SHARE ON: |
| |
| |
 |
 |
|
|
A Saskatchewan ICU doctor says the healthcare system is “stretched” and doctors have to make difficult calls as the number of COVID-19 cases rises.
Dr. Lookman Abdul at Battleford Union Hospital says over 90 per cent of people that have ended up in ICU haven’t been vaccinated.
Alberta and Saskatchewan have the lowest vaccination rates in Canada, and the highest rates of COVID-19 per capita, according to federal health officials.
“You have to make a tough decision, who is the sickest, who is the youngest, who has more comorbidities or medical problems,” Abdul said.
He says ventilators aren’t allowed on medical wards and if there are no beds in the ICU, patients cant acces some specialized equipment or life support.
“And you have to look them in the face and say, we’ve got no beds in ICU so you’re going to get some substandard care instead of getting good care,” said Abdul.
Adbul adds most cancer surgeries are being cancelled right now due to the surge in COVID-19 patients and there isn’t enough staff available to handle an influx of patients from potential events like a car accident.
The Delta-variant-driven fourth wave is predominantly linked to low vaccine uptake, Abdul says.
“We know it prevents people from getting sick and it prevents death so people should go out and get vaccinated and hopefully we can turn things around,” said Abdul.
To suppress the fourth wave, people need to revive protocols and restrictions used to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus in the previous waves, said Adbul. He says people should wear masks, use proper handwashing and sanitization, practice physical distancing and limit contact with others and get vaccinated.
PROTECTING CARE HOME RESIDENTS
Residents in Saskatchewan care homes are receiving their third shot of vaccine to further protect against COVID-19.
Jim Van Eaton, 92, lives in a long term care home in Shellbrook, Sask.and got the shot an hour before CTV’s interview. He said he’s seen vaccines eradicate fatal diseases like polio, measles, mumps and tuberculosis.
“And if we could just get the social media to be a little bit more agreeable instead of trying to stop people from having it we could get back to a nearly normal life,” said Van Eaton.
Van Eaton said the pandemic lockdown at the care home in was difficult for residents, especially those with dementia.
“It was very, very difficult for most of the people that are residents,” Van Eaton said.
In the fourth wave, residents are having to live under a new set of visitor restrictions. In Parkland Terrace Long-term Care Facility, access is limited to the same two pre-screened visitors per resident and they are only allowed in one at a time.
Van Eaton says residents are affected by visitor restrictions. He wants the public to get vaccinated so life can on day return to normal.
“The people that refuse to get vaccinated in my personal opinion aren’t doing their part for their neighbours,themselves, their grandchildren, or anybody and I would just be so pleased if we could get the majority of the people to get the vaccine so that we could get back much more to normal then we’ve been in two years,” he said.
He also wants health care workers mandated to get the vaccine.
“I appreciate the fact we have very wonderful people working for us but if we don’t do something, I’m afraid that they’re going to get burned out,” Van Eaton said.
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
|
 |
11 pm |
| 16 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: N 11 KM/H
GUSTING TO 12 KM/H |
|
|
|
12 am |
| 15 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: N 7 KM/H
GUSTING TO 7 KM/H |
|
|
|
1 am |
| 15 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: NW 14 KM/H
GUSTING TO 23 KM/H |
|
|
|
2 am |
| 13 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
WIND: NW 15 KM/H
GUSTING TO 40 KM/H |
|
|
 |
3 am |
| 10 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 17 KM/H
GUSTING TO 41 KM/H |
|
|
 |
4 am |
| 8 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 17 KM/H
GUSTING TO 38 KM/H |
|
|
|
5 am |
| 8 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: NW 19 KM/H
GUSTING TO 39 KM/H |
|
|
 |
6 am |
| 7 ℃ |
| SCATTERED CLOUDS |
WIND: WNW 18 KM/H
GUSTING TO 34 KM/H |
|
|
|
 |
TODAY |
HIGH OF 26 ℃
LOW OF 16 ℃ |
| CLEAR SKY |
|
|
 |
MONDAY |
HIGH OF 17 ℃
LOW OF 7 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
TUESDAY |
HIGH OF 23 ℃
LOW OF 4 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
|
WEDNESDAY |
HIGH OF 26 ℃
LOW OF 14 ℃ |
| OVERCAST CLOUDS |
|
|
 |
THURSDAY |
HIGH OF 30 ℃
LOW OF 14 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
FRIDAY |
HIGH OF 27 ℃
LOW OF 11 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
SATURDAY |
HIGH OF 28 ℃
LOW OF 15 ℃ |
| FEW CLOUDS |
|
|
|
SUNDAY |
HIGH OF 21 ℃
LOW OF 13 ℃ |
| LIGHT RAIN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
BRAD PAISLEY
TRUCK STILL WORKS
11:02 PM |
|
 |
PRISCILLA BLOCK
TRY
10:59 PM |
|
 |
CHASE RICE
BEST NIGHT EVER
10:56 PM |
|
 |
SAM HUNT
LIBERTY
10:53 PM |
|
 |
KELLIE PICKLER
LITTLE BIT GYPSY
10:50 PM |
|
 |
WILL DEMPSEY
THE MAN YOU SEE IN ME
10:46 PM |
|
 |
MORGAN WALLEN
JUST IN CASE
10:41 PM |
|
 |
CHRIS YOUNG
COUNTRY BOYS PRAYER
10:38 PM |
|
 |
DYLAN MARLOWE
COUNTRY IN THE CLOUDS
10:33 PM |
|
 |
LARRY FLEET
LIKE YOU USED TO
10:31 PM |
|
 
 |
