The links below represent a wide range of topics in news articles, resources, and journal articles. The views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) identified in the respective articles, and do not necessarily reflect the views of Odyssey Medical, or the author of this blog post.
Foreword:
With Halloween and our semi-annual ritual of clock change behind us, we are now deep into the Fall season.
The second wave is upon us – numbers across the most populated Provinces of Canada have all been trending upwards. Health officers across the country urge for caution as the worrying trend continues.
New clinical resources aside; this monthly post focuses on how COVID is affecting healthcare and some of the industries we are supporting. We hope you find the resources/articles interesting. Stay safe!
clinical RESOURCES
The following links are ‘living’ documents – as we discover more about COVID-19, the treatment available and its idiosyncrasies, you will likely find all the up-to-date information from our of the clinical resources below.
A repository of guidance from the Toronto COVID Collective at the HoPingKong Centre of the Toronto Western Hospital
https://www.torontocovidcollective.com/
COVID-19 Real-Time Learning Network from the Infectious Diseases Society of America
https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/
Dynamed’s COVID 19 guide
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/covid-19-novel-coronavirus
COVID-19 Evidence Service from University of Oxford’s Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine
https://www.cebm.net/oxford-covid-19-evidence-service/
Cochrane Library: Coronavirus (COVID-19): infection control and prevention measures
https://www.cochranelibrary.com/collections/doi/SC000040/full
COVID Impact on Healthcare
The impact of COVID to the healthcare system will take years to calculate – resource management on health screenings/elective surgeries, re-deployment of staff to “hot zone” and the cost of all the extra supplies needed to keep everyone safe.
The other side of the same coin is the impact COVID had on the people working in the system. One UK article claimed there are now more nurses died worldwide from COVID than during WW1. This is obviously a startling number and warning to the general public – having all the technology and equipment is great, but we still need the manpower to drive the care of patients.
As case number continues to trend upward – how are healthcare workers coping with the new realities? Several articles below gives you some Canadian, American and European perspectives.
Covid nurse death toll now as high as the number of nurses who died during World War One
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/covid-nurse-death-world-war-one-ww1-b1448185.html
Pandemic’s front-line health-care workers feared, shunned
https://ottawacitizen.com/news/local-news/pandemics-front-line-health-care-workers-feared-shunned
Doctors and nurses face abuse as UK coronavirus cases soar but social distancing wanes
https://www.cnn.com/2020/10/28/europe/coronavirus-blackburn-icu-second-wave/index.html
Health workers in pandemics at ‘increased risk’ of poor mental health
https://www.nursingtimes.net/news/research-and-innovation/health-workers-in-pandemics-at-increased-risk-of-poor-mental-health-16-10-2020/
Italian nurse on coronavirus duty sees the nightmare return
https://apnews.com/article/virus-outbreak-italy-milan-infectious-diseases-europe-25765614b3b934c187cf2a0787ab40f0
Hospitals overwhelmed: Exhausted staffs, surging COVID-19 cases push nation’s limits
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2020/10/31/coronavirus-surge-hospitals-nurses-staff-bridge-care-gap/6081153002/
Nurses on the frontlines of the COVID pandemic share their stories
https://hoiabc.com/2020/10/29/special-report-nurses-on-the-frontlines-of-the-covid-pandemic-share-their-stories/
COVID Impact on the industries we support
Film and TV production industries are large economic contributors in the Provinces of British Columbia and Ontario. The industry have been able to resume their work largely due to careful COVID-19 planning and testing. Just exactly what kind of impact are we looking at? The two articles explains in detail.
On the other hand, the music industry have undoubtedly suffered far more serious setback. Without major music festivals or concerts, most musicians have resorted to doing steaming and virtual shows. Understandably such income would be far more limited than a large gig. The UK details the impact of COVID to its industry.
170,000 jobs in UK’s live music sector ‘will be lost by Christmas’
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/oct/21/jobs-uk-live-music-industry-lost-decline-revenues-covid
Hollywood North: B.C. film production recovers to top pre-pandemic levels
https://vancouversun.com/news/local-news/hollywood-north-bc-film-production-recovers-to-top-pre-pandemic-levels
COVID-19 forced Toronto’s $2.2B film and TV production industry to a grinding halt. With 23 projects now underway, insiders say it’s a strong comeback
https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/10/29/covid-19-forced-torontos-22b-film-and-tv-production-industry-to-a-grinding-halt-with-23-projects-now-underway-insiders-say-its-a-strong-comeback.html
Essential travellers, private clinics hit hard by spillover from record-level COVID-19 testing in B.C.
https://bc.ctvnews.ca/essential-travellers-private-clinics-hit-hard-by-spillover-from-record-level-covid-19-testing-in-b-c-1.5129363
The Future of Music Festivals?
In order for mass gatherings to resume, music festivals are innovating new ways to host their shows. Virtual events have been floating around for a few months, of course. We have also had live events with lots of physical distancing involved. How about using live stream holograms? Rapid testing of all the patrons on site?
Hologram gigs: the solution for live music events in lockdown?
https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/video-hologram-gigs-the-solution-for-live-music-events-in-lockdown/
TRNSMT boss to pilot new COVID testing plan for future of live music and festivals
https://www.nme.com/news/music/trnsmt-boss-to-pilot-new-covid-testing-plan-for-future-of-live-music-and-festivals-2800511
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