by: taylor campbell
escalating threats made to local health unit and hospital staff in recent weeks, including death threats to windsor regional hospital ceo david musyj, have prompted pleas for kindness.
windsor-essex county health unit ceo nicole dupuis on wednesday said her staff have been receiving combative phone calls, emails, and social media comments since the pandemic’s onset. however, messages have become particularly hostile since proof of covid-19 vaccination requirements came into effect across ontario on sept. 22.
“please remember that the public health staff that you interact with are fulfilling their duties and service in the interest of the health of our community,” dupuis said.
over the past few weeks, the language used towards health unit personnel has “crossed the line at times to threats and abuse, sometimes threats of physical violence.” staff operating vaccination clinics have been met by protesters, and tobacco and vaping enforcement officers who evaluate businesses for compliance with pandemic rules at times face “significant aggression.”
police have been called to investigate some incidents, dupuis said. no health unit staff have been physically injured, but “personal attacks and language that’s abusive and threatening injures, just in a different way.” public interactions with the health unit’s social media posts became so nasty that the organization closed its comment sections.