Image Credit: The Canadian Press

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: We should be very angry about COVID-19 deaths in long-term care

Apr 15, 2020 | 4:37 AM

KAMLOOPS —IT’S A HEART-BREAKING IRONY that the ones we were supposed to protect the most from COVID-19 are the ones who have been hurt the worst.

Day by day, the deaths rise in long-term care homes across the country.

From the very beginning of this pandemic, the cry was that we must look after the elderly and the vulnerable, the ones with the weakest defences against the virus.

We were willing to shut down the economy, restrict travel, self-isolate, social distance and spend billions to fight it. The rest of society was willing to make any sacrifice necessary to save the demographic most at risk.

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The message changed somewhat as it was discovered that younger people are also a target of COVID-19 but we know those with existing health issues and lowered immunity — primarily the elderly — need special care.

And yet, they continue to die at an alarming rate in the very facilities that are supposed to keep them safe. Ninety per cent of Canada’s roughly 800 COVID-19 deaths have been among those 60 and older. Sixty per cent of B.C.’s COVID-19 deaths have been 80 years old or older; 20 long-term care facilities have been invaded by the virus.

More than half the deaths have occurred in long-term care homes.

New control measures call for screening, restricting visits, protective equipment and limiting staff from working at multiple locations. How is it possible that such fundamental procedures weren’t properly in place at the start? Each day, we get new reports of deaths in long-term care but never an explanation of how it got so messed up.

Clearly, there are underlying issues in the system that need to be fixed. But the sad fact is, we had a job to do and we’ve failed.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He writes five commentaries a week for CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or the Jim Pattison Broadcast Group.