Today's letters: Hospitals should keep tougher mask policies in place

Mar 23, 2023

Wednesday, May 17: A reader takes issue with the decision by three area hospitals to loosen mask mandates. You can write to us too, at [email protected]

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Re: Three Ottawa hospitals loosen masking requirements, still require them in clinical areas, May 15.

I’m really disappointed to hear that masks will no longer be required in certain public spaces at the Queensway Carleton, Montfort and Royal hospitals. Preventative medicine is best.

We need universal masking with N95 and FFP3 respirators to reduce the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses. Without universal masking, many vulnerable patients will be exposed to an airborne virus that can damage organs throughout the body. People who contract COVID-19 may have increased risks of developing cardiovascular diseases, brain damage, diabetes, an impaired immune system, and many other health issues.

I hope Ottawa's hospitals will take action to protect the health of patients, nurses and doctors. Universal masking with N95 and FFP3 respirators will prevent hospital-acquired infections.

Mike Buckthought, Ottawa

Re: Why Ottawa's former CPR rail bridge should get a heritage label, May 10.

While Barry Padolsky's article bears much merit about preservation of iconic structures, it misses the most obvious target of bureaucratic blindness: the historic Alexandra bridge.

While the NCC board has announced its decision to destroy this unique structure, leaving the border cities further isolated, it has offered no alternative, no replacement before removing this heritage designated structure unique in existing engineering symbolism. Shame on the NCC.

Better to first add a new interprovincial link, while retaining a historical emblem of our city links with ongoing utility.

Bruce Morgan, P. Eng, Orléans

Re: It's time to demand safe-cycling spaces, Ottawa, May 12.

As someone who commuted to work using a bicycle, I know you have to face the realities of cycling along with car traffic.

Automobiles are made up of 3,000 to 5,000 pounds of glass and metal. In a collision, the cyclist loses every time. The laws of physics don't care about bike lanes and posted signs.

If you want your commute to be safe and enjoyable, treat every moving vehicle as if it were going to do something to interrupt your travel. If a vehicle does turn right in front of you or otherwise blocks your forward momentum, it's probably because they didn't see you. Right or wrong, it's just the reality of the situation.

Pay attention to the vehicles around you and stop cycling as though you have certain rights. Otherwise, you’ll just end up being like the angry Portlandia character insisting on "bicycle rights."

John Haslip, Ottawa

Re: Ottawa might have been duped into rescuing ‘Canadians of convenience’ from Sudan, May 10.

John Ivison's article and reference to "Canadians of convenience" struck a note with me and, I suspect, many other Canadians. I fail to understand how there is such a thing as dual citizenship, which we have seen exploited in crises over the years when Canadians living more or less permanently in other countries expect Canada to come to their rescue during a conflict. Shouldn't everyone be obligated to choose just one country in which they are a citizen?

George Macdonald, Nepean

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The country is essentially a theocratic state, making it practically impossible to succeed. So young people emigrate, draining the state of its lifeblood.