One impact of COVID that we don’t talk about enough is how people are avoiding medical care because of lack of precautions like masking in healthcare settings. This doesn’t show up as COVID deaths or hospitalizations but delays in screening, diagnosis, and treatment increases the mortality rate of other diseases like cancer.
@luckytran Another is a drop in blood donations. Turns out a lot of people who had been regular donors won't go in without masking policies. They say if the blood donation places would have, say, 1 day or 1/2 a day a week with masking they would go in to donate.
@luckytran that would be me and my husband both. Dental care is another area I (we) have been avoiding...at least I can mask everywhere else, but you can't at the dentist. I have so much work that needs to be done.
@luckytran And also the lack of precautions in transportation to get to wherever their healthcare is.
Someone I know was only able to travel safely to the Mayo Clinic for cancer treatment in 2022 because a friend of a friend has a hobby plane and did not mind flying them over after commercial flights stopped requiring masks.
@luckytran Am in that situation right now. Trying to decide if I cancel an appointment because both doctor and #hospital refuse to say masking will be used because “it’s not required, you can wear your own” and “you can cancel if you want - it’s your choice”. Some choice. Give up #care or go and risk life-threatening #nosocomial infection. Level of ignorance in medical staff & med admin is astounding. #covid
@luckytran since the start of the pandemic i haven't had a dentist's appointment because it wouldn't be safe for me to take off my mask to have my teeth cleaned
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