Heather "ElbowsUp" Hanwell
LightNews LightNews
banner
drhanwell.bsky.social
Heather "ElbowsUp" Hanwell
@drhanwell.bsky.social
790 followers 770 following 310 posts
🌾🌈 Canadian Epidemiologist & Human Biologist (esp #Nutrition)
#HealthEquity #PublicHealth #LandBack #CleanTheAir #CovidIsAirborne
Director @ONSchoolSafety.bsky.social
Opinions my own.
Posts Replies Media Videos
drhanwell.bsky.social
A Google lens search produced this which shows only influenza-like illness (ILI) & pneumonia.

I hope to find more figures w old historic avg to see what inferences can be made.
But I’m toast rn. My kiddo brought home ILI from school. She and *many* peers have missed 1-2wks of school due to ILI.
Viral Respiratory Mapper displaying pneumonia and influenza-like illness hospice admissions data from ~Jan 2020 to ~Jan 2022 for ages 0-4 and 5-17 yo. The number of admissions for both age groups is largely below the historic (2015-2019) avg until ~ late March 2022 (coinciding with the revocation of mask mandates in schools).
December 6, 2025 at 4:22 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Also tagging @dgbassani.bsky.social! Any chance you have old snapshots from ACES for *just* influenza-like illness prior to their changing the “historic” baseline?

We’re now at >2 SD above the 2y rolling “historic” baseline which was calculated during years of extremely high rates of illness…😬
Viral Respiratory Mapper -ACES admissions graph demonstrating a spike in Influenza-like hospital admissions in Nov to current early Dec 2025. The current number of admissions is approximately 60 which is more than two standard deviations above the rolling two year average.
December 6, 2025 at 12:00 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Peak Colonialism on Canada Day.

Please see and share Instagram post by @ravendavisart (and offer support) who was injured yesterday by aggressive Toronto police during what had been a #PeacefulRally of #Bill5.

www.instagram.com/p/DLm462hA5Vi/

#KillBill5 #LandBack
Screenshot of black text on light background from Instagram post. “The video is very hard for me to watch and listen to. I am deeply disturbed by the exaggerated, unnecessary, and violent actions by the Toronto Police, the OPP, and special tactical services who defied the right to peaceful protest and committed crimes against us physically and emotionally. I witnessed friends and community members being jumped, struck and arrested by multiple cops. Horses being used to trample over children, animals and elders. No accountability will be had. I have made my profile public for the next 24hrs and kindly ask that you share this post to help get the word out about this bill and the canada day events that didn't make it to the news.”
July 2, 2025 at 5:32 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Meanwhile, a week ago CMOH Moore insisted “schools remain safe”… from the most contagious disease known.

Schools are NOT safe. There was just no proven measles spread at schools YET.

It was always only a matter of time; the Ford gov’t played “covid theatre” instead of truly making schools safer.
May 17, 2025 at 2:16 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
I know I shouldn’t have but….
AI-generated image of a greyish silver cybertruck-like Popemobile. There is a small gold cross on the driver’s door and it is parked in front of the White House. It is driven by someone in a black suit that bears a strong resemblance to Elon Musk. The “Pope” in the back seat is an orange-faced man with tiny hands who bears an extremely strong resemblance to Donald Trump. Both men are smirking at the camera/viewer.
April 30, 2025 at 9:03 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Updated Preliminary Results

Liberal Bruce Fanjoy 38,219
Conservative Pierre Poilievre 35,640
Updated preliminary results of voting on Carleton Liberal Bruce Fanjoy, 38,219 Conservative Pierre Poilievre 35,640
April 29, 2025 at 7:07 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Updated Preliminary Results

Liberal Bruce Fanjoy 36,926
Conservative Pierre Poilievre 34,605
Preliminary Voting Results Liberal, Bruce Fanjoy 36,926 Conservative, Pierre Poilievre 34,605
April 29, 2025 at 6:56 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Updated Preliminary Results

Liberal Bruce Fanjoy 35,222 votes

Conservative Pierre Poilievre, 32,882 votes
Updated preliminary results: Liberal, Bruce Fanjoy 35,222 votes Conservative, Pierre Poilievre 32,882 votes
April 29, 2025 at 6:47 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
🤞🤞🤞
Updated version of screenshot from first post. Still Preliminary Results. Liberal, Bruce Fanjoy with 34,242 Conservative,Pierre Poilievre, with 31,741
April 29, 2025 at 6:40 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Neck and neck but Liberal candidate Bruce Fanjoy still in the lead against Pierre Poilievre.

I’m sure I’m not the only one oping that this will be end of Pierre representing Carleton as their MPP. Such a nasty, fearful, bigoted, rage-baiting populist politician. Hope he gets some serious help.
Screenshot of Elections Canada Preliminary Voting Results for Carleton Results are in a table with three rows: Party, Candidate, Votes Liberal, Bruce Fanjoy , 31,463 Conservative, Pierre Poilievre, 29,713 NDP-New Democratic Party, Beth Prokaska, 951 Green Party, Mark Watson, 422
April 29, 2025 at 6:35 AM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Yes!

I grew up north of Thunder Bay where there aren’t nearly as many spring flowers and blossoms as there are in southern Ontario. Even though I’ve lived in the GTA for ~20y, I still can’t help but marvel at the beauty of all the trees, shrubs and flowers in bloom in spring. 😍
Photo of little clusters of purple, yellow, and white spring flowers.
April 26, 2025 at 7:26 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
RIP Fatma Hassona

”If I die, I want it to be a thunderous death. I don’t want to be noted in breaking news, or as a number among a group. I want the whole world to hear of my death. I want it to have an impact that doesn’t wane through time. I want images that can’t be buried in space or time.”
A two panel photo with words overlaid. The top panel shows the back of a man wearing a keffiyeh standing with a woman in a cream coloured hijab looking out over destroyed buildings in Gaza. The second panel shows some people in a refugee camp of white tents. A child stands facing the camera with a beat up translucent plastic water jug at his feet. The words over the first panel say “Israel has killed over 200 journalists in Gaza.” Over the second panel, “It is the deadliest conflict for media workers ever recorded” In small print at the bottom left, “ Source: Watson Institute” @fatma_hassona Photo of a woman wearing white and black patterned hijab and black clothes holding a large camera while crouched amidst the dark ruins of a building. Yellow text on black background says “This is Fatima Hassona, a photojournalist who documented the genocide in Gaza.” Black text on yellow says “Israel killed her.” Photo with a large translucent text box overlaid. A woman looks up at the sky. She is wearing a white and black patterned hijab and black clothing while holding a large camera in one hand. She stands amidst dark black and grey ruins of a building. The translucent white text box with black text presents a quote and attributes it to her, “Fatma Hassona, August 2024”: “If I die, I want it to be a thunderous death. I don’t want to be noted in breaking news, or as a number among a group. I want the whole world to hear of my death. I want it to have an impact that doesn’t wane through time. I want images that can’t be buried in space or time.”
April 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
My kiddo took home a gold medal from a tournament in Ottawa this weekend and I took home these pics from the #MarchOnOttawa.

Canada is on the wrong side of history by not taking a stronger stance against Israel’s war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide of Palestinians.
#FreePalestine
Screenshot from the Jewish Antizionist Network. Block text “Ottawa: Over 30,000 March for Gaza” over photo of a very large crowd filling up the width of an urban street. Palestinian flags, signs and keffiyehs can be seen in the crowd A person wearing a keffiyeh and mask stands on an urban street holding a sign that says “Israel has murdered more journalists than any ‘conflict’ in human history. Two people stand amidst a crowd on an urban street holding signs that read “GENOCIDE IS NOT SELF DEFENCE” and “TO STAND WITH PALESTINE IS TO STAND WITH HUMANITY”. They are both wearing keffiyehs and colours of the Palestinian flag. Photo of crowd participating in the March. A sign in the centre of the photo reads “First they came for the Pro-Palestinian… and did you speak out? No, Your Passivity + Indifference during a Genocide is Complicity!” Keffiyehs and Palestinian flags are prominent in the crowd.
April 14, 2025 at 2:59 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Just received notice that my pre-order of Jewish author #SimKern's new book #GenocideBad has been fulfilled and delivery is expected for late April.

Despite the heavy topic, I'm excited to receive and read it & I encourage others to consider ordering it!
www.simonandschuster.ca/books/Genoci...
A book cover with white block letters on an orange background that has blueprints for what appears to be a drone or some kind of weapon. The main title in large letters is “GENOCIDE BAD.” and in smaller block letters, the subtitle is “NOTES ON PALESTINE, JEWISH HISTORY, AND COLLECTIVE LIBERATION”. At the bottom is the author name "Sim Kern" and “Bestselling author of THE FREE PEOPLE’S VILLAGE".
March 26, 2025 at 4:53 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
#Caturday got me thinking about sharing pics of my #rabbits (aka The Buns) tomorrow under the hashtag #Bunday. Looked up the hashtag feed and, predictably, it's a mix of 🐇 and 🍑. 🤭🙃

So... here's Ryley. This chill dude loves hay, treats, and pettin sessions and he hates car rides & nail trims.
A sandy grey rabbit lays stretched out on a greyish carpet with at least one for visible. His ears are slightly perked up and his front paws just peak out from under his dewlap.
March 22, 2025 at 6:51 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
As a rabbit owner, I appreciate your use of the term crepuscular.

Pic below of the buns, with one demonstrating said crepuscularity by snoozing in the sun. He's dreaming of Trump ending the obscene war on trade, trans folks, Palestinians, & anything/anyone Trump decides isn't amurrrican enough.
Sandy coloured short hair rabbit lays on a carpet with legs splayed to one side and eyes nearly closed. A wary dark grey lionhead rabbit with a white nose and white highlighting around the eyes lurks in the background with eyes open.
March 12, 2025 at 1:54 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
30 mins later with just one window cracked, the CO2 is still in the red, at 2797 ppm.

The lack of ventilation and air filtration on school buses represents a critical sort of Achilles Heel for public health re: disease transmission.

Investments desperately needed in school bus health & safety.
Aranet4 CO2 monitor reads 2797. This reading is in "Red" on the Green,Yellow and Red air quality scale. The Aranet4 is held by a child's hand with back of a dusty blue-grey school bus seat in the background.
February 21, 2025 at 6:59 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
This is what you get on Ontario's school buses in winter: CO2 is >5000 ppm.

This is objectively disgusting.

15 mins after cracking a window, the CO2 was 4000 ppm — still awful.

At these levels, approx 1 in 10 breaths is 100% air that has already been in someone's lungs.
Photo of a child's hand holding an Aranet4 CO2 monitor that reads 5145 ppm. The Green, Yellow, Red indicator of air quality is in the Red. In thin black writing over the top of the photo, it says, "Uhh...".
February 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
"A group of prisoners wearing the Star of David in a concentration camp. What happened to “never again”?"
Screenshot of tweet from Aidan Simardone: "A group of prisoners wearing the Star of David in a concentration camp. What happened to “never again”?" He is quote tweeting from The Cradle. The Cradle tweet says "The Israeli Prison Service dresses Palestinian prisoners in clothes bearing the Star of David symbol and the phrase "We do not forget and we do not forgive.”" Attached is a photo of a prison yard with rows of men standing wearing white shirt with a blue star of David and other things that are difficult to make out.
February 16, 2025 at 5:54 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
The CO2 keeps rising in the gym at my daughter's tournament (it's 1189 PPM a few mins after pic)... And so many wet coughs 🫠.

Underventilated = unhealthy.

What does #FordNation have to show for pandemic spending on schools? Still too many underventilated schools promoting the spread of disease.
Photo of Aranet4 CO2 meter on the edge of a state in a gymnasium. It reads 1194 PPM and indicates a "yellow" in the "green, yellow, red scale".
January 15, 2025 at 10:05 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Free PCR tests also not accessible for most of province. Nearest PCR test location is >835 kms (519 miles) from my hometown!

Access to free testing is critical for #HealthEquity, etc. High risk individuals deserve access to free tests.

No test = no access to paxlovid, no clue if contagious, etc.
Screenshot of Ontario gov't website showing that the nearest PCR testing location to Keewatin(Kenora, postal code P0X1CO), is 835.8 kms away at a Shoppers Drug Mart in Sault Ste Marie. The screenshot has been edited with yellow highlighting and red underlining to emphasize the distance of 835.8 kms.
January 8, 2025 at 4:35 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
Same.
I just screenshotted the exchange plus a great response to Elon’s abhorrent tweet that pointed out that Elon had recently implored people to post more beautiful, positive content 🫠
Screen cap of Twitter thread from Jan 6 where on Jan 5, Elon Musk responded to a Jan 5 tweet by Joni Askola accusing Elon of spreading disinformation by saying “f u retard”. Kaylan_TX responded to Elon’s tweet saying “Hang it in the Louvre” in reference to a screenshot of Elon’s Dec 29 tweet that said “Please post a bit more positive, beautiful or informative content on this platform”.
January 6, 2025 at 4:09 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
The cover of the "Best Practices" doc re: Respiratory Infections highlight the lungs. Hard to fathom how this field is still stuck in the dark ages of droplet dogma for respiratory infections.

Likely both the glacial pace of #KT in Medicine but also the refusal to include expertise beyond Medicine.
Cover of Public Health Ontario's "Best Practices for the Prevention of Acute Respiratory Infection Transmission in All Health Care Settings" October 2024. First Revision: December 2024. By PIDAC IPAC - Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee. There is a bluish-grey image with white hexagons containing white iconography such as text speech bubbles, calendars, the medical cross, chemistry vials, an atom, etc. An icon of a set of human lungs is emphasized by being much larger than others and also having a spotlight behind it.
December 8, 2024 at 9:46 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
"Lake Effect" 😍
~2h north of Toronto
🌨️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️🌨️
Very snowy winter scene. The snow is well over a foot high on the rooftop of a building in the foreground. The rest of the scene is primarily coniferous trees laden with snow. The sky is white and some falling snowflakes are visible. The top half of a Muskoka chair laden with more than a foot of snow is in the background.
November 30, 2024 at 1:45 PM
drhanwell.bsky.social
😱
Anyone else think that Ontario’s students and education workers deserve better air quality in schools and on school buses?

@onschoolsafety.bsky.social

vm.tiktok.com/ZMhTQR8Ew/
November 27, 2024 at 5:21 PM