Moving forward: Edmonton doctor recalls highs and lows of working during COVID-19
A local doctor who worked in a COVID-19 ICU unit says she and her colleagues are just starting to process how Saturday marks three years since COVID-19 was declared a global pandemic.
On March 11, 2020, after more than 118,000 cases in 114 countries, the World Health Organization characterized COVID-19 as a pandemic.
"It feels like a very long time, but it also feels like yesterday," said Dr. Neeja Bakshi, an internal medicine physician.
The last three years have challenged all medical professionals, Bakshi added, with many just starting to take stock of the pandemic experience.
"It's hard and I think any health-care worker that's gone through the trauma of COVID, I think it's really hard to let it go as well," she said. "I think we're all in that state of mind of is it okay to breathe now?"
Edmonton hospitals no longer have dedicated units for patients with coronavirus. Canada's top doctor Theresa Tam says the virus has reached a relatively stable state, with no new variant-driven waves expected.
"It does feel, I think, for the first time in three years, it really actually feels like something is shifting," Bakshi said. "We still have lots of COVID patients, and I don't think that will ever change, but there is a different feel."
As of Alberta's latest COVID-19 data update on Thursday, 518 people are in hospital with the virus, including 12 in ICU. The last time hospitalizations were that low was back in January 2022.
The Edmonton hospital physician recalled how at the pandemic's peak, she had to deal with multiple patients, capacity challenges and staffing challenges as co-workers fell ill or quarantined themselves.
"I think we're finally in a space where it's time to," Bakshi said, "really face what we saw and what we dealt with.
"Kind of how horrific and how dire the situation actually was; how much death we actually saw… It felt like a warzone."
According to Alberta Health, to date, 5,622 COVID-19-related deaths have been reported.
Bakshi said for many working at hospitals, the intensity and increased pace of work experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, alongside the rollercoaster of different waves, made it the most challenging work experience.
"You remember every patent that you saw, all of the chaos," she told CTV News Edmonton. "I think I've been in survival mode for the last three years, and there's a glimmer of light now.
"To say it's time to get out of that survival mode and try to live on."
Much of the focus has now turned to treating patients with long-COVID symptoms. The waitlist for the specialized clinic in Edmonton is now into August, Bakshi says, which complicates options for care.
"Referrals have not slowed down," she added. "It's been hard because obviously, we don't have a cure yet for long-COVID, but because I've been seeing so many patients, I've been able to learn with these patients."
With files from CTV News Edmonton's Kyra Markov
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.