Expert Govt. Panel Says to End Hotel Quarantines: Follow the Science, Mr. Trudeau

May 28, 2021 Jim Byers

An expert panel formed by Canada’s Health Minister issued its first report in January. The report looked at testing and screening for COVID-19 in Canada and was warmly received by the minister, Patty Hajdu.

Here’s what she said in a press release after the report came out:

“Since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government of Canada has used the latest science and evidence to inform our response. By collaborating with scientists and experts, we are ensuring the provinces and territories have the tools they need to make informed testing and screening decisions.”

And here’s what the Liberals said when they panel was established:

“As part of the federal government’s continued commitment to engaging science and policy experts, the Minister of Health has established a Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel. The Panel provides evidence-informed advice to the federal government on science and policy related to innovative approaches to testing.’

“The diverse expertise of members of the Panel will ensure a wide range of perspectives and advice on testing and screening for COVID-19. The advisory committee comprises 11 individuals with expertise in epidemiology, virology, advanced data analytics, pediatrics, health care provision and technology assessment, both internationally and in Canada.”

Hajdu and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have repeatedly, and I mean repeatedly, told Canadians that they “follow the science.”

Hajdu certainly embraced the panel’s science in January. But that same panel on Thursday issued another report, this one looking at the government’s quarantine programs, including the controversial hotel quarantine plan that forces travellers to book three nights at a government-approved hotel while they wait for results of COVID-19 tests that are taken at the airport they fly into.

The panel’s report noted that in Canada, “the current approach to mandatory hotel quarantine is is not applied equally to land and air travellers, is expensive to administer, provides opportunities for travellers to bypass by paying a fine (and) is inconsistent with the incubation period of the virus.”

The experts (the ones appointed by Hajdu) said there are a number of problems with the current quarantine system. Among the issues is that the mandatory quarantine plan is not applied equally to land and air travellers, is expensive to administer, provides opportunties for travellers to bypass by paying a fine (and) is inconsistent with the incubation period of the virus.

So, what did Hajdu say in response? Did she say, “You’re the experts, this sounds great?” No, she and Public Health Minister Bill Blair said that government measures have worked extremely well.

“The Government of Canada will continue to monitor and review all available data and scientific evidence to inform future border and travel measures, and will be prudent in its approach, keeping the health and safety of Canadians top of mind,” they said. “The Government of Canada will also consider the panel’s recommendations to determine how testing and quarantine strategies should evolve to address vaccination status.”

You could argue that’s not a “get lost panel” note. But it wasn’t a warm embrace from a Liberal government that consistently states how it follows the science. And that’s nothing short of disgraceful.

Hajdu changed her tune substantially today (Friday, May 28), stating that Canadians can anticipate changes to quarantine measures. She didn’t provide a timeline but did say she has to talk first with provincial and territorial leaders, something she expects will happen next week.

Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, Dr. Theresa Tam, said the report is “absolutely welcome” and that the government “should take this into account.”

“We will certainly be laying a path forwards in the near future,” she said. “If you were looking forward to what is to come in the next months, I do think that some alignment with how resilient the Canadian population is in terms of the vaccinations, how fast we can to some of these goal posts, if you like, will play into that as well.

“It is a very positive picture I think that we are heading into if we don’t let go too quickly and have to deal with a fourth wave or something like that,” Tam continued. “We can tolerate more international travel and people coming into Canada and be able to manage them safely.”

That’s a very different reaction from the government’s initial statements. And very welcome words. But let’s see where it goes before we pop any champagne corks.

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