Blog

On the 10th anniversary of SARS

03 May 2013

A very sad anniversary was marked recently. It was ten years ago that severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) first appeared in Toronto. From February 23, 2003, to June 7, 2003, 387 people in Toronto were infected with SARS and 44 of them died. On April 23, 2003 the World Health Organization issued a travel advisory for Toronto. Unfortunately, Local 79’s member Nelia Laroza, who was a nurse at North York General and a Local 79 member who was also a nurse at Bridgepoint Hospital, contracted SARS while caring for patients at North York General and died as a result. At this time we remember Nelia with admiration as a worker who continued providing care, despite knowing the health risks, and paid the ultimate price looking after citizens of Toronto. Many health care professionals risked their lives to care for residents of our City during the SARS outbreak.

We acknowledge all Local 79 members who were working in the City of Toronto, Toronto Community Housing Corporation (TCHC), and Bridgepoint Hospital, serving the public, during that stressful time.

According to The SARS Commission Interim Report – SARS and Public Health in Ontario, Toronto Public Health, which had the majority of the SARS cases, shouldered a staggering workload which included :

  • Approximately 2,000 case investigations. Each took an average of nine hours to complete.
  • More than 23,000 people identified as contacts.
  • Of these, 13,374 placed in quarantine.
  • More than 200 staff working on the SARS hotline.
  • Over 300,000 calls received on the hotline.
  • On the highest single day, 47,567 calls.

Local 79 continues to emphasize to the City, TCHC and Bridgepoint Hospital the need for all workers to be protected at the highest level possible in the event of any infectious outbreak.