The following letter was signed by every doctor currently working in Steinbach:

As a medical community here in Steinbach we are deeply concerned about the COVID-19 situation in our area.

We know we are presently among the hardest hit in Canada, and we envision things getting even worse.

The situation at Bethesda Hospital is dire. As we write this there is an overflowing COVID-19 ward and our Emergency is straining under unsustainable numbers of critically ill COVID-19 patients. Many patients have been transferred to ICU in Winnipeg. Some have died. This is in addition to the ongoing care of PCH residents, cancer, surgical and obstetrical patients and other admissions for medical illnesses.

Our human resources are being stretched to the limit. On the medical floor of Bethesda up to half the nursing staff has at some point in time been unable to work because they have tested positive for COVID-19 or have been a close contact. Countless other support staff and health care workers have been affected. As a medical community, trying to do our best, we know more will die and we are reeling.

We cannot rely solely on the government or the local health care providers to solve this healthcare crisis. Community support is critical as we continue this daunting task. We need to stay focused not just on headlines but on the individual lives that are impacted.

We need this community, our community, to take public health guidelines seriously. We need people to stay home when ill, even if symptoms are mild. We need to reduce social contacts to household members and we especially need to accept the necessity of wearing masks.

Following public health guidelines is not a statement against freedom or faith, nor does it align science against faith. Following public health guidelines should be the partnership of an active faith community with an active medical community. We are calling on all of our citizens. We especially value the leadership of the faith community as we love our neighbours by caring for the most vulnerable in our midst.

We are asking that our patients and our fellow citizens accept a lesser amount of hardship now to avoid what could be unimaginable hardship in the future. We can change the course of this pandemic, but it will take community support. It will take a healthy medical community and it will take an acceptance of and an adherence to public health guidelines.

This is not a time for fear, blame, or indifference. This is a time for us to act together.

Thank you for your partnership. Signed, 

  • Dr Jessica Allen
  • Dr Jennifer Anderson
  • Dr Alicia Barnard
  • Dr Jayson Barkman
  • Dr Cal Bergen
  • Dr Erica Blad
  • Dr Harold Booy
  • Dr Karen Bullock Pries
  • Dr Matthieu Cooney
  • Dr Ryan Dale
  • Dr James Denis
  • Dr Chris Dubiel
  • Dr Aaron Dubyna
  • Dr Mark Duerksen
  • Dr Gordon Dyck
  • Dr Neala Dyck
  • Dr Daniel Fama
  • Dr Paul Foster
  • Dr Paul Galessiere
  • Dr Sule Garba
  • Dr Tesfay Ghebray
  • Dr Remy-Martin Gratton
  • Dr Steven Gray
  • Dr Lindsay Guenther
  • Dr Kelsey Hawryluk
  • Dr Tim Hiebert
  • Dr Holly Hurst
  • Dr Mark Hoff
  • Dr Dan Ilchyna
  • Dr David Janz
  • Dr Gary Jawanda
  • Dr Wilfried Kaethler
  • Dr Edward Keeper
  • Dr Samantha Kimelman
  • Dr Brady Kornelson
  • Dr Curtis Krahn
  • Dr Karen Kwok
  • Dr Greg Longbottom
  • Dr James Lytwyn
  • Dr Aaron MacAuley
  • Dr Christo Minnaar
  • Dr Lionel Mokate
  • Dr Brady Murphy
  • Dr Tai Nguyen
  • Dr Dennis Paige
  • Dr Brittany Penner
  • Dr Nicole Porath
  • Dr Luzelle Pretorius
  • Dr Jennifer Preun
  • Dr Carmel Razzaghi
  • Dr Adrian Rozbacher
  • Dr Darren Reimer
  • Dr Monty Singh
  • Dr Myron Thiessen
  • Dr Alexa Toop
  • Dr Karen Toews
  • Dr Hang Trinh
  • Dr Mark Vendremelli
  • Dr Ray Warkentin
  • Dr Hillary Widdifield
  • Dr Eric Xu