Omicron and its Impact on Healthcare
Since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, the virus has continued to spread and mutate, with no signs of letting off any time soon. On November 26, 2021, the WHO designated the Omicron variant one of concern and since then, the understanding of this variant has grown considerably due to collaborative worldwide research and the passage of time which has allowed for better observation as regards its behavior and how it affects individuals and communities.
Omicron has caused a sharp rise in covid 19 cases worldwide. According to the WHO, in early 2022, more than 9 million new Covid-19 cases were reported per week, with hospitalizations due to the same on the rise as well, overwhelming healthcare systems that are already suffering from the cumulative effects of previous surges.
Omicron is quite contagious, flooding the hospitals with sick people, although it appears to be less severe than other Covid-19 variants. Even though vaccines are blunting out the severity of Covid-19 infections, this has not stopped the record number of hospitalizations due to the disease. This is taking quite a toll on Canada’s hospitals and has made an already challenging staffing situation even worse. Canadian health minister, Jean-Yves Duclos, admits that Canada’s healthcare system is now fragile and advocates for vaccination as the only way to get through the situation.
The challenges posed by Covid-19 are not only experienced by the index patients but also other patients as well as hospital staff. Emergency departments are brimming and finding it hard to attend to non-Covid-19 related cases. Hospital resources are being stretched beyond normal capacity.
Nurses and other healthcare workers
Healthcare workers are now the worst hit, with many hospital staff calling in sick and consequently having to isolate at home. This, as well as other preexisting factors, has led to the healthcare workforce rapidly being depleted over the past two years as a good number of healthcare workers are quitting their jobs citing exhaustion, moral distress, or a combination of both. These losses leave the remaining healthcare workers quite strained and hospitals short-staffed. Some hospitals in Canada and indeed, many other countries are now asking their staff to take on overtime shifts or simply forego their holidays.
According to a report from the International Council of Nurses, the problem appears to be global. According to the report, the nursing workforce is already being hit by sickness, burnout, and staff departure. This has invariably led to the 78% increase in job vacancies in the health and social assistance sector, as noted by Statistics Canada. Some provinces in Canada are now making provisions for healthcare workers to return to work soon after testing positive to Covid-19, while others like Ontario are making it easier and more accessible for internationally trained nurses to get on-the-job experiences in Canadian hospitals.
Nothing quite prepared the world for the Covid-19 pandemic. This notwithstanding, conscientious efforts are being made to handle the resulting challenges. However, as the healthcare system struggles to tackle the burgeoning number of Covid-19 cases and the impact of the pandemic waves, the ensuing stress and strain may linger for a long time.
