COVID-19 travel contingency plan for Canadian

[mshanson3121]

Vaccines are far from being a given like we don’t have a vaccine against common colds, HIV and even Influenza vaccines are seasonal.

They are very certain that there will be an effective vaccine, just not when/what it will look like yet. We have no vaccine for colds, because we don't need one. Colds do not cause severe illness or have any risk of death. HIV is a completely different ballgame. Influenza vaccines are seasonal because they are so widespread, they mutate rapidly, thus make it necessary for seasonal vaccines based on what strains they think are circulating. So far, Covid while it has mutated, hasn't been shown to mutate as rapidly as influenza. But yes, there's a chance Covid might need to be a seasonal vaccine. Oh well - that would still be better than no vaccine. And, as we're now learning, many vaccines wear off over time and have to be rea-dministered - Measles, Pertussis, Tetanus etc... so it's not that big of a deal, really.

 

[damo]

Runny nose and itchy eyes are not symptoms of covid-19. Regular colds caused by covid-19 cousins and allergies are still around!

Unfortunately, there are lots of places saying that a runny nose is a symptom. One place is the Mayo Clinic....

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 may appear two to 14 days after exposure and can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Other symptoms can include:

• Tiredness
• Aches
• Runny nose
• Sore throat

I keep thinking if a runny nose and sore throat are symptoms, I've had the virus off and on since about last November, lol.

 

[mshanson3121]

Cases will increase dramatically over the next week or two. That is expected. It’s what happen after that will be important for how long we will be stuck at home. Right now we are NOT trying to prevent all infections like they successfully did for SARS in Toronto, we are stretching when people will get infected so our health system can respond to the demand without being overwhelmed like in Italy and to buy us time to find treatment (many are currently in clinical trials).

For current issues with vaccine development for COVID-19, this article in the prestigious scientific journal Nature is interesting and not too difficult to read (all scientists dream of publishing in Nature):

https://www.nature.com/articles/d41...=social&utm_campaign=naturenews&sf231783411=1

Interesting. So, sounds like they're hoping to be in large human trials by next flu season (Nov/Dec-ish?). As much as I want a vaccine, I do have reservations on the fact that they're rushing this through so quickly. IMO, we already have several promising drugs that have already been through safety trials and testing (for their current prescribed usage). Why don't we really push/focus on those, while continuing to work on vaccines, without rushing the safety testing? Even having reliable treatments would go a long way towards helping the next wave.

 

[ottawamom]

I think we are going to be home for a much longer period of time than any of us have anticipated. DS has to go into work today to pick up a Gov't issued cell phone. If they have gone out and purchased those and are issuing them to everyone in the department we're going to be home for a while yet.

 

[damo]

I think we are going to be home for a much longer period of time than any of us have anticipated. DS has to go into work today to pick up a Gov't issued cell phone. If they have gone out and purchased those and are issuing them to everyone in the department we're going to be home for a while yet.

I wouldn't be surprised to see a staggered release.

 

[hdrolfe]

I think we are going to be home for a much longer period of time than any of us have anticipated. DS has to go into work today to pick up a Gov't issued cell phone. If they have gone out and purchased those and are issuing them to everyone in the department we're going to be home for a while yet.

Some government departments all have cellphones rather than desk phones. There was a guy who joined our agency from another department and brought his government issued cellphone, he was quite surprised we didn't issue them and had to return it. He had been using it for everything personal as well so was a bit put out. Most of our buildings are such that cellphones don't work very well so they aren't really used much. Managers and up do get iphones or androids (used to be blackberry) for email and emergency purposes though.

However, I do agree this will be longer than the 2 more weeks, I am still wondering how long Ontario schools will end up being closed for.

 

[isabellea]

They are very certain that there will be an effective vaccine, just not when/what it will look like yet. We have no vaccine for colds, because we don't need one. Colds do not cause severe illness or have any risk of death. HIV is a completely different ballgame. Influenza vaccines are seasonal because they are so widespread, they mutate rapidly, thus make it necessary for seasonal vaccines based on what strains they think are circulating. So far, Covid while it has mutated, hasn't been shown to mutate as rapidly as influenza. But yes, there's a chance Covid might need to be a seasonal vaccine. Oh well - that would still be better than no vaccine. And, as we're now learning, many vaccines wear off over time and have to be rea-dministered - Measles, Pertussis, Tetanus etc... so it's not that big of a deal, really.

I know all that (I have a MSc in Human Genetics and work in a lab that is currently studying fungal pneumonia but we also published on influenza). Yes many are optimistic we will have a vaccine but I wanted to point out it is NOT a guarantee we will. I personally hope for a treatment that will prevent death and bad sequella more than a vaccine.

Unfortunately, there are lots of places saying that a runny nose is a symptom. One place is the Mayo Clinic....

Signs and symptoms of COVID-19 may appear two to 14 days after exposure and can include:

• Fever
• Cough
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Other symptoms can include:

• Tiredness
• Aches
• Runny nose
• Sore throat

I keep thinking if a runny nose and sore throat are symptoms, I've had the virus off and on since about last November, lol.

Except that having only a runny nose we shouldn’t panic we have Covid-19. Lots more chance you have allergies or a cold. I don’t know about in other provinces but in QC 95% of the tests performed for Covid-19 were negatives and conditions to be tested do not include a runny nose. That shows that most had and will have another respiratory illness/infection. I don’t want to minimize the importance of Covid-19 here (I agree with social distancing and follow our Public Health authority instructions) but I also want to mention that it’s not because all we hear about when turning the tv on is Covid-19, colds and allergies are still around. Influenza too!

Interesting. So, sounds like they're hoping to be in large human trials by next flu season (Nov/Dec-ish?). As much as I want a vaccine, I do have reservations on the fact that they're rushing this through so quickly. IMO, we already have several promising drugs that have already been through safety trials and testing (for their current prescribed usage). Why don't we really push/focus on those, while continuing to work on vaccines, without rushing the safety testing? Even having reliable treatments would go a long way towards helping the next wave.

Luckily, research on both are ongoing. My hopes are more on a treatment than vaccine but the best scenario is definitely both.

 

[ottawamom]

deleted.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

DH starts back to work today at 12pm. He was on vacation during "March Break". He's the one that is the Bell technician, in and out of people's houses all day long. His anxiety was through the roof last night as it was hitting him that his isolation is now done.

This could be just the beginning of it all in our house.

 

[isabellea]

https://www.iflscience.com/health-a...cbG15IxwO4Hy8Vp5LF5usZy1ZF2K3cph3b_lVko_zM3DY

 

[mshanson3121]

Luckily, research on both are ongoing. My hopes are more on a treatment than vaccine but the best scenario is definitely both.

Definitely. I think we're a lot closer to a treatment than we are to a vaccine, currently (and thankfully). And since vaccines aren't 100%, especially the flu vaccine, it's not even close, we'll need a treatment for those for whom the vaccine fails.

 

[isabellea]

DH starts back to work today at 12pm. He was on vacation during "March Break". He's the one that is the Bell technician, in and out of people's houses all day long. His anxiety was through the roof last night as it was hitting him that his isolation is now done.

This could be just the beginning of it all in our house.

Does he have access to hand sanitizer to 'wash' his hands as soon as he exits a house? Not as good as a real hand washing but better than nothing. His #1 challenge will be NOT to touch his face. Hopefully, his 'clients' will stay at least 2m from him while he works.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

@isabellea, yes. I took a pump bottle of sanitizer from my office on Friday for him and I took a bunch of lysol wipes. Hopefully it lasts him a week or two.

 

[damo]

DH starts back to work today at 12pm. He was on vacation during "March Break". He's the one that is the Bell technician, in and out of people's houses all day long. His anxiety was through the roof last night as it was hitting him that his isolation is now done.

This could be just the beginning of it all in our house.

Hugs for you! My DIL is a nurse in a major hospital and is pregnant as well. Lots of anxiety for us too. Thankfully my son can work from home, so their contact with others outside of the hospital setting is minimal.

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

@damo ugh that must be stressful for you all!

We were going to set him up to sleep etc in our rec room, but we decided to just wait after today to see what exactly he's in for. It might not be that bad. I'm sure most people really don't want him there either unless necessary. Internet (and TV to an extent) are considered essential services in order for people to stay connected.

It's interesting to see how this virus is impacting us all in many different ways.

 

[isabellea]

All non-essential businesses are asked to close in QC before tomorrow midnight and until April 13th. Both DH and I are waiting to see if that includes working from home or not. If it does (I work in a research institute and DH works for Hydro-Qc). They are now including probable cases so our number of cases just increased dramatically today. Very happy my friend bought me a big pack of TP at Costco yesterday because I'll try to skip this week for grocery and we were starting to get low on TP.

 

[hdrolfe]

Ontario non-essential services will also be closed (list of what that means to follow). I assume grocery stores will still be open, and I don't want to go there today so hopefully they will be still later this week. I think by Thursday I will need some stuff.

Premiere also said schools will not reopen on April 6 but didn't give a date yet when they will. Fun times... After an epic start to homeschooling the boy has rebelled and said he doesn't care and won't do it any more. We'll see about that! HIs teachers are also supposed to be in touch through his school email to provide updates or something.

I will assume I should still be working from home, since I am "critical services" for the Feds.

 

[bababear_50]

DH starts back to work today at 12pm. He was on vacation during "March Break". He's the one that is the Bell technician, in and out of people's houses all day long. His anxiety was through the roof last night as it was hitting him that his isolation is now done.

This could be just the beginning of it all in our house.

Hi Hon
My sister does home care for elderly people and the company she works for has nothing to offer her,,no gloves ,,no hand sanitizer.
I'm going to tell her to setup a hand washing (two bins soap and water--rinse--dry with paper towels and put in garbage bin in garage) .,,,area in their home garage before she goes into their house and I am giving her my bottle of sanitizer I brought home from work.
We are doing a driveway drop tonight. It won't last long though.

I am worried about her and her family.

Hugs to you
Mel

 

[ilovetotravel1977]

@bababear_50 I had suggested he bring a big thermos jug of warm water and soap and paper towels so he can wash his hands once the sanitizer runs out.

Heck, he isn't even sure where he can stop to use the bathroom as all eateries restaurants are now closed. He said he'll be opening his truck doors and pi$$ing on the side of the road LOL

 

[isabellea]

Another paper about new drug trials:

https://www.sciencemag.org/news/202...dKD8TX5I9o-SmVjMALNZucFmU2osvVkVWu5N70Mo8mpwU

Also a Canadian clinical trial here in Montreal. From an article on Radio-Canada website, it only took 7 days to be approved by Health Canada and to produce 200 000 pills locally. That's why it's so important we keep pharmaceutical companies in the country and not rely on China for everything even if they are cheaper. I also read they hope to recruit 6000 candidates.

https://www.colcorona.org/index.php...ZbLWZnvq7HLDiEXJQN7UNowOp6h_86d7eTpKFPi1N5_tw
Two conclusions can already be made about this pandemic, viruses don't respect borders and neither is scientific collaboration. Usually, labs and research teams compete with each other for the best journals spots. Research is very secretive until publication and it can be pretty cut-throat but I am happy to see most have put their ego and ambition aside and we now have collaboration all over the world.