada are CURRENTLY infected.

[Brian Wallach @bsw5020]

BREAKING NEWS: I am freaking out with excitement to share that @noc_film will be streaming on @PrimeVideo May 28th!

Please share the trailer below with everyone so that, together, we can change the world. #ForLoveAndLife #NoOrdinaryCampaign

[Margo Sanger @margsang]

@BadiukMrs What a great way to celebrate! 💙

[Tara Moriarty @MoriartyLab]

Canadian COVID Forecast: Mar 16-29, 2024

SEVERE: SK
VERY HIGH: MB, NL
HIGH: CAN, AB, BC, NB, North, NS, ON, QC, PEI
ELEVATED: none
MODERATE: none
LOW: none

About 1 in 47 people in Canada are CURRENTLY infected.

[Tara Moriarty @MoriartyLab]

Canadian COVID Forecast Mar 16-29, 2024

CANADA

HIGH (no change)

About 1 in every 47 people infected

Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:

-Infections ~15X higher
-Long COVID ~11X higher
-Hospitalizations ~4X higher
-Deaths ~7X higher

[Ontario School Safety @ONSchoolSafety]

If this is official public health guidance and schools continue to assert that they are following public health guidance, then can anyone explain why there are so many unmasked and visibly sick students and educators in ON schools each day? #onted @Sflecce

[Tara Moriarty @MoriartyLab]

This scenario assumes a 20 minute bus ride, with 40 other passengers.

This information is related to the level of virus shedding by the people on the bus.

Data cards follow showing Average and Safe risk levels.

[Raghu Venugopal MD @raghu_venugopal]

An unvaccinated traveling child in Montreal is confirmed with measles. Exposures no doubt to many kids at school, medical clinic, 2 major ERs. Two vaccines in kids is highly effective. Under-vaccinated children are at risk in Canada. Act now parents.

https://t.co/O06SlL3krM

[CALL TO ACTIVISM @CalltoActivism]

Holy moly! Gregg Abbott HATES this abortion ad, one of the most powerful ads ever made.

RT and use the hashtag #VoteDemRestoreRoe to send it far and wide!

[RJ MacDonald MD 🚴‍♂️🏄🏻🎾 @Kidsdoc1Rick]

UPDATE

I have spoken to the MOH and they will now be running Covid vaccine clinics this month for kids 6 mos - 12 yrs.

You will need your make an appointment at https://t.co/whxdpZWZeS
(▶️immunization ▶️covid 19 vaccine▶️Get your vaccine▶️ for kids)

Hope that helps.

[RJ MacDonald MD 🚴‍♂️🏄🏻🎾 @Kidsdoc1Rick]

MORE GOOD NEWS!!

I have spoken to the director of https://t.co/tRoEOuA9Ts in the Halton region. They have agreed to see pediatric patients >6 mos for Covid vaccination if you cannot connect with/ @RegionofHalton . You can book now.

(I have no financial relationship with them)

[Tara Moriarty @MoriartyLab]

@DonateMask @BIRcovidhealth @safecareON Canadian COVID Forecast Dec 16 - 29, 2023

ONTARIO

SEVERE (no change)

About 1 in every 13 people infected

Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:

-Infections ~30X higher
-Long COVID ~29X higher
-Hospitalizations ~16X higher
-Deaths ~13X higher

[Margo Sanger @margsang]

@keetmuise Thank you for getting the message out on CBC!