DOM MONTHLY NEWSLETTER | FEBRUARY 11, 2022
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The SHORT Report
Departmental feedback survey reopened Feb. 8; closes Feb 28
Member Updates
- Welcome
- Farewell
- Recruitment
Feature - Did You Know?
- History and Heritage
- African Heritage Month
- Dal's Medical School History
- Nova Scotia Heritage Day
- Dr. Chad Williams, Gastroenterologist and Advocate
Kudos
- Resident Doctors Appreciation 2022
- Dr. Chad Williams and Dr. David Haase are working to overcome vaccine mistrust among Black Nova Scotians
- Spotlight on Heart Failure in Canada: Complex, Incurable and on the Rise (Dr. Kim Anderson)
- Unequal access to evidence-based addiction care (Dr. Tommy Brothers)
- Doctors Nova Scotia's Senior Membership Award (Dr. John Hanly)
Upcoming Events
- February 13 - Wear Red Canada
- February 22 - Teach the Teacher 2022 - cancelled
- February 22 & 25 - Official launch of Nova Scotia Health Innovation Showcase
- April 19 - 22 - DoM Research Week 2022
- May 31 - DoM Quality Day 2022
COVID-19
- Nova Scotia Cases
- Monthly timeline
Quick Reference / Recurring Content
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Hi everyone,
February celebrates a number of themes. In particular, this month we celebrate Nova Scotia African Heritage Month, Nova Scotia Heritage Day on February 21st and also Heart Month.
Dr. Murray recently gave an excellent grand rounds on Dalhousie Medical School’s heritage and we have provided a link below in case you missed it or want to watch it again.
During Nova Scotia African Heritage Month check out some of the links below and take some time to learn about the province's rich heritage.
In our “Did you know?” spotlight, this month we are featuring Dr. Chad Williams who ties African Heritage Month and Dalhousie Heritage together as one of our first Black Nova Scotian physicians to graduate from Dalhousie Medical School. We are proud to have Dr. Williams as an active member of our Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy as well as our equity and diversity and executive committees.
Monday is Valentine’s Day and, as part of Heart Month, Sunday is Wear Red Canada for women’s heart health. Our very own Dr. Sharon Mulvagh will host a special event on Sunday. Please take some time to join (see the link below).
February can be a challenging month as the days continue to be long and cold and pressures on the healthcare system are high. Remember to take some time to take care of yourself and check out our wellness links below.
Last, but not least, this week is Resident Doctor Appreciation 2022. Words can’t express how much the department appreciates the tremendous work our residents do every day to help take care of our patients while they continue to develop as our expert clinicians, teachers and researchers of the future. Make sure to take some time to appreciate your residents.
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Stay well everyone,
Christine
Christine Short, MD, FRCP(C), FACP
Associate Professor & Head/Chief, Department of Medicine
Dalhousie University / Central Zone, Nova Scotia Health
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Departmental survey reopened Feb. 8
Since the survey dates have been rescheduled to early April, we have re-opened the electronic surveys (internal & external). Please circulate the link below to all faculty members in the Department of Medicine. The survey will close on Feb. 28. Those who have already responded do not need to respond again.
Closes: February 28
Janice Godin
Director, Human Resources
Faculty of Medicine
Dalhousie University
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We welcome the following members to their new positions:
- January 24 - Kaitlyn MacDonald-Comeau, Administrative Assistant, is now permanent in the Division of Infectious Diseases.
- January 27 - Heather LeBlanc, Administrative Assistant to Drs. Rockwood and Searle, Division of Geriatric Medicine, moves from the Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy.
- January 31 - Abby MacGillivray joins the Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy as Administrative Assistant to Drs. Gruchy and Lim.
- January 31 - Valerie Orgar, Administrative Assistant, Senior Leadership and Continuing Professional Development, DoM Administration. She will be supporting DoM Grand Rounds and other Continuing Professional Development activities, as well as the Clinical Systems and Innovation and Quality Committees. Valerie will also provide support to Denise Hatchette, Lesley Dagley and Crystal Leverman. Valerie replaces Mary Synette who left on Nov. 12.
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We are grateful for having these team members in our department. We say farewell and best wishes to:
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Janice Hong, Administrative Assistant (temp), resigned from the Division of Geriatric Medicine on January 27.
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Shelbie Stacey-Allen, Education Program Assistant, Division of Hematology, resigned on January 31.
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Michelle Henneberry, Administrative Assistant in the Division of Cardiology, is retiring. Her official last day is February 28 and is taking vacation throughout February. Michelle has had several different roles since joining the Department of Medicine in 2000, her most recent and longest has been in Cardiology. While we are sad to see her go we are happy and excited for her as she starts this new chapter. We thank her for everything she has done and wish her all the best.
- Best wishes to Tom Henneberry, DoM Data Manager, as he leaves us for a new role with NSH. Tom has been a valuable member of the DoM team for over 14 years and has developed and managed all of our data/billing systems and reporting. He has always gone the extra mile In his quest to find the answers for all of our questions and always had time to help us understand the finer details of the information we sought. We will miss you Tom!
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In the spirit of honouring history and heritage, February's feature celebrates:
- Dal's Medical School history
- Dr. Chadwick Williams, Gastroenterologist and Advocate
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African Heritage Month
The commemoration of African Heritage Month can be traced back to 1926 when Harvard-educated Black historian, Carter G. Woodson, founded Negro History Week to recognize the achievements of African Americans. Woodson purposefully chose February...
Read more
www.dal.ca
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Dal's Medical School History
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On January 18, 2022, Dr. T. Jock Murray, Professor Emeritus, detailed Dal's medical school history at DoM Grand Rounds.
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Did you know that you can watch previous
DoM Grand Rounds recordings?
The videos are unlisted on the Department of Medicine YouTube channel, so you must have the link to view. All recordings are copyright.
Summer Grand Rounds 2021
DoM Grand Rounds Sept 2021 - June 2022
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Celebrated on the third Monday in February, Nova Scotia Heritage Day is an annual reminder of our past as well as an opportunity to honour the remarkable people, places and events that have contributed to this province’s unique heritage. The day's flag was unveiled in 2016 (pictured right).
2015 - Viola Desmond
2016 - Joseph Howe
2017 - Mi'kmaq Heritage
2018 - Mona Louise Parsons
2019 - Maud Lewis
2020 - The Community of Africville
2021 - Edward Francis Arab
2022 - The Landscape of Grand Pré World Heritage Site
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To mark the 10th anniversary of the Landscape of Grand Pré becoming a UNESCO World Heritage site, Nova Scotia celebrates the rich heritage of this landscape which features an exceptional traditional agricultural settlement still in use today and an iconic place of memory for the Acadian diaspora.
https://heritageday.novascotia.ca/
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"A diaspora (dye-AS-pər-ə) is a scattered population whose origin lies in a separate geographic locale. Historically, the word diaspora was used to refer to the mass dispersion of a population from its indigenous territories." ~ Wikipedia
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Dr. Chadwick Williams, Gastroenterologist and Advocate
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Dr. Chadwick (Chad) Williams is a Gastroenterologist in the Division of Digestive Care & Endoscopy and advocates for change.
- Profiled as a DalMed150 Innovator in February 2018 (article below)
- Featured in Maritime Edit Magazine, September 2020 (article below)
- Published in the Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology (article below)
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Dal Med Innovator | Chadwick Williams
Chadwick Williams is a child of the two Prestons, growing up in East Preston but spending lots of time with his mother's family in North Preston. Together, these areas are home to some of Nova Scotia's oldest Black communities.
Read more
medicine.dal.ca
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Chadwick Williams for [EDIT] Magazine, Volume 14
Chadwick Williams On Why Change Is Coming A telling of Africville, Preston and the embrace of Erik Killmonger
Read more
maritimeedit.com
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Something Is Missing: Addressing Racial Diversity,...
Incorporating equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) has become a more prominent focus of the medical institution over the last 2 years.
Read more
academic.oup.com
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Resident Doctors Appreciation 2022
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"The week of Feb 7 – 11, 2022 is Resident Doctors Awareness Week. See the hyperlink below for information about this important initiative. We have an incredible group of residents within the Department of Medicine, and are so fortunate to work with them every day.
If you have a resident on service with you this week, please take a moment to pause and reflect on the care they provide, how hard they work, and to thank them.”
Dr. Ian Epstein
Program Director, Core Internal Medicine Residency Training Program
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10 FAST FACTS ABOUT RESIDENT DOCTORS IN CANADA
Representing over 10,000 resident doctors across Canada, providing a unified, national voice for our membership.
Read more
residentdoctors.ca
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Dr. Chad Williams and Dr. David Haase are working to overcome vaccine mistrust among Black Nova Scotians
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N.S. doctor hopes to encourage more African Nova...
A doctor in Dartmouth is trying to dispel misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines in hopes of encouraging hesitant African Nova Scotians to get immunized. Nova Scotia's COVID-19 vaccination rate has been creeping toward 80 per cent fully...
Read more
www.cbc.ca
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Working to overcome vaccine mistrust...
January 25 - Dr. David Haase, retired Infectious Disease Specialist, said it was apparent early on that people in Black communities were more at risk for getting COVID-19 and having adverse outcomes. He said it was also important to...(5 min)
Read more
www.cbc.ca
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Spotlight on Heart Failure in Canada:
Complex, Incurable and on the Rise
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Happy February, the Heart Month! I would like to share with you all the 2022 Heart & Stroke report (PDF), this year on Heart Failure.
Heart and Stroke has created in 2021 a national task force on heart failure and I am proud to be part of it. As many of you already know, heart failure prevalence is growing significantly, but unfortunately our patients still face many barriers to access timely care. We have a lot of work to do, but the Heart Failure Task Force is determined to make it better!
Dr. Kim Anderson, MD FRCP(C) MSc
Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiology
Cardiologist Advanced Heart Failure, Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support
Nova Scotia Health Authority, Halifax Infirmary
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Heart failure in Canada complex incurable and on the rise
Heart failure is a serious and growing problem in Canada, putting a significant strain on people living with the condition, their families and healthcare systems according to a new Heart & Stroke report.
Read more
www.heartandstroke.ca
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Unequal access to evidence-based addiction care
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Study finds patients admitted to hospital with...
When we walk through the doors of a hospital, as a patient we expect to receive the best care that is medically available. Dalhousie University general internal medicine resident, Dr. Thomas Brothers, has taken a deep dive into addiction...
Read more
medicine.dal.ca
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Published January 26, 2022
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Doctors Nova Scotia's Senior Membership Award
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Dr. John Hanly, Rheumatologist, Researcher and past DoM Research Director, is the recipient of the Doctors Nova Scotia Senior Membership Award (2022).
The nomination was a team effort; thank you to Dr. Melissa Andrew, Geriatrician and DoM Research Director, for taking the lead on the nomination and the Awards & Recognition Committee for recommending it.
Dr. Hanly’s award will be presented during the Doctors Nova Scotia Achievement Awards Ceremony and Luncheon at the 168th annual conference on June 4.
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Wear Red Canada
Wear Red Canada is celebrated annually across Canada on February 13th to raise awareness about women’s heart health. Our very own Dr. Sharon Mulvagh, Cardiologist, is Chair of the CWHHA Atlantic Planning Wear Red Committee. See her letter to colleagues (PDF).
Here are some of the ways that you can participate:
1. Wear RED
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Teach the Teacher 2022 - cancelled
We have made the difficult decision to cancel Teach the Teachers due to the Nova Scotia Health directive to cancel all non-COVID/non-operational meetings. We are hoping to reschedule later in the year.
Dr. Trudy Taylor
Chair, Continuing Professional Development
January 14, 2022
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Health Innovation Showcase
Join Nova Scotia Health for a Health Innovation Showcase that is being hosted virtually on February 22 and 25 to officially launch the Nova Scotia Health Innovation Hub.
This free event will highlight how staff and clinicians are driving change through innovative ideas and technologies to transform health and healthcare in Nova Scotia.
The Health Innovation Hub is leading innovation and research within the healthcare system to deliver high-impact solutions for patients and providers. Through strategic partnerships with clinical champions, industry, healthcare foundations, governments and academic partners, Nova Scotia Health’s Innovation Hub is transforming healthcare through the best available evidence and innovative solutions. It’s also a catalyst that is fostering an innovative mindset and approaches to bring about positive system change.
Includes: Dr. Kenneth Rockwood, Senior Medical Director of the Frailty and Elder Care Network at Nova Scotia Health.
Registration required
Tuesday, February 22 (9 am to 1 pm AST)
Friday, February 25 (9 am to 1:30 pm AST)
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DoM Research Week
DoM Research Week will be held April 19 - 22. More details to follow.
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DoM Quality Day
On behalf of the Quality Improvement Steering Committee, I am excited to announce the Department of Medicine's inaugural Quality Day on May 31, 2022. This will be an exciting opportunity for DoM faculty/teams and residents/trainees to showcase their Quality Improvement (QI) initiatives and share their project successes with other attendees.
The anticipated format is a blend of oral and poster presentations in virtual format. At this time, we are encouraging you to start thinking about potential projects, either completed or in-progress, that you may wish to submit and share (see below for a description of QI vs. research).
Stay tuned for details regarding event registration and a call for submissions.
Sincerely,
Ferhan Siddiqi MD FRCPC MScHQ
Chair, Quality Improvement Steering Committee (QISC)
Department of Medicine
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3,306
active cases (estimation)
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90 people currently admitted due to COVID-19 including 11 people in ICU
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1,735,304
total completed tests
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2,169,722
Total vaccine doses administered
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91.5%
Received first dose
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85.2%
Received second dose
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59.2%
Third or booster dose (18+)
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Protocols at Nova Scotia Health
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Protocols at Nova Scotia Health
Nova Scotia Health is taking a phased approach to COVID-19 health and safety measures based on risk level in each zone. Subject to change; refer to online version for latest updates.
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New rapid test recommendation helps to improve accuracy of results
Nova Scotia Public Health is recommending Nova Scotians using rapid tests, swab both their throat and nose when collecting their sample to improve the accuracy of the tests. This is based on research led by Nova Scotia Health's microbiology team.
Our researchers have determined that collecting samples from both the throat and nose provides a more accurate rapid test result than a nose swab alone, which is the instruction provided by the manufacturer. The investigation compared results of a common rapid take-home test using three sample sites: nasal swab; throat swab and; combined nasal/throat. Compared to PCR test results, samples from nasal or throat swabs each detected 64.5 per cent of cases. However, combining the nose and throat swabs increased sensitivity to 88.7 per cent.
Public Health is working to update the current rapid testing instructions ( BTNX and SD Biosensor brands have been updated and are on the COVID-19 Hub).
It is important to note that this recommendation doesn’t negate using a nasal swab only, as those are the manufacturer’s instructions. However, swabbing the throat in addition to the nose increases accuracy.
Public Health is advising that if only one location of the sample is being used, it should be the nasal swab, as the throat swab alone is not as effective as the nasal swab.
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Paxlovid – a medication to treat mild/moderate COVID-19
PAXLOVID, an oral antiviral medication made by Pfizer, is used in adults to treat mild to moderate COVID-19 and who have a high risk of getting severe COVID-19, including hospitalization or death. Paxlovid was approved for use in Canada, by prescription only, on January 17, 2022. Drug details are listed on Government of Canada website: https://covid-vaccine.canada.ca/info/paxlovid-en.html
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Provincewide Restrictions Extended
There have been 369 hospitalizations and 30 deaths since the start of the Omicron wave on December 8. Community vaccination clinics closing. Vaccinations will continue at pharmacies and practices.
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Provincewide COVID-19 restrictions will be eased over three phases starting Monday, February 14.
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Speak Up For Healthcare Tour Report Released
February 10, 2022 - Frontline healthcare workers gave Premier Tim Houston and provincial health leaders hundreds of ideas to consider as they move to fix healthcare in the province.
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Drs. Barrett and Sommers urge early completion of screening form so eligible Nova Scotians can receive timely treatment and support for COVID-19 if needed (Feb. 2)
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3 Month Post-COVID Symptoms Survey for Patients/Clients
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QUICK REFERENCE /
RECURRING CONTENT
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Nova Scotia Health / Dr. Lynn Johnston
Uploaded: March 13, 2020
Video: 10 mins
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Nova Scotia Health / Dr. Glenn Patriquin
Uploaded: April 3, 2020
Video: 3 mins
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All press briefings are listed
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Mental Health Support Programs
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Doctors Nova Scotia: Professional Support Program
Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP)
Canadian Psychological Association
LifeSpeak (Nova Scotia Health)
Nova Scotia Mental Health Crisis Line
Nova Scotia Crisis Text Line
- Text – NSSTRONG to 741741
Online Wellness Sessions (NSH Library Services)
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Nova Scotia Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Program (MHAP) has free e-Mental Health and Addictions tools available to all Nova Scotians including health care workers and physicians. These tools include:
Mindwell U - free online support that takes just five minutes a day, and can be accessed anywhere and on any device. This service is available in English and French. https://app.mindwellu.com/novascotia
Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) – free and private online resource that includes interactive activities and videos for people having challenges with their mental health. This service is available in English and French. https://www.taoconnect.org/
Wellness Together Canada – mental health and substance abuse support that contains free online resources, tools, apps and connections to trained volunteers and qualified mental health professionals when needed. https://wellnesstogether.ca/en-CA
Togetherall – free and safe online peer-to-peer mental health community that empowers individuals to anonymously seek and provide support 24/7. It is available to all youth and young adults aged 16-29, providing an inclusive and supportive place to connect with others with real lived experience with common mental health concerns. To sign up go to togetherall.com and use your Nova Scotia postal code to register. https://togetherall.com/en-ca/
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Legal Information Society of Nova Scotia
Complete online then download or email document. Once signed and witnessed, it is valid.
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Spectrum MD
(Antimicrobial Stewardship)
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Nova Scotia Health logo needs to be visible in the upper left corner of the home screen to ensure you are accessing local content.
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OHSW Reporting Forms
- COVID-19 Status / Reason for Work Absence
- NS Health COVID-19 Immunization Disclosure Form
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Nova Scotia Health - Library Services
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COVID-19 resources for health care providers
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Canada (as of February 10, 2022)
3.2 million cases
35 K deaths
57 million tests performed
79 million vaccine doses administered
79.8% of total population fully vaccinated
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World Health Organization (WHO)
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Globally (as of February 10, 2022)
402 million cases
5.8 million deaths
10.1 billion vaccine doses administered
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When you take care of yourself, you take care of others.
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