Thank you for the question.
I think it's all hands on deck in the coming weeks, as we expect a bit of a surge. We have concerns that elderly physicians, out of a sense of social conscience, good citizenship or community spirit, will feel compelled to go back to work. We have to be very clear that it's a choice that depends on one's own personal circumstances and one's own comfort as we get older. I'm 66. As we get a bit older, our exposure is the same but our risk is worse.
We are saying that if you're going to go back, just make sure you understand what you're asking of yourself and your family, because you may end up a fatality, and you have to weigh that up. If you do go back, perhaps it's not on the front lines in the emergency department, but doing something else that is necessary.
Absolutely, the government freeing up the workforce is helpful. Clearly, our residents are concerned that there may be some restrictions on entering practice because of a delay of examinations that needs to be considered. As a matter of fairness, if we are going to recruit foreign doctors, we must then make sure that they have access to working in the Canadian workplace beyond COVID-19.
Yes, I salute the government for that. It is all hands on deck, but we do need to be careful about what we are asking. Linda Silas's comment about personal protection is really important, and we would expect nobody to place themselves in harm's way without adequate protection on the front lines.