Ottawa, ON – The COVID-19 pandemic, a crisis that has taken greater than 6 million lives, including nearly 47,000 Canadians, is showing no sign of waning. Cases, hospitalizations, and deaths are on the rise in Canada.
“Even ‘mild’ cases increase the chance of cardiovascular events resembling heart attacks and strokes and increase the chance of Long COVID,” said Dr. Jennifer Purdy, Green Party of Canada Health Critic. “No matter age group, research shows an individual could also be vulnerable to other viral illnesses for as much as eight months following COVID infection attributable to its devastating impact on the immune system. Vaccination reduces but doesn’t eliminate these risks.”
“There are several variants of concern appearing here in Canada, and doctors anticipate a rise in caseloads leading into the winter, ” said Dr. Farrukh Chishtie, Emergency Preparedness co-critic for the Green Party of Canada. “Besides acute cases, we’re also facing an increasing variety of Long COVID cases, for which identification, health, and financial support stays inadequately addressed, exacerbating the large-scale inequities many already face.”
”We must perform basic epidemiological studies for Long COVID in order that everyone seems to be getting the resources and care they need, with particular attention given to probably the most societally vulnerable, including individuals with disabilities, seniors, and Indigenous people.” said Green Party of Canada interim Leader, Dr. Amita Kuttner. “We’re committed to working with the federal government and all political parties to safeguard the lives and well-being of all Canadians and urge the federal government to simply accept the most recent research.”
The Green Party of Canada calls on the federal government to:
- Accept the most recent COVID-19 evidence and rapidly change course, including re-evaluation of lifting mask mandates on federally regulated trains and aircraft
- Increase funding for health research referring to the impact and treatment of long COVID
- Review and operationalize the pandemic response plan for a recent variant or virus
- Fast track Bill C-22 to offer much-needed financial support to individuals with disabilities
- Introduce a guaranteed livable income to guard essential employees
- Provide further assistance to small businesses impacted by decreased economic activity
- Work with provincial, territorial, and First Nations, Inuit and Métis governments on a long-term national strategy for acute and chronic care related to COVID-19
Dr. Jennifer Purdy, Green Party of Canada Heath Critic
Dr. Farrukh Chishtie, Green Party of Canada Emergency Preparedness Co-Critic
Dr. Amita Kuttner, Green Party of Canada Interim Leader
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For more information or to rearrange an interview:
Fabrice Lachance Nové
Press Secretary
514-263-0021
fabrice.lachance@greenparty.ca
