Covid And The Rest of Us

[ronandannette]

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On a random note apparently my state will have 5 to 6 distribution centers located throughout the state though locations of such have not been disclosed. I will automatically assume one will be in my area simply because we are right by the major airport in a very populated area with easy access to the main highway that feeds east to west of the state and we are a big rail and trucking hub but of course I can't confirm that.

That doesn't sound too bad actually. Try to imagine 14 vaccination centres in the entire huge country of Canada amongst 10 provinces and 3 territories. There is no way anybody but those in major cities are going to be getting "the jab" for a very long time.

 

[NFLDERS]

I do that all the time. I'm a Canadian-Anglophone currently living in a French speaking part of Europe. I was in Austria and German parts of Switzerland over the summer and kept trying to answer in French (I'm not bad but not fluent). I cann it foreign language brain.

Hi there!

Remember me b'y? fluent in Newfoundland-langwish outport dialects!

 

[NFLDERS]

Of course still off topic but here in the States Spanish is the 'useful' language to learn. When I was in 5th grade the elementary school I was at started a program that all 4th,5th and 6th graders (the grade level went up to 6th grade) would learn a small portion of Spanish. It was fine but I had almost zero retention of it, probably because it wasn't a rigorous learning either. (Random comment but the local high school here they have a public safety academy here and they teach them conversational Spanish). In middle school (next after elementary school) I took a trimester of French and fell in love.

In high school I took all 4 years of French. I had a wonderful eccentric French teacher. Sadly I was never able to afford to do trips to Quebec (of which there were two times I believe).

In college I took multiple semesters (I took college credit in high school and bypassed a few semesters of what college coursework would be) and one of the hardest things was transitioning from partial English spoken to no English spoken the higher the French course you go. In order to get a B.A. degree at my alma mater a certain amount of semesters of a foreign language was required.

I have better retention of French but I'm not the best speaking at it, I was always better at reading it. I doubt I could do it off listening alone. Y'all are impressive (said in my Midwest voice )

On a side note I had a friend from high school who in our freshman year of college decided to take Mandarin Chinese...why I don't know..but it impressed the heck out of me. Sadly she never retained any of it due to mental illness that set in (her whole family had history of that) but it was still impressive to me her dedication in going for it.

There are ongoing conversations here of the probable importance of learning Mandarin Chinese because of our close proximity to Toronto and Niagara Falls.

 

[NFLDERS]

Dbl post

 

[NFLDERS]

Of course still off topic but here in the States Spanish is the 'useful' language to learn. When I was in 5th grade the elementary school I was at started a program that all 4th,5th and 6th graders (the grade level went up to 6th grade) would learn a small portion of Spanish. It was fine but I had almost zero retention of it, probably because it wasn't a rigorous learning either. (Random comment but the local high school here they have a public safety academy here and they teach them conversational Spanish). In middle school (next after elementary school) I took a trimester of French and fell in love.

In high school I took all 4 years of French. I had a wonderful eccentric French teacher. Sadly I was never able to afford to do trips to Quebec (of which there were two times I believe).

In college I took multiple semesters (I took college credit in high school and bypassed a few semesters of what college coursework would be) and one of the hardest things was transitioning from partial English spoken to no English spoken the higher the French course you go. In order to get a B.A. degree at my alma mater a certain amount of semesters of a foreign language was required.

I have better retention of French but I'm not the best speaking at it, I was always better at reading it. I doubt I could do it off listening alone. Y'all are impressive (said in my Midwest voice )

On a side note I had a friend from high school who in our freshman year of college decided to take Mandarin Chinese...why I don't know..but it impressed the heck out of me. Sadly she never retained any of it due to mental illness that set in (her whole family had history of that) but it was still impressive to me her dedication in going for it.

There are ongoing conversations here of the probable importance of learning Mandarin Chinese because of our close proximity to Toronto and Niagara Falls.

@BadPinkTink - it is an auspicious day, to be sure. And I must say I find it really funny when a vaccination is referred to as “the jab”. Quite literal I guess but for some reason it just tickles me.

New meaning to getting under someone's skin!

I always take people’s anecdotal observations as being very valuable, especially when they resonate with the reality many are experiencing and trying to parse together to make sense of this situation. To me, it’s very consistent with why we are having such a monstrous time trying to get ahold of Covid. The transmissions are not “sensible” , KWIM? All the precautions in the world don’t protect some of us yet very unfavourable conditions (like over-crowding) don’t automatically lead to infection.

If only things were more linear in some way, we’d have so much better a shot at really knowing where to go or not go, what to do or avoid and what to close or leave open. Right now with contact tracing in such shambles, no dots are truly connecting and in many regions we are taking measures that won’t really help while ignoring things that might. So stressful and tiring when in the end it seemingly all boils down to masking, staying 6’ apart and washing our hands.

HEAR! HEAR! To your last sentence.

 

[NFLDERS]

In Victoria we are on day 39 of zero cases, although that streak will likely end soon; we started accepting international arrivals yesterday and they suspect one is positive, although quarantined in a ‘hot’ hotel.

From Monday we are now in ‘COVIDSafe Summer’ restriction levels. We can have up to 30 visitors at home and gatherings of 100 outside, restaurants have no limits on numbers as long as there is 2 square metres per person, no limits on funerals and weddings and seated entertainment venues can have 75% capacity up to 1,000 people (for big theatres that’s only 50% though). I am going to a Christmas concert at a theatre next week and am SO excited! I’ve also booked two lots of theatre tickets for early February.

We also now only have to wear masks on public transport, in taxis, in indoor shopping centres and in large stores (e.g. supermarkets, department stores, Ikea), but must carry a mask at all times in case you can’t distance.

Congrats! A testament to what can be when respect of medical advice, mandates, and due diligence are followed.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

That doesn't sound too bad actually. Try to imagine 14 vaccination centres in the entire huge country of Canada amongst 10 provinces and 3 territories. There is no way anybody but those in major cities are going to be getting "the jab" for a very long time.

That's actually why I was wondering about your comment for long-term care facilities. I was immediately thinking there must be some reason going on. 14 places for your entire country (even accounting for the population difference) is way lower than I thought!

 

[NFLDERS]

Dbl post again. A computer something..

 

[NFLDERS]

I just heard a press conference given by Dr. Teresa Tam, Canada's Chief Medical Officer, regarding our vaccination program. She just said that due to the necessity of keeping the BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine so cold, it can only be given at centralized distribution facilities. This means our most vulnerable seniors in care homes that are not easily mobile will NOT get the first doses. I think we need to try a little harder on this.

ETA: Initially there will be 14 sites nation-wide that are already in preparation but their locations have not yet been disclosed.

At the same time it was reported that LTC Staff, and visitors will be vaccinated, that surely will help. Unfortunately, because of the nature of the serum it will take measured methods to vaccinate all Canadians.

How interesting, and in some ways, very discouraging. Here we have been completely prohibited from any in-home social visits - not one single person of any kind and no gatherings larger than 6 people outside in masks and fully distanced. On the other hand, restaurants are still open for dine-in but only with persons from your own household (seriously - ID is being checked by a lot of restaurants). Stores are still open with strict capacity limits.

Almost exactly the opposite approach as NL has taken but yet with the same unsatisfactory result. Other regions of Canada are currently engaging all the measures without much better success. What, if anything, can actually help us now?

I disagree. IMO the measures do work, if the people diligently 'do the work.' A poll taken in our hot spot of Ontario had responders to the question about engaging in Christmas/New Year's activity answering that 30% at last count intend to get together with family, friends, their community, and travel North on Toronto... so incredibly incredible!

So.. I just viewed this!

https://www.blogto.com/city/2020/12/woman-toronto-walmart-removes-mask-cough-fellow-shopper/

 

[elphaba91]

On the off topic language talk, I did 7 years of Italian in primary school (although it was really just learning lists of words from what I remember), then in high school we had to initially study 2 languages for the first 2 years, then could drop one for year 9 and 10 and then it was our choice whether to do a language in year 11 and 12 (when students pick all their subjects themselves). My school offered 6 languages - French, German, Latin, Mandarin, Japanese and Indonesian. I always knew I wanted to do French and ended up doing it all the way through school and as my minor at university. Sadly I never got to go to a French speaking country and haven't spoken it in so long that I don't know that I'd remember much. My mum told me 'Latin is a dead language' so convinced me not to pick it; given I studied law, linguistics and French at university, it actually would have been extremely useful! Instead I did Japanese and absolutely hated it.

I just heard a press conference given by Dr. Teresa Tam, Canada's Chief Medical Officer, regarding our vaccination program. She just said that due to the necessity of keeping the BioNTech (Pfizer) vaccine so cold, it can only be given at centralized distribution facilities. This means our most vulnerable seniors in care homes that are not easily mobile will NOT get the first doses. I think we need to try a little harder on this.

ETA: Initially there will be 14 sites nation-wide that are already in preparation but their locations have not yet been disclosed.

It was my understanding that while the vaccine needs to be stored at extremely low temperatures, it can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 5 days immediately prior to use. Pfizer have also created special packaging using dry ice to allow for transportation. Surely that would allow for vaccinations in nursing homes (in a very regimented way, but presumably that would be the plan anyway)?

 

[mommasita]

On the off topic language talk, I did 7 years of Italian in primary school (although it was really just learning lists of words from what I remember), then in high school we had to initially study 2 languages for the first 2 years, then could drop one for year 9 and 10 and then it was our choice whether to do a language in year 11 and 12 (when students pick all their subjects themselves). My school offered 6 languages - French, German, Latin, Mandarin, Japanese and Indonesian. I always knew I wanted to do French and ended up doing it all the way through school and as my minor at university. Sadly I never got to go to a French speaking country and haven't spoken it in so long that I don't know that I'd remember much. My mum told me 'Latin is a dead language' so convinced me not to pick it; given I studied law, linguistics and French at university, it actually would have been extremely useful! Instead I did Japanese and absolutely hated it.



It was my understanding that while the vaccine needs to be stored at extremely low temperatures, it can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 5 days immediately prior to use. Pfizer have also created special packaging using dry ice to allow for transportation. Surely that would allow for vaccinations in nursing homes (in a very regimented way, but presumably that would be the plan anyway)?

Love the fact that you had the opportunity at all those languages !
So true that when we don’t speak them and practice them, we lose them.

Pfizer Canada spokeswoman Christina Antoniou told The Canadian Press that the company is asking for those doses at first to be given only at the first 14 delivery sites.
It is actually Pfizer themselves requesting that the vaccines start this way.

A lot more in this article . https://www.theglobeandmail.com/can...-shots-to-be-given-at-delivery-sites-not-ltc/

 

[Jrb1979]

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/12...ation-those-without-it-may-face-restrictions/
Not sure if posted but looks Ontario is going it a requirement to get the vaccine or maybe restricted in traveling, and visiting some public places

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

https://toronto.citynews.ca/2020/12...ation-those-without-it-may-face-restrictions/
Not sure if posted but looks Ontario is going it a requirement to get the vaccine or maybe restricted in traveling, and visiting some public places

That says it's not mandatory but "some activities like travel or access to communal spaces such as movie theatres could eventually be restricted for those who opt not to get immunized." I would assume, like conversations have occurred on other threads, that day would be when the vaccine is widely distributed for all. We've all been speculating just what will happen.

 

[Jrb1979]

That says it's not mandatory but "some activities like travel or access to communal spaces such as movie theatres could eventually be restricted for those who opt not to get immunized." I would assume, like conversations have occurred on other threads, that day would be when the vaccine is widely distributed for all. We've all been speculating just what will happen.

Yeah I agree. The crazy thing you should see the amount of people up in arms over it.

 

[NFLDERS]

On the off topic language talk, I did 7 years of Italian in primary school (although it was really just learning lists of words from what I remember), then in high school we had to initially study 2 languages for the first 2 years, then could drop one for year 9 and 10 and then it was our choice whether to do a language in year 11 and 12 (when students pick all their subjects themselves). My school offered 6 languages - French, German, Latin, Mandarin, Japanese and Indonesian. I always knew I wanted to do French and ended up doing it all the way through school and as my minor at university. Sadly I never got to go to a French speaking country and haven't spoken it in so long that I don't know that I'd remember much. My mum told me 'Latin is a dead language' so convinced me not to pick it; given I studied law, linguistics and French at university, it actually would have been extremely useful! Instead I did Japanese and absolutely hated it.



It was my understanding that while the vaccine needs to be stored at extremely low temperatures, it can be stored in a refrigerator for up to 5 days immediately prior to use. Pfizer have also created special packaging using dry ice to allow for transportation. Surely that would allow for vaccinations in nursing homes (in a very regimented way, but presumably that would be the plan anyway)?

I've not read that as yet.

 

[mommasita]

IMHO you multi language task text good!

I wanted to say Thank-You. This is actually my job. I’m an emergency response dispatcher, so I am actively listening, talking, texting, dispatching, AT ALL TIMES. Often in different languages. I love my job

 

[elphaba91]

I've not read that as yet.

Here is an article that explains it: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...he-local-pharmacy-any-time-soon-idUKKBN27P2VI

 

[jlwhitney]

Yeah I agree. The crazy thing you should see the amount of people up in arms over it.

And they should be. Other than schools and required by certain employers the US or Canada have never made vaccine requirements to go to movies or theme parks. It’s a slipwrrlu slop if they do. There a thing called personal responsibility also. Once’s you can get the vaccine it’s on you to protect Yourself. In the end I suspect enough will get it to get levels low enough that the worry will fade for most anyway and hospitals won’t have issues anymore either.

 

[ronandannette]

And they should be. Other than schools and required by certain employers the US or Canada have never made vaccine requirements to go to movies or theme parks. It’s a slipwrrlu slop if they do. There a thing called personal responsibility also. Once’s you can get the vaccine it’s on you to protect Yourself. In the end I suspect enough will get it to get levels low enough that the worry will fade for most anyway and hospitals won’t have issues anymore either.

I suspect this is true also. At least one can hope.

 

[jlwhitney]

I suspect this is true also. At least one can hope.

Really once those that are most likely to have a severe case or be hospitalized are vaccinated and those numbers decrease the gene ram public isn’t going to tolerate the strict restrictions for much longer.