Border Closed Another 30 Days

[scrappinginontario]

I'm so thankful this agreement was reached and the border will remain closed to non-essential travel.

I believe our countries are handling this virus differently and will lift restrictions at a different rate. I feel (most) Canadians are doing their best to stay home and stop the progress of this terrible disease.

There are still some final approvals required for this to be finalized but hopefully those happen soon.

And, to any of you who may be essential services and crossing the border, THANK YOU for everything you are doing!!!

 

[vegs1]

I am in total agreement with the OP. I’ve been very thankful to be in our beautiful country. We have seen our provincial and federal governments work together like we have never seen. As well, the majority of Canadians are heeding the social distancing orders and staying home. This is our job so that any essential workers can do theirs.

I personally hope the border stays closed for some time to help with our Covid19-19 response.

 

[hdrolfe]

Interesting. I agree both sides of the border are handling this differently. What I think people seem to be forgetting about the flattening of the curve thing, it's not about stopping everyone from getting it, everything I have read said that isn't really possible, it's about slowing down how many people get it at once so the health care providers/hospitals/etc can handle the numbers. I think we have been doing this, and are doing this still of course. Honestly, when a cold or flu goes through an office, school or community, not everyone gets it, some people are better about washing hands, and some people are naturally immune to whatever strain it is, maybe they had it before. In this case, because it's new, no one has that. Yet.

Also interesting article on CBC about an Italian doctor who is saying ventilators may not be the best treatment and that providing oxygen in other ways may be more effect, and less damaging to the lungs (paraphrasing of course). Perhaps there will be other developments in the treatment of this.

I hope things return to a new normal sooner than later, but of course will abide by what we're told to do. While my job is not impacted by this, I can work from home, it is hard on my son, and my own mental health. While I am an introvert who could probably work from home long term if it was an option, doing so while watching my son and not being able to go anywhere is different.

Honestly, even in different provinces it is being handled differently, Ontario schools were to go back May 4th, now saying at least May 14th, Quebec is scheduled to go back May 4th. And their premiere has been saying it could be earlier! While some provinces have said not until September.

I am happy to be in Canada, and that the governments here are managing things well from my perspective, there isn't a whole lot of fighting about it going on, it is rather nice to see them all getting along.

Any way. I am thankful for the workers who are still out there doing their jobs in these times, everyone from Doctors and Nurses to the grocery store workers, and even garbage men. And also that I live here.

I saw a funny video where a women from April 2020 goes back to visit herself in January 2020... how things have changed in just a few short months!

 

[Jrb1979]

I agree with them keeping it closed. Cases in Ontario haven't dropped yet. Its going to be awhile til we are back to normal here. I don't expect Wonderland to open at all this year. Til there is a way to treat this I think some sort of social distancing will be in place.

 

[MamaLema]

I agree with them keeping it closed. Cases in Ontario haven't dropped yet. Its going to be awhile til we are back to normal here. I don't expect Wonderland to open at all this year. Til there is a way to treat this I think some sort of social distancing will be in place.

Wonderland has announced that this years season passes will be valid for whenever they open this year and for 2021
...and I’m so happy about the border decision

 

[ottawamom]

I think even when they do open the border there will still be a self isolation for 14 days upon return. I don't know if the US will do the same going the other way. That should deter a lot of people from making that trip south.

 

[isabellea]

Honestly, even in different provinces it is being handled differently, Ontario schools were to go back May 4th, now saying at least May 14th, Quebec is scheduled to go back May 4th. And their premiere has been saying it could be earlier! While some provinces have said not until September.

I am happy to be in Canada, and that the governments here are managing things well from my perspective, there isn't a whole lot of fighting about it going on, it is rather nice to see them all getting along.

No official back to school date yet for Quebec. May 4th is the date until every non-essential businesses must stay closed. On Tuesday they announced re-opening of 3 sectors for April 15 (nurseries and landscaping companies, residential construction for projects with deliveries dates before July 31st and mining). I would be very surprised if the kids go back to school on May 4th after the reaction the population had after he suggested the schools *could* open earlier than May 4th and since then, he kind of retracted and said no decision was taken. I expect mid-May or early June and that might not be for every regions. Montreal is Canada's biggest hotspot so we might see some restrictions stay longer here while the rest of the province re-opens slowly.

I agree that one of the good thing that happened with this pandemic is the collaboration between the provinces and the federal government. As for the border, I think it's wise to keep them closed for another month. NY is very hot right now and having people going back and forth while we are flattening the curve would have been risky.

 

[dish rag]

We were talking and feel that both sides of the border have handled things pretty much the same with Ottawa about a week behind the US waiting to see how they would handle things and doing the same.

 

[bababear_50]

JMHO (just my honest opinion)
Wise move to keep the border closed at least for another month if not more.

Mel

 

[Donald - my hero]

I'm happy to see the border will be closed for a bit longer but I'm sure not anywhere near as happy as people who live in Windsor. Here's a quote from just ONE article regarding the specific city because a lot of the nursing staff in Detroit actually crosses the border from Windsor. This article is from the New York times it is dated April 10th and was updated on the 15th so the numbers are no longer correct.

"Detroit sits across the Detroit River from Windsor, just a few minutes’ drive by bridge or tunnel. The current outbreak has created an extraordinary contrast, though: In Detroit and its surrounding counties, there are 17,543 Covid-19 cases, and 926 people have died. Across all of Canada, 20,748 people have been infected, and 509 have died.
Metropolitan Detroit, with about 20 times the population of Windsor, has reported about 67 times the number of infections and 132 times the number of deaths. Dr. Ahmed said about a third of Windsor’s infections had been traced to health care workers returning from the United States."

 

[Jrb1979]

I'm happy to see the border will be closed for a bit longer but I'm sure not anywhere near as happy as people who live in Windsor. Here's a quote from just ONE article regarding the specific city because a lot of the nursing staff in Detroit actually crosses the border from Windsor. This article is from the New York times it is dated April 10th and was updated on the 15th so the numbers are no longer correct.

"Detroit sits across the Detroit River from Windsor, just a few minutes’ drive by bridge or tunnel. The current outbreak has created an extraordinary contrast, though: In Detroit and its surrounding counties, there are 17,543 Covid-19 cases, and 926 people have died. Across all of Canada, 20,748 people have been infected, and 509 have died.
Metropolitan Detroit, with about 20 times the population of Windsor, has reported about 67 times the number of infections and 132 times the number of deaths. Dr. Ahmed said about a third of Windsor’s infections had been traced to health care workers returning from the United States."

It is why I fear for them in the U.S. This talk of opening Disney by July scares me. That shouldn't be in the conversation til cases and deaths start slowing down.

 

[DavidL]

I think that the border should be kept closed until September so that we can get past the summer vacation months. Our family had plans to go to the Maritimes (from Ontario) this summer, and those plans right now have been shelved. Everybody needs to stay home so that the virus can die out. This virus is more serious than many people are taking it to be.

 

[Jrb1979]

I think that the border should be kept closed until September so that we can get past the summer vacation months. Our family had plans to go to the Maritimes (from Ontario) this summer, and those plans right now have been shelved. Everybody needs to stay home so that the virus can die out. This virus is more serious than many people are taking it to be.

I agree. My wife is dealing with this right now. I am taking this very seriously. I'm glad our government is too.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

Keeping it closed makes sure we get our country back to health. Hopefully the US keeps their borders closed to Europe as well.

 

[StarSeven7]

I think that the border should be kept closed until September so that we can get past the summer vacation months. Our family had plans to go to the Maritimes (from Ontario) this summer, and those plans right now have been shelved. Everybody needs to stay home so that the virus can die out. This virus is more serious than many people are taking it to be.

The virus is not going to die out and that has never been the plan. The plan has always been that the virus will spread throughout the population but we need to prevent it from so spreading too quickly so that the hospitals can stay on top of things.