Hi all:

With the new variant of SARS-Cov-2 being more “infectious” either by higher viral load in the droplet or easier to enter the cell, should we, under the Precautionary Principle, recommend/advocate the use of higher level of respiratory protection ( i.e. N95)?

https://www.who.int/csr/don/31-december-2020-sars-cov2-variants/en/

Thoughts?

Thanks.

Dr. Sidney Siu

827 Richmond Street,

London, Ontario N6A 3H7

Phone #: 519-858-4694

Fax #: 519-858-4692

This electronic transmission and the documents attached contain confidential information intended for a specific individual and purpose.  If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or taking of any action in reliance of this information is strictly prohibited.  If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by telephone and return the original to us by e-mail or regular mail.

From: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh-bounces@mylist.net> On Behalf Of Allen Kraut
Sent: January 12, 2021 11:07 AM
To: MCOH-EH <mcoh-eh@mylist.net>
Subject: [MCOH-EH] Assessment of contacts post vaccination,

My understanding is that individuals after vaccination need to follow the same public health guidance as non-vaccinated individuals.   Although the vaccine is 95% effective in limiting symptomatic disease,  it is not known to what extent it decreases the risk of asymptomatic disease or transmission.   For those reasons a fully vaccinated HCW who was a COVID contact should still be furloughed from work.  Is anyone doing anything different?  

Allen Kraut MD, FRCPC
Medical Director, Occupational Health
Winnipeg Regional Health Authority Integrated Sites
Associate Professor
Departments of Internal Medicine and
    Community Health Sciences
Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences
University of Manitoba

260 Brodie Center
727 McDermot Ave, 
Winnipeg, Manitoba
R3E 3P5
Canada

Phone 204-789-3294
Fax 204-789-3905
e-mail allen.kraut@umanitoba.ca

---