Laurie Edmiston: The COVID-19 pandemic is threatening an HIV resurgence

published on November 16, 2020 by Laurie Edmiston, in The Georgia Straight

Scientists projected that available treatments would eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030—then COVID-19 happened

This year was supposed to be the year we took control of the HIV epidemic.

Four years ago, governments around the world—including Canada—committed to achieving three targets: 90 percent of people with HIV diagnosed; 90 percent of those diagnosed on treatment; and 90 percent of those on treatment managing to suppress the virus to undetectable levels.

Since available treatments now eliminate the risk of passing HIV on to a sexual partner, scientists projected that meeting these targets by 2020 would eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. Then COVID-19 happened.

You might think that physical distancing measures to protect us from COVID-19 would similarly limit opportunities to transmit HIV. However, the reality on the ground is not so straightforward.

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(Please do not use any of these email addresses to send personal information or book an appointment. To book appointments or contact the H2H clinic, please call 604-416-1517 or fax: 604-564-4893. Do not send your or your client's personal information via email.)

© Copyright BC Centre for Excellence in HIV/AIDS
St. Paul's Hospital 608–1081 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6Z 1Y6
Tel: 604-806-8477 | Fax: 604-806-9044
General inquiries: info@bccfe.ca
Media inquiries: communications@bccfe.ca
(Please do not use any of these email addresses to send personal information or book an appointment. To book appointments or contact the H2H clinic, please call 604-416-1517 or fax: 604-564-4893. Do not send your or your client's personal information via email.)

Our work serves clients and communities across British Columbia on lands and waters cared for and nurtured by the many distinct First Nations across the province. The BC-CfE humbly and gratefully acknowledge the stewards of these lands, particularly the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish), and səl̓ílwətaʔ (Tsleil-Waututh) on whose unceded, traditional and ancestral territories our offices are located.