MAY 2020 Together with Grieving Families, We Mourn Our Cherished Elders Who Have Lost Their Lives in Long-Term Care Facilities Across Quebec
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Fondation Foundation Help Generations help kids generationsfoundation.com 514-933-8585 VOL. XXXlV NO 6 MAY 2020 Together with grieving families, we mourn our cherished elders who have lost their lives in long-term care facilities across Quebec SCIENTIST, SENIOR HOUSING CONSULTANT, LIBERAL MNA, UNION PRESIDENT RESPOND TO THE PANDEMIC William Newman, professor of Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, Physics and Astronomy, and Mathematics at UCLA Luc Vachon, union president Bonnie Sandler, Dominique Anglade, Liberal representing caregivers senior housing consultant MNA for St-Henri_Ste-Anne STAY SAFE! WE’LL BE BACK OPEN WHEN THIS IS OVER. WE WILL GIVE YOU TOP DOLLAR FOR ALL YOUR OLD COINS & PAPER MONEY Canada, USA, World, Ancient and Medieval coins Silver, Gold and Platinum wanted in coins, bars or jewellery 1117 Ste. Catherine W, Suite 700, Montreal 514-289-9761 carsleys.comrsleys.com PAP-GouvQc-Covid19-SeniorTimes-RepriseActivites-10x14-EN.pdf 1 2020-05-04 10:37 AM C M Y CM MY CY CMY K 2 THE SENIOR TIMES May 2020 theseniortimes.com Canadian scientist, UCLA professor addresses pandemic concerns Irwin Block that there is a significant degree of mutation possible “that is going to have major consequences” The “enemy” currently ravaging the world and presenting a major challenge in developing a taking its heaviest toll among seniors is a tiny vaccine that can control the virus.” organism called a virus. For example, once it entered the market the flu To help understand the nature of the threat, vaccine was only partly helpful because the virus we spoke to William I. Newman, a multi-dimen- had mutated. sional Canadian-born scientist, and professor of But the vaccine against smallpox has been Earth, Planetary, and Space Sciences, Physics and so effective that people for about the past 40 Astronomy, and Mathematics at UCLA. years are no longer being inoculated. (The His published research includes mathema- World Health Organization in mid-April said tical modeling and statistical analysis that is three potential vaccines for COVID-19 were applicable to epidemiology. in early-stage testing, but timelines for when a While he does not perform laboratory-based vaccine becomes widely available are widely research in that field, he has been following closely reported to be 12 to 18 months away.) The some of the science that is essential in tracking situation continues to evolve with large numbers what is known as the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the of agencies and pharmaceutical companies COVID-19 disease it causes, and efforts to control searching to create vaccines and disease treat- its propagation. He urges you to keep up to date ments, but all of this takes substantial time. using authoritative health sources such as www. Why it will take a long time to control it canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coro- Newman cited an observation by German president Angela Merkel, who has a doctorate in navirus-disease-covid-19.html, www.coronavirus. _ gov, and www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/ “We have to be under perpetual guard” Prof. Newman quantum chemistry, that since humans have no index.html, and that you exercise caution when inside the cell’s membrane. They start to multiply immunity to this virus, the only ways to combat it pursuing other information sources. and convert most of it into viruses.” are in developing immunity by contracting it and The nature of the beast “They enter the upper respiratory and gastro- recovering or getting a vaccine. “Viruses are a kingdom, from a biological intestinal tract of mammals and birds, and by While some experts estimate that 40 to 70 perspective, onto their own,” Newman said in compromising especially our pulmonary system, per cent of those who contract the disease are a recent phone interview. “They are extraordi- people could die.” asymptomatic, the only way to find out exactly narily primitive in their structure. They’re based That is why “vigorous” washing of hands is how many have it is to test everyone. on RNA (ribonucleic acid) and very likely the first so important – “it loosely speaking prevents the Of those who do contract the disease and have life on earth had that – a very complex molecule grappling hooks of the coronavirus from attach- symptoms, 80 per cent will find it is very much that is much less complicated than DNA, and is ing to the skin. If you don’t get it on your hands, like an upper respiratory tract infection, a nasty part of most viruses.” and hence your face and into your air stream, you cold, and get over it, but nearly 20 per cent of that But once they enter the body, they can wreak can prevent contracting it.” portion will have to be admitted to hospital and havoc, as the novel Coronavirus COVID-19 is doing. How is COVID-19 different? survival rates are not especially good once it’s “Because they are so primitive, the moment in COVID-19 is the latest of several viruses, but its critical, Newman said. which they are most successful is when they phys- epidemiology seems to be rather different, Newman “We have to be under perpetual guard and it’s ically attach themselves to ordinary cells,” he said. observed. In the SARS (severe acute respiratory going to take quite a long time to get this under “The coronavirus attaches itself to ACE2, syndrome) virus, as the lungs were attacked, control. Until an effective vaccine is developed molecules in the respiratory tract, and uses that people were symptomatic almost immediately, and becomes universal, it will continue to be out to infect human cells, including our lungs and, and they would instantly withdraw from society of control.” evidently, other organs. Its spherical shape helps and had to be hospitalized very quickly in order Self-distancing must be continued, he stressed. maximize its ability to consume resources and it to survive. They were not mixing with the public. “Self distancing is controlling the rate of people has those grappling hook-like appendages – hence The MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syn- being infected from contact with carriers of the the name corona, Latin for crown – and they attach drome) virus was similar, he said. “The onset of virus. Flattening the curve refers to the rate at themselves readily to human lung cells. symptoms was very fast, and being able to contain which people who are infected is brought down “Once they have made that contact, they are the spread of the disease by identifying the infec- to the rate at which infected people recover. The hooked on and they will penetrate. Once they tion very quickly was one of the key ingredients disease is still present but hospitals hopefully at enter the cell they will cannibalize all of its in stopping its spread. that level are able to manage patient care.” resources, effectively consuming everything With COVID-19, Newman expressed concern Continued on page 4 theseniortimes.com May 2020 THE SENIOR TIMES 3 Re-opening in big cities could be disasterous Continued from page 3 and they remain at a distance of Lack of clean water is the real “I am flabbergasted to see medical six feet or two metres or more, concern in Africa experts such as Dr. Anthony Fauci The problem with that prospect the likelihood of communicating In many parts of Africa and other (head of the National Institute of is that seniors are at greater risk, in the disease from the infected in- developing parts of the world, the lack Allergy and Infectious Diseases) part because the lungs of people over dividual to the susceptible is kept of clean water is a severe problem. being put down by President Trump, 65 are not as resilient. And there are down.” “Of about 7.5 billion people in the who has his own agenda, at his press other risk factors. Premature resumption of social world, over 2 billion go to bed each briefings.” “We have to remain extremely activity, such as re-opening of casinos night without access to potable water, Newman cited Trump promoting vigilant about our social activity in Las Vegas or beaches in Georgia or water that they can use for daily the drug Hydroxychloroquine, with and if both the susceptible and and Florida, “is going to have a hygiene. Without access to clean certain antibiotics, that was effective the infected are wearing masks horrible outcome,” he warned. water, measures to help prevent for malaria to treat the COVID-19, the spread of COVID-19 can be very when the two diseases have no ineffectual. If the inability to maintain resemblance and studies show the good hygiene with clean water is com- drug has no benefit. promised, that is a very real concern.” “In fact it stimulates a significant He recalled that in the aftermath percentage of individuals to have of the Haitian earthquake in 2010, cardiac arrest – it’s killing people.” over 100,000 people died initially His suggestion at a White House from the impact of the earthquake, briefing that “an injection inside” the but over 200,000 died thereafter as human body with a disinfectant like a consequence of cholera and other bleach or Isopropyl alcohol could diseases from a contaminated water help combat the virus was univer- supply and in adequate sewage con- sally denounced by health experts. trol. The entire infrastructure for the “The problem is that some people [email protected] supply of water was destroyed. believe the president, not the experts,” “Cultural influences, whether Newman said. we’re talking about West African For those over 70, “it is essential rituals concerning the passage of to maintain social distancing,” but loved ones, or the lunacy that seems it is important for mental health to to be pervasive in Las Vegas (talk of maintain contact with peers, family Vast Choice of Incontinence Products reopening shuttered casinos) could members, and friends.