
Iris Gorfinkel, M.D.
@DrGorfinkel
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I now post on Bluesky. @DrGorfinkel.bsky.social Family doctor, Researcher. PrimeHealth Research Columnist @CBCRadio @GlobalNewsTo #IG :@dririsgorfinkel_
Joined December 2017
See these?.They're called KOPLIK SPOTS . When MEASLES was endemic, seeing these is what MADE THE DIAGNOSIS. -Inner cheeks/palate.-Appear on Day 2-3 after the fever, runny nose, sore throat & cough.-7 out of 10 people get them.-Still the #1 sign of MEASLES.-ISOLATE & get help
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"COVID has yielded the most stunningly pervasive gaslighting phenomenon in recent history. Willing and eager governments worldwide are abandoning citizens to a debilitating disease by one simple trick. saying it no longer exists.".
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The MOST vulnerable DON'T ask clinicians to mask due to . -Power imbalance w/ health care workers.-Fear of being perceived as 'difficult'.-Personal insecurities. Masks should be MANDATED in healthcare settings with few exceptions .
A plea to maskless health-care workers from vulnerable patients: Mask up😷to protect those at risk, by @broadwaybabyto via @HealthyDebate #COVID19 #disability #ForTinu.
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CONCERNING? Yes.SURPRISING? No. SARS CoV-2 may soon join the ranks of 7 other cancer-causing viruses . including HIV, Hepatitis B & C, HPV, & EBV.
SARS-COV-2 in Colorectal Cancer of IBD Patients. 🔥Small study but with frightening findings! .‼️GI cancers as LC 😷. ➡️The growing incidence of colorectal cancer(CRC) in our patients in the past two years is IMPORTANT. ➡️It has been hypothesized that inflammation related to
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The RISK of LONG COVID ⤴️ with each infection. 13% after 1 infection.23% after 2.37% after 3 . and yet.- RAPID TESTS aren't widely available.-MASKING isn't required in healthcare settings.-AIR FILTRATION is under-utilized.
The risk of long COVID reaches 37% after three infections, according to the INSPQ. Quebec health system is unable to help the growing number of people who have had persistent symptoms for months or even years
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LONG COVID keeps E-X-P-A-N-D-I-N-G . Pink - Symptoms.Blue - Pathology. 🧐 Outstanding graphic from @EricTopol et al
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COVID-19 is now 🇨🇦’s #2 reason .to be hospitalized. Giving birth takes 2 days -Cost $2,600. COVID takes 10 days - Cost $23,000. Ditching masks in hospitals - Cost ???. Ref:
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🐎COVID-19 XBB.1.16 is RAPIDLY spreading. April 1 it was 3% of cases.Now, it's 31% of cases. It's even more CONTAGIOUS . & better at ESCAPING IMMUNITY from both vaccines & previous infections. Ref: Public Health Ontario. Sign and retweet. @DFisman .
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WALKING PNEUMONIA - consider when:.-Cough > 10 days.-Breathes more QUICKLY than usual.-Chest/abdomen HURT from coughing. 🩺 Chest can SOUND CLEAR on examination. needs a chest x-ray to see. 💊 Will NOT respond to AMOXICILLIN. treated with a MACROLIDE (e.g. azithromycin).
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🇨🇦 Hospitals & healthcare facilities should maintain MASKING .Please sign & retweet. @MoriartyLab . via @CdnChange.
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🚨 Big news…. Health Canada has approved the recently updated NOVAVAX.
Health Canada received a submission from Novavax on June 26, 2024. After a thorough scientific review Health Canada has approved the company’s JN.1 Variant vaccine. Learn more: #Covid19
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To the Chief Medical Officer of Ontario:. Medical settings need to be SAFER SPACES for BOTH patients & staff. Masking can't be put on the shoulders of Ontario's MOST VULNERABLE. that's your job. Bring back masks back into healthcare. Signed. @ONThealth @OntariosDoctors.
Yes, we do need to bring back masks in medical settings. Many don’t want to appear disrespectful by asking their health-care workers to mask. Patients have a right to safety in health care facilities. #Opinion
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Just received from Toronto Public Health . 🚨 Updated COVID-19 vaccines will NOT be available until OCTOBER . They’ve been widely available in 🇺🇸 since August 30. WHY the DELAY?. @GovCanHealth @PHAC_GC
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😷 Masks are extremely REASSURING to vulnerable patients .…& an easy way to say, “I care.”. Since requiring them in our clinic .staff absences have PLUMMETED . P.s. Ontario 🇨🇦provides family doctors N95 masks for FREE -No excuses!.
✅NEW TODAY❗️. ✅Nat’l study: MASKING IS NEW INDICATOR OF HEALTHCARE QUALITY‼️.🔗 ✅Pls share❗️. #WearARespirator .@DrWilliamMD @DrGorfinkel @DaliaHasanMD @beansprouts_mom @MamaToronto @elisaperego78 .@ToshiAkima @Billius27 @WesElyMD .@drclairetaylor
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Infuriating !. Ontario's Chief Medical Officer Kieran Moore has DECLINED INTERVIEWS in spite of 1,243 MEASLES CASES in Ontario. SQUANDERING TIME-SENSITIVE OPPORTUNITIES to galvanize, educate, & prevent its spread. WHERE HAS PUBLIC HEALTH GONE ?.
Where is Public Health?.Last week, I was writing about #measles spreading in Ontario and Alberta and the invisibility of public health officials there. CBC News has more on the topic today, including this observation.
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A “spit test” to detect COVID, Flu & RSV. Wish I had these in the office!. Instead were told to SEVERELY LIMIT who gets tested.
SickKids Hospital is expanding a saliva testing program across select Toronto schools, aiming to help limit the spread of COVID-19, the flu and RSV by offering at-home test kits to students and their families.
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“Take a seat. The wait to see the doctor is about an hour.” . The waiting room is packed…few if any are masked. The #1 reason to see a GP is for a respiratory infection. 🤧 Cold viruses, including RSV.🦠 COVID-19.🤒 Influenza .
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I've just CONFIRMED 2 COVID CASES in today's clinic. That's SIGNIFICANT for one G.P. What's especially CONCERNING is that.-Both people had trouble LOCATING tests .-Paxlovid was NOT readily available for the patient at high risk. Please take PRECAUTIONS - it ain't over. 😷.
Canadian COVID Forecast. Jun 22-Jul 5, 2024 . SEVERE: AB, NB, NL, PEI .VERY HIGH: CAN, BC, North, ON, SK.HIGH: MB, NS, QC.MODERATE: none . About 1 in 84 people in Canada are CURRENTLY infected.
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COVID-19 & DIABETES RISK. New LANCET STUDY.- Involved nearly 17 million people.- Risk ⤴️ by 30-50% after COVID-19.- Higher diabetes risk lasted OVER 1 YEAR. CRUCIALLY. "The risk is MARKEDLY LESS in people VACCINATED". @PHAC_GC @GovCanHealth.
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The GAPING HOLE in 🇨🇦 COVID-19 tracking has become LARGER. The Public Health Agency has now STOPPED reporting DEATHS. Ignoring the science will WORSEN OUTCOMES. @GovCanHealth @PHAC_GC .
With the transition of Canadian COVID-19 reporting to the combined respiratory virus dashboard, weekly COVID-19 deaths for Canada are no longer publicly reported by @GovCanHealth . According to the most recent report, participating provinces reported 971 hospitalizations and 131
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Shocker. Ontario TAXES fund a MAP ON WHERE TO BUY BOOZE. So where's the map for. -GP's & Health Teams still taking patients?.-ER's with less then 6-hr waits?.-Specialists with the shortest wait times?.-Urgent elder care & respite?. @fordnation .
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Dear Dr. Kieran Moore:. Repeat infections⤴️the risk of Long COVID, even in people fully vaccinated. Ontario's new Test-to-Treat guideline BLINDS patients & clinicians to the diagnosis. We URGENTLY need MORE TESTS. Signed. @OntarioHealthOH.
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Next week….Ontario’s 58 WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE sites are set to CLOSE . It will be “replaced” by just 4 federal sites. 👉NOT NEARLY ENOUGH to track COVID-19 . We will NOT be SILENCED. @fordnation.
Wastewater surveillance in Ontario is on the brink as protests intensify @egpayne . 🍁 The most important health news, in one place.
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"No big deal" ???. The $225 million spent to get booze on retailers' shelves 1 year earlier could have gone to 6,536 PERSONAL SUPPORT WORKERS to assist Ontario's MOST VULNERABLE x 1 yr. The lack of funding for BASIC home services is a DAILY STRUGGLE for patients & clinicians.
Booze is already widely available. Allowing sales in convenience stores is no big deal. Public health has far more important issues to worry about, by @picardonhealth via @GlobeDebate #alcohol.
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We have just 6 boxes of Rapid COVID tests left .- and that's for TWO family doctors. We're FORCED to RATION TESTING. even though its the STANDARD of CARE. Unbelievable. @ONT_Health
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It's WORSE than I thought.POST-COVID CONDITION - Govt of 🇨🇦 OWN data. 😟1 in 6 adults report SYMPTOMS for >3 mos after their acute infection.😟1 in 2 of them report feeling LIMITED in DAILY activities.😟🇨🇦's MOST vulnerable are WORSE OFF. @a_longhurst .
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Updated COVID-19 vaccines aren’t expected until October . Now ADD EXTRA DELAYS.🚛 1 -2 weeks for DISTRIBUTION .🗓️ 1-2 weeks to get an APPT. 💉2 weeks to develop IMMUNITY . TOTAL 🟰 FAR MORE CASES. Please retweet. @GovCanHealth @PHAC_GC .
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To 🇨🇦Public Health Agency:. The latest COVID vaccines still haven’t been approved even as cases⬆️. Why?.@GovCanHealth says it’s to avoid confusion with newer forms with the same Drug Identification Number. 🚨 Please assign a new DIN. Signed,. @PHAC_GC
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3 REASONS WHY. ONTARIO IS MAKING A MISTAKE IN SCRAPPING 🇨🇦's LARGEST COVID-19 WASTEWATER SURVEILLANCE PROGRAM. 🚨It reveals who's at HIGHEST RISK.🚨It gives ADVANCED WARNING of OUTBREAKS.🚨It checks TREATMENT IMPACT. HUBRIS is RISKY. @fordnation .
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EXCESS 🇨🇦DEATHS have LONG been OVERLOOKED. NOT COUNTING the later ⤴️in diabetes and cardiovascular disease BLINDFOLDS Public Health. A debt of GRATITUDE is owed to Dr. Moriarty 's lab for their untiring work on this. @GovCanHealth @a_longhurst @MoriartyLab @picardonhealth.
@a_longhurst @DrGorfinkel @GovCanHealth has stopped reporting all Covid Hospitalizations and Deaths. It must be challenging to be @ChiefSciCan as Excess Mortality Rates keep climbing due to a mystery virus Public Health is denying is still killing people #bcpoli @TorontoStar
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🇨🇦 BC ditched hospital mask mandates on April 6. Since then. 😨Hospitalizations⤴️ 12 %.💢Outbreaks- Burnaby & Royal Columbian Hospitals.🧸BC Children's asks the sick to delay coming. It's not too late to pivot. Ref: BC Centre for Disease Control.@DrFiliatrault @MLA_Sandhu.
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😷I'm still seeing 3-4 COVID-19 cases each week. Luckily, NONE has recently required hospitalization lately. MASKS are still required in our clinic. 🏥Patients feel safer.🦠Asymptomatic spread.⤵️Risk for the vulnerable .⤵️Staff infections & absenteeism.⤵️Long COVID.
Canadian COVID Forecast Apr 27-May 10, 2024. ONTARIO. MODERATE (no change). About 1 in every 76 people infected. Compared to lowest point of pandemic in Canada:. -Infections ~5X higher.-Long COVID ~5X higher.-Hospitalizations ~4X higher.-Deaths ~1X higher
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Finally. Let’s hope the rest of 🇨🇦 follows.
B.C. reinstates mandatory masking😷in hospitals and care facilities as flu, respiratory illness increase. via @globeandmail @NeglectedNo.
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Repeat, Retweet:. COVID-19 CANNOT be .LEGISLATED OUT of existence. 🇨🇦.
Ontario can’t make COVID disappear by pretending it doesn’t exist @DrGorfinkel . 🍁 The most important health news, in one place.
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The Highly Pathogenic H5N1 Avian Flu virus doesn’t give one HOOT about borders. Aggressive testing & oversight are urgently needed to CONTAIN its spread. Hubris isn’t a public health strategy.
First presumptive human case of #H5N1 #AvianInfluenza acquired in Canada detected in B.C. teen via @globeandmail
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This Toronto GP is seeing a BIG surge in COVID-19. Many patients have…. 🧪TEST fatigue -important to do if you’re seeing a doctor. ✈️ Recent travel .Pearson Airport = MEGA HIGH risk 😷. 🧸 Contact with kids.
In the past couple of months, the vast majority of those who I clinically suspected of having #Covid HAD Covid. It's highly prevalent, so take precautions.
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Today’s on call schedule for urgent care: RESPIRATORY infections are by far the #1 reason . COVID tests are running LOW.…& are now RATIONED to patients. PLAN.We will be purchasing AIR FILTERS for all exam rooms in addition to REQUIRING MASKS when possible
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