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Mask up, pleads Hirji as infections rise

Dr. Mustafa Hirji The best solution to an increasing number of COVID infections remains in our control, says Niagara’s acting medical officer of health — just mask up.
Dr. Mustafa Hirji

The best solution to an increasing number of COVID infections remains in our control, says Niagara’s acting medical officer of health — just mask up.

With the province now officially in its sixth wave, numbers of infections and hospitalizations are on the rise, which, he says, was predictable after restrictions were lifted. 

He views what is happening in the province as “a car crash in slow motion” — you can see it happening but you can’t stop it.

He is frustrated the province didn’t choose to extend mask restrictions, and also that even as cases increase it won’t take a firmer stand on wearing masks voluntarily — if the province and all public health units had the same message, it might be more effective, he said.

While the province says it’s up to us to weigh our own risk level, Hirji reminds us masks also help to protect others, who may be more at risk due to age or underlying medical conditions.

He said Monday he is thinking about a local order, but isn’t ready to act on it. He’s hoping that as we see cases rising, and with some stronger messaging from the province, it might not be necessary.

“I would like to see a true effort of voluntary activities, with stronger messaging in place,” he said. “That is my hope.”

He is seeing outbreaks in public health, he sees staff absenteeism, either because they have COVID, they’re in isolation, or they have child care problems,  and although he doesn’t have hard data, he is certain, with no restrictions in place, not even physical distancing or separating cohorts, the same is happening in schools.

Although it would make sense to restore some of the restrictions to keep students and staff safe, the province has pushed back by telling boards who wanted to keep mask restrictions in place that they couldn’t, he said.

Parents can submit information about their children testing positive on the region’s website, and from what he sees, he knows at least half the schools in the region have active cases. 

“It’s so much worse than before,” he said, “it’s impossible not to notice.”

In addition to masking and vaccinations, Hirji asks that people stay home if they’re sick, and use rapid tests every couple of days to see if it’s COVID. He also reminds those 50 or over, or are at risk due to other medical conditions, to talk to their doctor about a treatment that could keep them from becoming seriously ill with COVID. Paxlovid can be taken in pill form, with a doctor’s referral, but it needs to be started in the first few days, and other factors have to be considered, such as how it reacts with other medications.

Hirji suggests having that conversation with a family doctor even before getting sick, or at least as soon as cold symptoms begin.




About the Author: Penny Coles

Penny Coles is editor of Niagara-on-the-Lake Local
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