COVID‐19 pandemic responses of Canada and United States in first 6 months: A comparative analysis

Abstract

Introduction Canada and the United States have distinct health care and social policies, and it is important to see how they had been responding to the ongoing COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods The study period was limited to the first 6 months of the pandemic and aimed to explore the responses by public health authorities, media, general population, and law makers during the initial phase of pandemic. Results Social disparity, underfunded pandemic preparation, and the initial failure to act appropriately have resulted in the rapid spread of infection in both countries. In the United States, prevailing social inequalities and racism, inaccessible health care, higher rates of preexisting medical conditions and disputed political leadership have further deteriorated the situation and enhanced public suffering, particularly for the black and Indigenous communities. In Canada, its poorly regulated services of long‐term care facilities, initial restriction of testing and lack of access to epidemiological data have helped spread the infection and increased casualties in vulnerable populations. Conclusion Analysis of the pandemic responses of the United States and Canada has revealed how existing social disparity, underfunded pandemic preparation, and the initial failure to act appropriately have resulted in the rapid spread of infection.

Canadian critical care nurses experiences on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic: a qualitative descriptive study

“…Previous research has also shown that pandemics can have a significant psychological, physical, and emotional impact on nurses [ 5 , 8 , 10 , 12 , 23 , 24 ]. As Fernandez notes, research from both the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and previous pandemics demonstrate the need to develop policies that support the emotional, mental and physical well-being of nurses working on the frontlines during these emergencies [ 5 ].Psychological support, received during and after a pandemic, can be a key factor in reducing these feelings of burnout among nurses [ 23 , 25 , 26 ].…”

“…Again, despite these findings, the Canadian response to COVID-19 indicates that these lessons from previous outbreaks were not fully considered [ 5 , 8 , 9 ], with gaps in implementation evident during the current pandemic. Additionally, research to inform interventions to better support front-line nurses, and critical care nurses in particular, during a prolonged pandemic are lacking.…”

“…Additionally, research to inform interventions to better support front-line nurses, and critical care nurses in particular, during a prolonged pandemic are lacking. Over the past two years, HWs have encountered a number of growing workplace stressors that affect both their professional and personal lives [5,[8][9][10]. As Silverberg et al note, HWs play a crucial role in providing quality health care for patients with COVID-19 [11].…”

Occupational (Therapy's) Possibilities: A Queer Reflection on the Tangled Threads of Oppression and Our Collective Liberation

“…Though it is very clear that the COVID pandemic has exposed the long-standing fault lines in our social and health systems ( Combden et al, 2022 ; Salerno et al, 2020 ), it has also forced us to recognize our shared inter-connectedness across classes, colours, and creeds through our shared humanity and shared vulnerability. As occupational therapy student Deanna Toews reminded me during a recent class discussion, “we are all earthlings” (personal communication, May 8, 2021).…”

“…S’il est très clair que la pandémie de COVID a mis en évidence les failles de longue date de nos systèmes sociaux et de santé ( Combden et al, 2022 ; Salerno et al, 2020 ), celle-ci nous a aussi forcés à reconnaître notre interdépendance au-delà des classes, des couleurs et des croyances, à travers notre humanité et notre vulnérabilité communes. Comme l’étudiante en ergothérapie Deanna Toews me l’a rappelé lors d’une récente discussion en classe, « nous sommes tous des terriens » (communication personnelle, 8 mai 2021).…”