Covid And The Rest of Us

[ronandannette]

@lisaviolet

I actually don't agree with this. We're all here talking about how Covid is affecting us and being handled in our countries; in contrast to one another. It's relevant and interesting to learn and you have contributed greatly. It helps us all keep our "heads out of our own..." because there is certainly a big, wide world around us and everyone in it is enduring the pandemic. I think we would mostly all agree we've been engaged and edified by hearing more than just statistics - how the cultures of different countries inform the attitudes and behaviours of the people and people opening up with their personal experiences, thoughts and feelings. I think we've all had our eyes opened to many issues we don't personally contend with and rarely on the thread has anyone tried to "convince anyone of anything" - just good, honest though sometimes difficult discourse, like you might have with a diverse group of friends.

 

[BadPinkTink]

The conversation about the mail system is interesting. We still have the traditional mail system. Our state run mail company called AN POST deliver the post on a national basis. They have a national, regional and then local sorting offices. Our post is delivered by postal workers direct to every home. In rural areas the postal workers have a mail van, in suburban, towns and cities, many postal workers have a bicycle. All houses have a postbox on the wall beside the front door or have a letter slot in their front door. Only apartment complexes have a bank of postboxes in a common area. If an item is too big for the postbox, the postal workers will ring the doorbell to hand it to the resident. If no one answers the door, the postal worker will leave a postcard and bring the item back to the local sorting office. The resident will then have to bring the postcard to the local sorting office to collect the item.

We still very much have the traditional post offices, but they are not as numerous as they once were. Some national grocery store chains now rent out an area in their shop to An Post. These grocery shop post offices are mainly in suburbs, towns and cities.

 

[NFLDERS]

Only some regions are in lockdown now. Hamilton, York Peel and Toronto are locked down. Niagara, Brant and Halton aren't yet. Everything is still open here in Niagara but starting Monday restaurants and gyms can only have 10 people at a time inside. You are only allowed 5 people inside your home now.

The rumor is on Monday they are going to announce that starting Boxing day the regions that aren't locked down will be. The places that are already locked down will have even more restrictions. Right now in the lockdown regions businesses are open for curbside and I have a feeling that will end come boxing day.

It's hard to keep up with the ever evolving Covid changes. Hamilton my hometown has an appeal by the Mayor to stay home and holiday celebrate with those living under your roof. Mandated single people may join one other household's celebrations. There are call in numbers for fined infractions too.

Here in Niagara area, we too I last understood are being 'advised' to stay home to Celebrate.

I was really upset when (Ontario's) Premier Ford held off on bringing on the new, and coming restrictions. As I've said before, and I reinterate 'I hope it isn't too little, way too late.

Stay Safe all..

 

[Jrb1979]

It's hard to keep up with the ever evolving Covid changes. Hamilton my hometown has an appeal by the Mayor to stay home and holiday celebrate with those living under your roof. Mandated single people may join one other household's celebrations. There are call in numbers for fined infractions too.

Here in Niagara area, we too I last understood are being 'advised' to stay home to Celebrate.

I was really upset when (Ontario's) Premier Ford held off on bringing on the new, and coming restrictions. As I've said before, and I reinterate 'I hope it isn't too little, way too late.

Stay Safe all..

Agreed. I think the reason for the delay is they are trying so hard to keep people working. I'm afraid in the end it's going to backfire. Their regional approach was a bad idea. All its done is people from lockdown areas going to places with less restrictions and spreading Covid.

 

[Karin1984]

The conversation about the mail system is interesting. We still have the traditional mail system. Our state run mail company called AN POST deliver the post on a national basis. They have a national, regional and then local sorting offices. Our post is delivered by postal workers direct to every home. In rural areas the postal workers have a mail van, in suburban, towns and cities, many postal workers have a bicycle. All houses have a postbox on the wall beside the front door or have a letter slot in their front door. Only apartment complexes have a bank of postboxes in a common area. If an item is too big for the postbox, the postal workers will ring the doorbell to hand it to the resident. If no one answers the door, the postal worker will leave a postcard and bring the item back to the local sorting office. The resident will then have to bring the postcard to the local sorting office to collect the item.

We still very much have the traditional post offices, but they are not as numerous as they once were. Some national grocery store chains now rent out an area in their shop to An Post. These grocery shop post offices are mainly in suburbs, towns and cities.

It's the same here, only the post offices are now not just a post office anymore for the most part. The rest is exactly the same.

 

[ronandannette]

Agreed. I think the reason for the delay is they are trying so hard to keep people working. I'm afraid in the end it's going to backfire. Their regional approach was a bad idea. All its done is people from lockdown areas going to places with less restrictions and spreading Covid.

That's a real no-win situation though. Alberta has not "zoned" and all our restrictions have been province-wide. This means that people in very small and remote communities where there have been few or no Covid cases reported since the beginning and no current cases also have to mask, isolate from one another and have the town's single restaurant (if they have one) closed. There are lots of places in Alberta like this without any other types of non-essential retail; often just a general store/gas station and a single truck-stop type restaurant. They're not places anyone would really travel into just to go to the restaurant.

 

[fab1976]

That's a real no-win situation though. Alberta has not "zoned" and all our restrictions have been province-wide. This means that people in very small and remote communities where there have been few or no Covid cases reported since the beginning and no current cases also have to mask, isolate from one another and have the town's single restaurant (if they have one) closed. There are lots of places in Alberta like this without any other types of non-essential retail; often just a general store/gas station and a single truck-stop type restaurant. They're not places anyone would really travel into just to go to the restaurant.

The difference is in the density of our regions I guess you could say. One side of the street is Peel and is in lockdown so stores can’t open and restaurants are take out only. The other side of the very same street is Halton, and store can be open and restaurants have indoor dining. That’s the issue with the regional approach in this part of Ontario. They are talking of a southern Ontario full lockdown which will likely be the best solution. Some small areas will be unfairly affected, but a big part of the province won’t be.

 

[ronandannette]

The difference is in the density of our regions I guess you could say. One side of the street is Peel and is in lockdown so stores can’t open and restaurants are take out only. The other side of the very same street is Halton, and store can be open and restaurants have indoor dining. That’s the issue with the regional approach in this part of Ontario. They are talking of a southern Ontario full lockdown which will likely be the best solution. Some small areas will be unfairly affected, but a big part of the province won’t be.

I understand all of that. Some approach has to be taken (either zoned or province-wide) to the restrictions and no matter which one is chosen, it has a definite down-side, hence my no-win comment.

 

[fab1976]

I understand all of that. Some approach has to be taken (either zoned or province-wide) to the restrictions and no matter which one is chosen, it has a definite down-side, hence my no-win comment.

What I say most often about covid is it sucks. So much. For everyone. I can’t wait to come through on the other side!

 

[kyton]

Last night Sydney, NSW was up to 43 cases - next update is 11am today (48minutes time). Western Australia is shut to any NSW visitors, all other states are telling visitors from Sydney they will have to quarantine for 2wks at their own expense if they still travel - but I can see this changing to bans in the next day or so.

The affected suburbs on the Northern beaches in Sydney have been made go into lockdown until midnight Wednesday at the earliest, but again this is likely to change.

Our Christmas 2hrs north of Sydney was going to be quiet anyway as my Dad passed away a week ago after a battle with melanoma and carcinoma - so on my side no one is feeling particularly festive. We do however have kids aged 15, 13 & almost 11 so we still have to assemble some form of Christmas for their sake.

Our Premier is doing well trying to minimise the impact of the outbreak however some things cannot be held as normal. Our usual massive Carols in the Domain (a huge choral event held in Sydney in a national park) has now been announced as a non-participant event, solely for tv viewing plus the biggest yacht race in our country - the Sydney to Hobart race that starts on boxing day, held each year since WWII finished, has been cancelled for the first time as they set sail from the Northern beaches area which is the hotspot epicentre.

 

[ronandannette]

Last night Sydney, NSW was up to 43 cases - next update is 11am today (48minutes time). Western Australia is shut to any NSW visitors, all other states are telling visitors from Sydney they will have to quarantine for 2wks at their own expense if they still travel - but I can see this changing to bans in the next day or so.

The affected suburbs on the Northern beaches in Sydney have been made go into lockdown until midnight Wednesday at the earliest, but again this is likely to change.

Our Christmas 2hrs north of Sydney was going to be quiet anyway as my Dad passed away a week ago after a battle with melanoma and carcinoma - so on my side no one is feeling particularly festive. We do however have kids aged 15, 13 & almost 11 so we still have to assemble some form of Christmas for their sake.

Our Premier is doing well trying to minimise the impact of the outbreak however some things cannot be held as normal. Our usual massive Carols in the Domain (a huge choral event held in Sydney in a national park) has now been announced as a non-participant event, solely for tv viewing plus the biggest yacht race in our country - the Sydney to Hobart race that starts on boxing day, held each year since WWII finished, has been cancelled for the first time as they set sail from the Northern beaches area which is the hotspot epicentre.

I'm so sorry about your Dad. Losing a parent is life-altering no matter what age you are. Grace and peace and hoping that renewed Covid anxieties don't make this difficult time even harder than it already is.

 

[bcla]

So how is everyone doing with their hair? I haven't had a haircut in about 4 months (back when I could get one), and for a guy that's not easy. I tried doing some simple trims with my electric razor's trimmer. Just the sides. I typically try to trim my own sideburns between haircuts.

Right now the entire region is on a stay at home order save essential stuff or things where there's minimal contact. The city and county of San Francisco has a 10-day quarantine order for anyone who arrives in San Francisco from outside of the San Francisco Bay Area or Santa Cruz County.

 

[ronandannette]

So how is everyone doing with their hair? I haven't had a haircut in about 4 months (back when I could get one), and for a guy that's not easy. I tried doing some simple trims with my electric razor's trimmer. Just the sides. I typically try to trim my own sideburns between haircuts.

Right now the entire region is on a stay at home order save essential stuff or things where there's minimal contact. The city and county of San Francisco has a 10-day quarantine order for anyone who arrives in San Francisco from outside of the San Francisco Bay Area or San Cruz County.

Our salons closed indefinitely again last Sunday. I snuck in a haircut (that I didn't quite need yet) on Saturday and took my stylist a bottle of wine, a basket of Christmas goodies and a big cash tip. I feel just terrible for her, and the other estimated 45,000 people in hospitality and personal services that lost their jobs this week.

 

[fab1976]

So how is everyone doing with their hair? I haven't had a haircut in about 4 months (back when I could get one), and for a guy that's not easy. I tried doing some simple trims with my electric razor's trimmer. Just the sides. I typically try to trim my own sideburns between haircuts.

Right now the entire region is on a stay at home order save essential stuff or things where there's minimal contact. The city and county of San Francisco has a 10-day quarantine order for anyone who arrives in San Francisco from outside of the San Francisco Bay Area or San Cruz County.

My husband, who I have know for 23 years, has always had the same haircut and clean shaven. And an actual haircut that he combs and hairsprays. It’s now shoulder length and he has a goatee and mustache. This is a HUGE departure for him! Huge. But he didn’t go when he could and we are locked down until at least January 4th, so longer hair will be here a while longer for him! My own hair, longer than it has been for a long time. The ends are dry but it’s not horrible. I last used a box dye in May or so, so the greys are pretty strong! I’m hoping to get it taken care of professionally as soon as I can, whenever that is!

 

[Heather07438]

I need to find more information about this - pronto. I've heard this mentioned very superficially before and I'm beside myself. I have never, ever, ever in my life heard it said of any vaccine that you will still contract the disease and be able to transmit it. What is it about this vaccine or virus? Are they all like that and if so, why do so few people know it.

From what I understand, this question cannot be answered yet. Normally this would be studied before release. Trials take years to answer all pertinent questions and make adjustments if needed. To fast track emergency use in this pandemic, the time line was expedited by answering the most crucial points first: the vaccine works for individuals and they are safe. As soon as enough patients got sick early on in Phase 3, they were unblinded to move forward. Phase 3 Trials have not been completed and Phase 4 hasn't even started.

More time, wide scale use, and various testing needs to happen before we can expect answers around any neutralizing effect. We'll find out. It looks good, like you said it's usually the case for most other standard vaccines. It's just too early to know for sure though. Asymptomatic spread is one reason this virus is so challenging. It could turn out some vaccinated people are protected from symptoms and disease but still are asymptomatic and shedding enough virus for spread. Other things could cause it to not have a sterilizing effect as well. For now it's best we all remain mindful not to spread until this is answered.


https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/once-you-get-the-covid-19-vaccine-can-you-still-infect-others/
"...we don’t know because there are some things that got skipped over when scientists went and made a vaccine faster than anyone thought possible. Nice-to-know details were pushed to the back burner in a rush to make sure the new vaccines would be safe and effective. And one of those details is whether the vaccines keep people from spreading COVID-19 or whether they just keep those who do contract it from getting sick.

“Theoretically, a vaccine should stop both the infection as well as the transmission and spread,” said Dr. Purvi Parikh, an immunologist with the nonprofit Allergy & Asthma Network and a co-investigator on the Pfizer vaccine trials.

But we don’t know yet if that is true of the COVID-19 vaccines, she told me. That’s because the focus of the clinical trials was narrow. It had to be because of the time constraints. Scientists wanted to know whether these things prevented illness. They wanted to know whether the drugs were safe. And they got those answers.

 

[Karin1984]

Due to the new mutation of the virus in the United Kingdom, the Netherlands have cancelled all incoming flights from the UK, starting this morning 6:00 till at least 1 January. They are looking into the other ways to get into the Netherlands over the water or by car/train (via France through the tunnel). Only cargo transportation is allowed.

 

[nursejackie]

I'm sure you've heard but Christmas is cancelled in London, according to the news. This is the price paid for being in tier 2 when most of the country was put in tier 3 on December 2nd, which causes uproar and added fuel to the North/South divide argument. It's the most densely populated city in the UK and yet their economy was deemed more important than the rest of the country's, and now they are jumping from tier 2 to tier 4 almost, because of that decision.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I'm sure you've heard but Christmas is cancelled in London, according to the news. This is the price paid for being in tier 2 when most of the country was put in tier 3 on December 2nd, which causes uproar and added fuel to the North/South divide argument. It's the most densely populated city in the UK and yet their economy was deemed more important than the rest of the country's, and now they are jumping from tier 2 to tier 4 almost, because of that decision.

I watched the press conference on Sky News. Its also because of the new strain of the virus which for now seems to be in London and the South East. One of the journalists asked, "what would you say to people who are watching this press conference as they pack their bags to travel to visit family" The blunt answer was "unpack the bags"

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19...stmas-bubbles-cancelled-for-millions-12167367
Millions of people will no longer be allowed mix with other households at Christmas, with a new Tier 4 level of COVID restrictions now in force.
In a dramatic move, prompted by fears over a new strain of coronavirus, all of those areas previously in Tier 3 in the South East - including London - moved to the new Tier 4 on Sunday.

And, in further stark action across the rest of England, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that the planned five-day easing of restrictions over the festive period will be limited to a single day.
"Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, and the potential risk it poses, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned," he said at a Downing Street news conference.

In Wales strict Tier 4 measures also came into force from Sunday - more than a week earlier than planned.

First Minister Mark Drakeford also said households across Wales will now only be able to form a Christmas bubble with one other household on Christmas Day.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told her own news conference on Saturday that the country would be placed into Level 4 rules from Boxing Day, with the easing of restrictions on indoor household mixing now only to apply on Christmas Day.
She also announced a "strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK".

Northern Ireland was already set to enter a six-week lockdown from Boxing Day.
The UK government announced a further 27,052 confirmed COVID-19 cases across the UK on Saturday, with 534 more people having died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.

Under the new Tier 4 measures in southeast England, all non-essential shops, gyms, and hairdressers are closed, with people ordered to stay home apart from limited exceptions such as work (if people cannot work from home), education, childcare and exercise.

However, communal worship is allowed to continue under the toughened restrictions.
Mr Johnson ditched his previous plans for a five-day relaxation of COVID rules over Christmas and told people in Tier 4 areas they will no longer be allowed to form "Christmas bubbles" with other households.
Meanwhile, outside the South East, people will still be allowed to mix in private homes with up to two other households, but now only on Christmas Day.
"When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defence," Mr Johnson said.
"As your prime minister, I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me."

 

[penn19]

I watched the press conference on Sky News. Its also because of the new strain of the virus which for now seems to be in London and the South East. One of the journalists asked, "what would you say to people who are watching this press conference as they pack their bags to travel to visit family" The blunt answer was "unpack the bags"

https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19...stmas-bubbles-cancelled-for-millions-12167367
Millions of people will no longer be allowed mix with other households at Christmas, with a new Tier 4 level of COVID restrictions now in force.
In a dramatic move, prompted by fears over a new strain of coronavirus, all of those areas previously in Tier 3 in the South East - including London - moved to the new Tier 4 on Sunday.

And, in further stark action across the rest of England, Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced on Saturday that the planned five-day easing of restrictions over the festive period will be limited to a single day.
"Given the early evidence we have on this new variant of the virus, and the potential risk it poses, it is with a heavy heart that I must tell you we cannot continue with Christmas as planned," he said at a Downing Street news conference.

In Wales strict Tier 4 measures also came into force from Sunday - more than a week earlier than planned.

First Minister Mark Drakeford also said households across Wales will now only be able to form a Christmas bubble with one other household on Christmas Day.

Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon told her own news conference on Saturday that the country would be placed into Level 4 rules from Boxing Day, with the easing of restrictions on indoor household mixing now only to apply on Christmas Day.
She also announced a "strict travel ban between Scotland and the rest of the UK".

Northern Ireland was already set to enter a six-week lockdown from Boxing Day.
The UK government announced a further 27,052 confirmed COVID-19 cases across the UK on Saturday, with 534 more people having died within 28 days of testing positive for the virus.

Under the new Tier 4 measures in southeast England, all non-essential shops, gyms, and hairdressers are closed, with people ordered to stay home apart from limited exceptions such as work (if people cannot work from home), education, childcare and exercise.

However, communal worship is allowed to continue under the toughened restrictions.
Mr Johnson ditched his previous plans for a five-day relaxation of COVID rules over Christmas and told people in Tier 4 areas they will no longer be allowed to form "Christmas bubbles" with other households.
Meanwhile, outside the South East, people will still be allowed to mix in private homes with up to two other households, but now only on Christmas Day.
"When the virus changes its method of attack, we must change our method of defence," Mr Johnson said.
"As your prime minister, I sincerely believe there is no alternative open to me."

I don’t understand the easing of restrictions for one day. Does the virus know it’s Christmas? If it’s bad, it’s bad so why would you allow even one day to drop your guard?

 

[BadPinkTink]

I don’t understand the easing of restrictions for one day. Does the virus know it’s Christmas? If it’s bad, it’s bad so why would you allow even one day to drop your guard?

I guess maybe they are trying to be compassionate, as the changes have been made so last minute. Its a hard balance between trying to keep the people safe and trying to get people to comply with restrictions.