FALL RIVER: The province’s Chief Medical Officer of health is worried if Nova Scotians don’t manage the current spike in COVID19 cases, including the Omicron virus, it could significantly impact the health care system in the province.
Dr. Robert Strang expressed that concern in responding to a question asked by The Laker News during the COVID19 Briefing held Dec. 12 in Halifax.
He said early on the focus was on keeping the spread of the virus limited.
“Now it’s about keeping the spread to a level that minimizes the level of severe disease,” he said.
Dr. Strang said he does have concerns.
“Really, our goal, and what I’m concerned about, is if we don’t put some restrictions on now, we have unchecked spread which then puts people who are at higher risk of disease based on age or underlying health conditions at risk,” he said.
VIDEO of our questions to Dr. Strang. Edited by: Dagley Media.
Dr. Strang said the health system already has a lot of pressures on it without Covid or another surge in cases, and possibly hospitalizations.
“If we start to get significant amounts of severe illness from Covid, then we’re going to put that health system under even more stress,” said Dr. Strang.
“If you look and see what’s happening in other provinces, the things you then have to close down to deal with Covid has its own set of impacts on people’s health in terms of missed surgeries, and all those kinds of things.
“Our goal is really focused on limiting the amount of significant severe illness.”
