Edmonton nurses defy order to resume COVID-19 testing without N95 masks

A dozen Edmonton nurses have defied an order by Alberta Health Services (AHS) to resume testingfor the coronavirus without N95 masks.

Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) confirmed Monday it has launched an investigation after nurses filed a complaint.

It's the latest development inan ongoing dispute after CBC revealed roughly 30 nurses stopped testing for COVID-19.

• Edmonton nurses refuse to perform COVID-19 swabs without N95 masks

AHS investigated anddetermined the work was safe.

But nearly half the nurses ordered to start testing again are refusing, said Sandi Johnson, vice president of Edmonton's local chapter of the United Nurses of Alberta (UNA).

"They're disheartened," said Johnson. "They're feeling that they're not being heard."

Tests for COVID-19 are conducted usinga nasopharyngeal swab that collectssamples from the back of thenose and throat.

AHS and the UNA disagree on the protective gear required to conduct the test.AHSsaysthe more loosely fitting surgical masks areappropriate but the union argues a higher standard is neededbecause scientific evidence around transmission is not conclusive.

According to AHS, COVID-19 is known to be transmitted by droplet through contact with nasal and oral secretions.

Alberta's guidelines are the known best practice to protect against droplet transmission, the health authority says.

The position of AHS follows the guidelines of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), theWorld Health Organization and provinces across the country.

"AHS has not changed its [personal protection equipment]standards and expects all staff to comply with those standards," Williamson said in an email on Monday.

In contrast, the UNA's position is in line with the Canadian Federation of Nurses Unions, the U.S. Centres for Disease Control and the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

"There is conflicting scientific evidence in terms of whether or not COVID-19is airborne and for how long," said Heather Smith, president of the UNA, adding that the swab tends to trigger a cough or sneeze.

"We say in that case, one should always be erring on the side of highest possible precautions."

Smith saida nurse's clinical judgment should be respected "andif in her or his clinical judgment an N95 is warranted then it should not be denied."

PHAC guidelines also recommend nurses do a risk assessment that includes personal protective equipmentto evaluate likelihood of exposure, Johnson noted.

Nurses perform alternate work

Brittany Baltimore, press secretary to Labour and Immigration Minister Jason Copping, said a worker who files a complaint may continue to refuse to perform tasks of concern.

"The OHS legislation allows the employer to assign the nurses temporarily to alternate work," Baltimore said.

The recommendation to use surgical masks rather than N95 masks may be a practical necessity, but itis not based on science indicating that surgical masks provide good protection.- Anice Lowen, influenza virologist

Little research has been done on the transmission of the agent that causes COVID-19 because it is "a very new human pathogen," said Anice Lowen, an influenza virologist at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

"As a consequence, the recommendation to use surgical masks rather than N95 masks may be a practical necessity, but it is not based on science indicating that surgical masks provide good protection."

Lowen, a former Edmontonian, is the principal scientist at the Lowen Lab, where she studiesinfluenza virus evolution and transmission.

In an email, Lowen said to determinewhich mask is needed,scientists would first need to understand if the virus can transmit over a short distance via an aerosol route.

She said aerosols are made up of small droplets that are not effectively blocked by standard surgical masks. And while evidence suggests aerosol does not transmit morethan a metre, the "short-range aerosol spread remains unknown."

"We do know that small droplet aerosols are released when humans breathe, speak and cough," Lowen wrote.

"The nurses doing swabbing are in a relatively vulnerable position because any infectious aerosols generated from a patient would not be diluted through time and space prior to reaching the nurse."

• Ottawa unveils plan to harness industry to ramp up production of COVID-19 medical gear

Last week Ottawa announced a plan to ramp up production of protective gear for health workers.

When asked about a possible shortage of N95 respirators, AHS said the province has an adequate supplythat must be used appropriately to ensure that continues.

The health authority won't say how many N95 masks Alberta has or whether more have been ordered from Ottawa.

The union and AHS will meet on Tuesday.

OHS said the findings of itsinvestigation will be communicated to involved parties involved but didn't provide a timeline.

COVID-19 update for Alberta and Saskatchewan for March 23, 2020

4 years ago

Duration 13:47

The latest on the COVID-19 pandemic from Edmonton, Calgary and Saskatchewan.