First responders should wear masks

THE EDITOR: I second the Government's decision to cease mask wearing at healthcare facilities despite there being countless covid-positive and other communicable diseases out there. I also agree that the onus is on the healthcare staff to protect themselves.

My concern, however, lies in the stupidity of management at various ambulance services to mandate the transportation of viral patients and relatives without a mask. In our healthcare system, staff are allowed to wear masks as necessary and to request a patient wears a mask based on discretion.

First responders are, however, being told to wear their mask as necessary so as to preserve the image of the profession but ignore proper protocol for patients, risk their lives and expose themselves to not only viral patients, but also their relatives.

This is idealistic I must say. However, is it fair to a first responder and their family to lose days and hours from their job because the same management that requested them to irresponsibly expose themselves is mandating that they not report for duty when experiencing a symptom as minor as sneezing?

Our primary ambulance service is indeed a free-for-all but has it also become a disregard for all? Don't these first responders also have families and dependants? Shouldn't that decision lie in their hands and to their discretion also?

JENIEVE ALEXANDER

via e-mail