A wreath placed beside a memorial outside Kamloops City Hall. (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Dylana Kneeshaw

NATIONAL DAY OF MOURNING

Workers at risk of COVID-19 exposure top of mind during National Day of Mourning

Apr 28, 2020 | 4:31 PM

KAMLOOPS — Honouring those who lost their lives on the job, or became ill due to their profession will be different this year in Kamloops.

Usually, a memorial ceremony is held in the city’s downtown. However this year Kamloops & District Labour Council President Lois Rugg went alone to lay a wreath at City Hall.

Alongside a live stream of a Day of Mourning ceremony, Rugg says a presentation was given to Kamloops city council this afternoon (Apr. 28) about the significance of the day, and a vehicle parade was organized with the United Steelworkers Union.

Statistics are gathered annually around how many people died in a work-related incidents, and Rugg says the numbers haven’t decreased over the years.

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“Last year we lost 104 workers to either a work-related (incident) or an illness related to work. And there’s been more than 1,000 across Canada,” she says. “It’s obvious that we need to try and do more to make our workplaces safer, as best as possible. We want the employers to take our health and safety more seriously than they have.”

With the National Day of Mourning in 2020, Rugg says there is a heightened focus on protecting essential employees at a higher risk of contracting COVID-19.

“People are very concerned. There’s a lot that we don’t know about the virus, and so having to be still working is definitely a concern for them and their families, particularly our health care workers.”

Under the current pandemic, BC Nurses Union President Christine Sorensen says exposure to the virus is a huge concern, and more protective equipment is needed for healthcare workers.

“We’ve been asking for this for a very long time, and unfortunately on this Day of Mourning, this is an example of why we need to, because so many times people are infected,” she notes. “As we know, over 400 healthcare workers (have been infected) in this province so far. And unfortunately, we have seen deaths in other provinces of health care workers, and certainly around the world.”

This week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced 6 million surgical masks will be shipped to provinces and territories, along with 100,000 face shields, but Sorensen says by the time the equipment is divided up, it won’t last long.

“So you have to remember, while those mask numbers sound large, they’re often one or two masks per nurse in this province.”

As B.C begins to consider what easing restrictions would look like, Sorensen says she worries the existing demand for PPE will be exacerbated.

“I will be honest, I have a concern about as we reopen the economy, and we have to now utilize in some cases – medical grade equipment in other facilities such as dental offices, or nail salons, where people are in close contact with other people. Massage therapy, physiotherapy,” she adds, “how do we ensure that we have enough personal protective equipment for those people who are working in acute care, long-term care, or right now they’re caring for the most critically ill around COVID-19.”

As those who died from a workplace illness or injury are remembered today, Sorensen notes that essential workers are asking everyone to combat complacency that may come with the prospect of easing restrictions, and keep up with virus prevention efforts.

“Distancing, hand washing, staying home when you’re ill, minimizing contact with people, minimizing the times that you’re out in public or shopping, are critically important, and will continue to be critically important as we move through this.”