News

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, it is necessary to gather data to inform the public and decision makers.

The current questionnaire will ask if you have experienced discrimination based on race, sex, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability or language, and whether this has changed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

We would also like to know how COVID-19 pandemic has impacted your confidence and trust in various institutions, the general public, and your neighbours. Data will help determine if discrimination during the pandemic has disproportionally impacted certain groups more than others.

Participate now in Stats Canada data collection on the Impacts of COVID-19 on Canadians – Experiences of Discrimination

Health Canada is advising Canadians that certain hand sanitizers containing technical-grade ethanol are being recalled from the market because they are not compliant with federal regulations and may pose a risk to health.

Given supply shortages of pharmaceutical- and food-grade ethanol, on April 15, 2020, Health Canada permitted the temporary use of technical-grade ethanol in alcohol-based hand sanitizers.

Manufacturers wishing to use technical-grade ethanol must choose from a list of Health Canada-authorized suppliers and receive a No Objection Letter from Health Canada before manufacturing or distributing the product. Technical-grade ethanol contains more impurities than pharmaceutical- and food-grade ethanol. Therefore, manufacturers must include the following risk statements on their product labels:

• Under Medicinal Ingredients: “Ethanol XX% (technical-grade)”
• Under Directions: “Adults only”
• Under Warnings: “Do not use on broken or damaged skin,” “Do not use if you are pregnant or breastfeeding” and “Do not inhale”
• Include a statement for consumers: “Report any incident to Health Canada”
• Under Questions: “Call 1-866-234-2345 to report any adverse reaction”

Health Canada is advising Canadians to stop using the products on the list below. The Department will update this list if it becomes aware of other affected products, so that Canadians can easily identify ones they may have purchased and take appropriate action. Canadians are encouraged to consult the list regularly for updates. Health Canada also maintains a list of hand sanitizers that contain ethanol or denaturants that are not acceptable for use in hand sanitizers and are being recalled from the market because they may pose a risk to health.

View the list HERE

Health literacy in times of coronavirus and COVID-19

Reflecting on University Students

On July 1st, 2020, the International Health Literacy Consortium launched an online bilingual survey on health literacy in the context of COVID-19, aimed at all post-secondary students across Canada. The goal is to better understand how post-secondary students are accessing health information during the pandemic, and the perceived impact of COVID-19 on their stress level and overall wellbeing.  Thousands of students around the world are participating as this is an initiative of the International Health Literacy Consortium. For more information, see: https://covid-hl.eu/.

The study in Canada is led by Dr. Erica Di Ruggiero at the University of Toronto’s Dalla Lana School of Public Health and Paola Ardiles at the Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University (contact info at the bottom of the email). This survey will be open until August 31st 2020. We have obtained ethics approval at both institutions.

We would like to encourage students from as many universities and colleges as possible to take part across Canada.  We would be very grateful if you could support this study by helping us disseminate this survey to your public health partners and stakeholders.

Access the survey in English HERE

Access the survey in French HERE

Good times have been linked to community outbreaks of COVID-19 in BC. People in their 20s to 40s have spread the virus to friends, families, and strangers at house parties, bars, restaurants, and more. Let’s help stop the spread.

We all love good times. Follow Dr. Bonnie Henry’s guide, and we can keep each other safe and healthy. Don’t get stuck in self-isolation for 14 days, or worse – get sick, because you shared beers at a party or made out with someone with COVID-19. Have a good time – safely.

Go HERE to read the guide.

From Dr. Victoria Lee, President and CEO of Fraser Health

British Columbia (BC) managed to flatten then bend the COVID-19 curve.  Some of this may be due to luck and some due to being prepared.  BC has certainly benefited from strong provincial leadership and exemplary communication from the Provincial Health Officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry, and the Minister of Health, Hon. Adrian Dix.  I believe the way in which BC’s health system is organized, with the Ministry of Health, two provincial and five regional health authorities, also played a significant role.

Read the full article from Hospital News HERE.