Covid And The Rest of Us

[ronandannette]

Canadian public health agency says all who want the vaccine will be able to get it by September. I am not sure whether that will mean things open up this summer more or not, I keep hearing masks will still be required so who knows.

Quebec has announced big lockdowns for two weeks after Christmas. Work from home for office workers, closing all non-essential businesses, elementary schools will have a week of learning from home (after their holidays), closing all bars and restaurants. Their numbers have been getting worse so a strict lock down it is. I live in Ottawa which is across the river from Quebec and wonder if they will close the bridges to non-essential travel as they did in March/April. It is tricky with people living in two different provinces so close together, some of my colleagues live in Quebec. We are all working from home now, and at least until the end of June, so it's no change there.

Masks are practically a non-issue now; who even notices them anymore? But I pray daily that vaccination rates are NOT what makes-or-breaks re-opening. As cases begin to come down (which I'm sure they eventually must under the current circumstances) back to the levels they were last June/July, I will be extremely upset if things don't then re-open and be even more "open" than last summer. The uptake of vaccines should definitely help with this.

We're really in a pickle now in the US. California alone today has nearly 60,000 cases. Over 3,500 deaths. And here in NJ, more and more people are getting sick...closer and closer in my own circle of friends and family. Stay safe everyone.

California is of particular interest to me as I have visited many times and note with interest that including LA, San Diego and the counties in between, there are more people than in the entire country of Canada. You sure have not done very well, have you? I'm sorry to hear it. Over 3 times the amount of cases and almost twice the number of deaths as all of Canada combined. I must attribute some of it to the density of the population.

 

[Jrb1979]

Masks are practically a non-issue now; who even notices them anymore? But I pray daily that vaccination rates are NOT what makes-or-breaks re-opening. As cases begin to come down (which I'm sure they eventually must under the current circumstances) back to the levels they were last June/July, I will be extremely upset if things don't then re-open and be even more "open" than last summer. The uptake of vaccines should definitely help with this.

"Ontario to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, those without may face restrictions - The Globe and Mail" https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp...of-of-covid-19-vaccination-those-without-may/

While things may be more open then last summer. Especially if they do go the route of people not being vaccinated being restricted in doing things.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

"Ontario to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, those without may face restrictions - The Globe and Mail" https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp...of-of-covid-19-vaccination-those-without-may/

While things may be more open then last summer. Especially if they do go the route of people not being vaccinated being restricted in doing things.

I know you posted this before but that says: "could eventually be restricted for those who opt not to get immunized." It's talking about when the vaccine is widely available. From what I was interpreting the PP was talking about the level of restrictions done to slow the spread basing it off of case amounts. At least to me you're not talking about the same thing as the PP is talking about.

 

[ronandannette]

"Ontario to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination, those without may face restrictions - The Globe and Mail" https://www.theglobeandmail.com/amp...of-of-covid-19-vaccination-those-without-may/

While things may be more open then last summer. Especially if they do go the route of people not being vaccinated being restricted in doing things.

ETA: I agree with @Mackenzie Click-Mickelson - it's not really what I meant. Things need to open back up when cases drop. I won't debate whether or not access should be restricted based on vaccination status.

 

[bcla]

California is of particular interest to me as I have visited many times and note with interest that including LA, San Diego and the counties in between, there are more people than in the entire country of Canada. You sure have not done very well, have you? I'm sorry to hear it. Over 3 times the amount of cases and almost twice the number of deaths as all of Canada combined. I must attribute some of it to the density of the population.

Just one thing. There's basically only Orange County between LA and San Diego Counties. But of course I understand what you're getting at.

I don't think density is necessarily the issue. Most of California's population is centered around major metro areas, just like in Canada. While there is a lot of cooperation, there are quite a few who think it's their right to resist.

As far as masks go, they're still going to be useful. I don't know if it'll ever get to the point where we stop wearing them within the next year. I've been to Asia where people wore masks because of various viral illnesses that spread around like avian flu.

 

[Jrb1979]

ETA: I agree with @Mackenzie Click-Mickelson - it's not really what I meant. Things need to open back up when cases drop. I won't debate whether or not access should be restricted based on vaccination status.

I disagree based on a study Stanford did. Til the vaccine is readily available to everyone, businesses should be kept at 20% capacity once cases go down.
That way it keeps the spread from rising again.

"Opinion | The Magic Number for Reducing Infections and Keeping Businesses Open - The New York Times" https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/16/opinion/coronavirus-shutdown-strategies.html

 

[ronandannette]

I disagree based on a study Stanford did. Til the vaccine is readily available to everyone, businesses should be kept at 20% capacity once cases go down.
That way it keeps the spread from rising again.

"Opinion | The Magic Number for Reducing Infections and Keeping Businesses Open - The New York Times" https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/12/16/opinion/coronavirus-shutdown-strategies.html

No problem if you want to split hairs, but 20% capacity is an entirely different scenario than complete shut-down like we are in now. And by "even more open" I am referring to things that never came back like sporting events, performances, festivals, public hot tubs, etc.

 

[Jrb1979]

No problem if you want to split hairs, but 20% capacity is an entirely different scenario than complete shut-down like we are in now. And by "even more open" I am referring to things that never came back like sporting events, performances, festivals, public hot tubs, etc.

I personally don't think some of those things do come back til the vaccine is readily available. I don't see concerts, festivals or public hot tubs back til after. Even if cases are down we still have to limit social interactions til majority of people get the vaccine. IMO next summer will be very similar to this past summer.

 

[ronandannette]

I personally don't think some of those things do come back til the vaccine is readily available. I don't see concerts, festivals or public hot tubs back til after. Even if cases are down we still have to limit social interactions til majority of people get the vaccine. IMO next summer will be very similar to this past summer.

Why? The goal is to ensure our health care resources aren't overwhelmed NOT to achieve an arbitrary number of cases.

 

[Jrb1979]

Why? The goal is to ensure our health care resources aren't overwhelmed NOT to achieve an arbitrary number of cases.

Til the vaccine is readily available nothing changes in regards to how Covid spreads or with Covid still here This past summer cases were low and restrictions were in place. There is no difference next summer unless the vaccine is readily available.

 

[kyton]

Just goes to show how insidious Covid is - here in NSW, Australia we had had no local cases for a couple of weeks then bam, yesterday a bus driver who ferries international flight staff from Sydney airport to their hotel has tested positive. This has sent our government into a plan to discuss locking down / testing all airline staff upon arrival in case it happens again.

Then later the same day 2 people tested positive in another part of Sydney (not known contacts earlier today to the bus driver) which has today turned into 17 cases. Genomic testing is underway to see if the cases are all from the same carrier.

 

[jlwhitney]

Masks are practically a non-issue now; who even notices them anymore? But I pray daily that vaccination rates are NOT what makes-or-breaks re-opening. As cases begin to come down (which I'm sure they eventually must under the current circumstances) back to the levels they were last June/July, I will be extremely upset if things don't then re-open and be even more "open" than last summer. The uptake of vaccines should definitely help with this.

Masks are still very much an issue and I know many that have now said they won't bother with the vaccine anytime soon since they lost any hope for restrictions to go away anytime soon or even during 2021, so they would rather wait for more study on the vaccines if nothing is going to change.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Masks are still very much an issue and I know many that have now said they won't bother with the vaccine anytime soon since they lost any hope for restrictions to go away anytime soon or even during 2021, so they would rather wait for more study on the vaccines if nothing is going to change.

The poster is Canadian so they are giving their viewpoint from that. From the Canadian posters generally speaking masks haven't been as much of an issue as it has been here in the States.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Just goes to show how insidious Covid is - here in NSW, Australia we had had no local cases for a couple of weeks then bam, yesterday a bus driver who ferries international flight staff from Sydney airport to their hotel has tested positive. This has sent our government into a plan to discuss locking down / testing all airline staff upon arrival in case it happens again.

Then later the same day 2 people tested positive in another part of Sydney (not known contacts earlier today to the bus driver) which has today turned into 17 cases. Genomic testing is underway to see if the cases are all from the same carrier.

Ohh I'm sorry to hear about this

Yes this virus just seems to want to stick around. If the information is released about where it's traced to please let us know. I've been quite interested in where the cases have been tracked to there in Australia.

 

[ronandannette]

The poster is Canadian so they are giving their viewpoint from that. From the Canadian posters generally speaking masks haven't been as much of an issue as it has been here in the States.

Yes, just so. Most everywhere has had a formal mask mandate since summer and of course there must be some who don’t comply but it’s a small wing of outliers. There have also been some formal protests but again, small and few and not supported or encouraged in any way by anyone with credibility or authority. Like it or not we just wear the masks and get on with it.

Just goes to show how insidious Covid is - here in NSW, Australia we had had no local cases for a couple of weeks then bam, yesterday a bus driver who ferries international flight staff from Sydney airport to their hotel has tested positive. This has sent our government into a plan to discuss locking down / testing all airline staff upon arrival in case it happens again.

Then later the same day 2 people tested positive in another part of Sydney (not known contacts earlier today to the bus driver) which has today turned into 17 cases. Genomic testing is underway to see if the cases are all from the same carrier.

Oh, I’m sorry to hear but not the slightest surprised, unfortunately. Way back we discussed whether or not zero cases is a sustainable goal and I think clearly the answer is no. I hope this does not result in repeated lockdowns for your country and I suspect now that vaccines are on the way maybe another approach will be chosen.

 

[BadPinkTink]

Masks are practically a non-issue now; who even notices them anymore?

Masks are still very much an issue and I know many that have now said they won't bother with the vaccine anytime soon since they lost any hope for restrictions to go away anytime soon or even during 2021, so they would rather wait for more study on the vaccines if nothing is going to change.

The poster is Canadian so they are giving their viewpoint from that. From the Canadian posters generally speaking masks haven't been as much of an issue as it has been here in the States.

The same here in Ireland. Mask usage has only been made pollical in America. For the rest of the world, yes we do have anti mask people but no where near the same percentage. In Ireland the wearing or not not wearing of masks has nothing to do with the day to day politics. And I agree with @ronandannette I don't notice them anymore , as its just something people do when out and about, in shops, on public transport.

 

[mom2rtk]

The same here in Ireland. Mask usage has only been made pollical in America. For the rest of the world, yes we do have anti mask people but no where near the same percentage. In Ireland the wearing or not not wearing of masks has nothing to do with the day to day politics. And I agree with @ronandannette I don't notice them anymore , as its just something people do when out and about, in shops, on public transport.

Eh. It's not even as big a deal in America as the media and a some vocal outliers would have you believe. I know of one business in our fairly sizable metro area where it's an issue. Everywhere else, I see masks all the time. It's rare for me to see someone without one. People are mostly just getting on with it.

 

[ronandannette]

The same here in Ireland. Mask usage has only been made pollical in America. For the rest of the world, yes we do have anti mask people but no where near the same percentage. In Ireland the wearing or not not wearing of masks has nothing to do with the day to day politics. And I agree with @ronandannette I don't notice them anymore , as its just something people do when out and about, in shops, on public transport.

Yes, again, just so. As I’m sure everyone on this thread will agree, it is not a place to relentlessly deride America but golly, reading the other threads makes it so clear they are in a different universe than “the rest of us” when it comes to their Covid response. Even right this minute there are debates being had about about masks, businesses being closed or not, vacation travel and recreation, gathering in groups and Christmas celebrations - so many things that are apparently still “debatable”. And the their cases and deaths show the outcome of that.

 

[jlwhitney]

The same here in Ireland. Mask usage has only been made pollical in America. For the rest of the world, yes we do have anti mask people but no where near the same percentage. In Ireland the wearing or not not wearing of masks has nothing to do with the day to day politics. And I agree with @ronandannette I don't notice them anymore , as its just something people do when out and about, in shops, on public transport.

But do people in Canada and other areas a want to wear them everywhere they go year round for ever? At some point more and more will get frustrated with all. And Europe isn’t immune to it they have had issues with masks too. I’m over comparing to Asia since even Asia didn’t have mandates for the most part except during a pandemic .

 

[penn19]

Eh. It's not even as big a deal in America as the media and a some vocal outliers would have you believe. I know of one business in our fairly sizable metro area where it's an issue. Everywhere else, I see masks all the time. It's rare for me to see someone without one. People are mostly just getting on with it.

I agree. And if I do see someone without one it makes me do a double take.