Lockdown extended for 'just two more weeks,' Ontario Premier promises

The NPC Healthbiz Weekly is here to keep on informing you through Q2 of 2021. It's your weekly briefing on topics pertinent to healthcare marketers and executives published in cooperation with Peak Pharma Solutions. 

⇒ Issue #188 (In numerology, 188 represents growth and the emergence of great opportunities.)
⇒ Worldwide Covid cases as of 05/14: 161,224,503*
⇒ Worldwide Covid fatalities as of 05/14: 3,345,937*
⇒ Confirmed Covid cases in Canada as of 05/14: 1,320,206*
⇒ Confirmed Covid fatalities in Canada as of 05/14: 24,802*
⇒ Number of vaccine doses administered to Canadians as of 05/3014: 17,297,879*

May 14, 2021—Happy Friday, CurveFlatteners. It's Editorial Assistant Jeremy Visser at the keyboard today, rebooking his driving test for the third time, as it keeps coinciding with Ontario's ever-evolving stay-at-home orders. 

While I'm all for extending lockdown in the interest of public health in the face of a pandemic, I would like more than seven days' notice that the stay-at-home order will be extended two weeks to June 2. While Premier Doug Ford has finally decided to agree with a consensus of medical experts, the constantly changing dates seem to have little thought behind them. While Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health recommended that the lockdown stays in effect until Covid-19 case counts stay below 1,000, it seems we have a while to go with the current count being under 3,000.  

While an extended lockdown has caused some shrugs, sighs and groans, it's the closure of golf courses that seems to have the province especially upset. Currently, Ontario is the only place where golf is not allowed due to the pandemic. While medical experts have encouraged outdoor recreational activities during the lockdown, Premier Ford has quoted one of his buddies that golf is safe, but driving to golf is not.

The Premier promises that the extended lockdown will allow for "the most normal July and August possible." Still, with the recent decision to pull back on the AstraZeneca vaccine, I'm wondering how likely that is. Furthermore, with the recent announcement that youths ages 12-17 in Ontario will be eligible for the Pfizer vaccine in June, I'm wondering how likely optimistic vaccination is now that we've cut our options by a third. While Premier Ford pleads, "we aren't asking much, just two more weeks," I think he's lost track of how many times he has already said that.

The NPC Podcast is back for another season. The National Pharmaceutical Congress organizers are proud to release our new weekly podcast series, hosted by Peter Brenders. Peter's guest this week is Myka Osinchuk, Managing Director of Western Management Consultants. Listen here now, or download the episode and play it at your convenience. The NPC Podcast is presented in cooperation with Impres Pharma.

COVID CHRONICLE 05/14/2021

• According to a study published in Scientific Reports, most children with Covid-19 may not show typical symptoms. The study looked at 12,306 children across the U.S. who had been infected with Covid-19. 18.8% experienced fever, muscle or joint pain, 16.5% had respiratory symptoms such as cough or shortness of breath, 13.9% had nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, while only 8.1% had rashes, and 4.8% experienced headaches. Only 118 of the children were hospitalized, with under a fifth requiring critical care services and less than 5% requiring mechanical ventilation.

• According to a study published in JAMA, pregnant and lactating women triggered an immune response to Covid-19 from mRNA vaccines. Researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center studied 103 women between 18 and 45 who received either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. Findings showed that maternal vaccine antibodies were transferred into infant cord blood and breast milk.

• A study published in the Journal of Extreme Events found no correlation between outdoor park use and Covid-19 case increases. Researchers from Drexel University looked at 22 parks in Philadelphia and New York neighbourhoods from May to July 2020. They found low cases of park-goers not wearing masks, engaging in unsafe behaviour (such as spitting or coughing without covering their mouth), and engaging in contact sports.

WHAT CHRONICLE IS WORKING ON TODAY

We are currently finalizing the syllabus and content for Chronicle.Academy's Direct-to-Consumer Marketing course. I've had the pleasure of coordinating with the esteemed list of faculty and have learned a lot while recording their lectures. You can learn as well by signing up at DTC.chronicle.academy. 

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE READING... 

Blackflame by Will Wight. I have been devouring the martial arts-centric fantasy story of Wei Shi Lindon and his journey in the series that termed the coin 'progression fantasy.' Only on book three of nine, which means I have a lot to look forward to.

RIGHT NOW, WE ARE LISTENING TO...

"Ontario, Let Me Go (Play Some Golf)" by Chad Driscoll. While I don't have any cleverly chosen music to go with today's DCF, I do have some clever music to go with the theme. In a topical parody of John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads, this ode to golf has gone viral across the province. 

HOW WAS YOUR WEEK?

Please use the comments section at the CurveFlattener to let us know what you're up to today. Or feel free to check in via LinkedIn, email, or your choice of connector. By all means, pass this newsletter along to your colleagues. Enjoy your weekend, and Allan Ryan will be back with the DCF on Thursday. Until then, we have Skin Spectrum Weekly on Monday, the NPC Healthbiz Weekly on Tuesday, and the CJMC Fortnightly on Wednesday.