Five years later, COVID-19 continues to leave its mark on Albertans
Five years after the province identified its first COVID-19 case, Albertans are being urged not to lose sight of those still struggling with its devastating impacts.
In a moment that will forever be etched in the memories of Albertans, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta’s then chief medical officer of health, stood at the podium on March 5, 2020, to announce the province’s first presumptive COVID-19 case. A woman in her 50s had tested positive after returning from a cruise.
Since that fateful day, 6,691 Albertans have lost their lives to the illness. While deaths and hospitalizations have significantly decreased, COVID-19 continues to claim the lives of hundreds of Albertans annually.
“The pandemic has ended, but unfortunately, the endemic stage has now begun. This is a virus that we’re going to have to deal with every year moving forward,” said Craig Jenne, a professor at the University of Calgary.
Many initially believed that SARS-CoV-2 would evolve into a seasonal virus like influenza, but that has not been the case. Sarah Otto, a professor at the University of British Columbia specializing in mathematical modeling, explained that COVID-19 is so transmissible that people can get infected multiple times a year.
Prior to the pandemic, influenza was the leading cause of death due to infectious diseases in Canada. However, COVID-19 has now surpassed it, killing more than four times as many Albertans as the flu did last year.
One of the lasting impacts of the pandemic is long COVID, where individuals experience persistent symptoms for three or more months after infection. Symptoms can include fatigue, brain fog, shortness of breath, and even rapid heart rate.
Dr. Satish Raj, a Calgary-based cardiologist, has seen an increase in patients experiencing long-term symptoms post-COVID. He estimates that up to 10% of Albertans have ongoing symptoms, with some being so debilitated that they cannot work or attend school.
The closure of Alberta Health Services’ long COVID outpatient program has made accessing specialized care more challenging. Dr. Raj emphasized the importance of providing resources to help these individuals reintegrate into society.
Dr. Grace Lam, a respirologist at the University of Alberta, expressed concern about the lack of accessibility to testing for long COVID, making it difficult to determine the number of people still suffering from it.
Despite the challenges, Dr. Lam highlighted ongoing clinical trials exploring treatment options for long COVID, offering hope for those struggling with persistent symptoms.
As Albertans reflect on the past five years, Jenne pointed to the achievements in global surveillance and collaboration that led to the rapid development and deployment of vaccines. These lessons will be crucial as we prepare for future public health threats.
As we navigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, it is essential not to forget those who continue to struggle. By prioritizing support and resources for individuals dealing with long COVID, we can ensure that no one is left behind in our collective journey towards recovery.
