Covid And The Rest of Us

[Jrb1979]

Along with the quarantine at a government facility for all positive tests for travelers and they are instituting tests at land borders for non-essential travelers. (finally!)

It's unfortunate it had to get to this. What saddens me the most out of all of this is how much babysitting we as a country need

 

[Jrb1979]

I'm curious how that jibes with the current airport/border crossing pilot projects for rapid-testing and shortened quarantine? Those are Federal programs - have they revoked them? Also, here in Alberta people are provided with cost-free hotel quarantine arrangements if they do not have an approved quarantine plan in place. That's a provincial program available in Calgary, Edmonton and Peace River and not totally travel-related. Where are all these Club Feds going to be set up and how fast? Is awarding the contracts going to end similarly to the WE deal? All I'm looking for here is some coherent policy.

I think the federal one takes precedence over provincial rules. Starting Sunday international travel can only fly into Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal. The hotel is only for the first 3 days after that you can go finish quarantine at home

 

[Aladora]

I think the federal one takes precedence over provincial rules. Starting Sunday international travel can only fly into Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal. The hotel is only for the first 3 days after that you can go finish quarantine at home

Unless you test positive at which point you have to go to a government facility. (My guess is somewhere like Petawawa.)

 

[ronandannette]

I think the federal one takes precedence over provincial rules. Starting Sunday international travel can only fly into Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto or Montreal. The hotel is only for the first 3 days after that you can go finish quarantine at home

Hopefully it applies to all international flights including the US. I'm actually pretty surprised at how many Canadians (as is being discussed on another board on this forum) have or will plan WDW trips while all non-essential travel is being discouraged.

 

[Jrb1979]

Hopefully it applies to all international flights including the US. I'm actually pretty surprised at how many Canadians (as is being discussed on another board on this forum) have or will plan WDW trips while all non-essential travel is being discouraged.

It applies to all international flights. The only ones cancelled are ones to Caribbean countries. The way things are going its going to be 2022 before it will be ok the leave the country. I'm expecting to take vacation in Canada this summer again.

 

[ronandannette]

It applies to all international flights. The only ones cancelled are ones to Caribbean countries. The way things are going its going to be 2022 before it will be ok the leave the country. I'm expecting to take vacation in Canada this summer again.

If that's even possible - I hope it is. We went to Niagara Falls last September and it was lovely. We'd be more than happy to book Nova Scotia and Newfoundland if their in-bound quarantine requirements relax. Y'all come out and see us sometime - y'hear! (After our restrictions lift and there are things to see and do, of course.)

 

[Karin1984]

No Spring Break for You!! OK, I guess, but why then still allow flights to/from the US, UK, Europe and beyond?
Canada airlines agree to cancel all flights to warm destinations - PM Trudeau | National Post

Maybe it's the same why the UK is banning flights to/from Dubai (and other UAE) to prevent influencers showing off on social media? (I am not a UK person, so take it what I say with a grain of quinoa, but that's the impression I get from the news I hear)

 

[ronandannette]

Maybe it's the same why the UK is banning flights to/from Dubai (and other UAE) to prevent influencers showing off on social media? (I am not a UK person, so take it what I say with a grain of quinoa, but that's the impression I get from the news I hear)

Based on what we've heard, the flight ban is to places that are regular Spring Break destinations for Canadians, pointedly excluding the US.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Based on what we've heard, the flight ban is to places that are regular Spring Break destinations for Canadians, pointedly excluding the US.

A lot of colleges back in the fall cancelled spring break here in the States which will lower, theoretically how many go to spring breaking but that remains to be seen. What's been the approach for Canada regarding spring break? Obviously this adjustment is putting an additional barrier with flights (something that doesn't really exist within the U.S.)

 

[ronandannette]

A lot of colleges back in the fall cancelled spring break here in the States which will lower, theoretically how many go to spring breaking but that remains to be seen. What's been the approach for Canada regarding spring break? Obviously this adjustment is putting an additional barrier with flights (something that doesn't really exist within the U.S.)

No measures to cancel the actual school break, that I know of. Canadians spring-break in the same places that Americans do; Daytona Beach (and other Florida locations), WDW, Cancun and other similar destinations. The flight bans have eliminated most of those options. Some come west to ski the Rockies but that's not a great idea right now either. All the ski hills in Banff and Jasper are under extreme occupancy restrictions, it's hard to even get a time slot to ski. Bars and lounges are completely closed, restaurants are take-out only, and resort pools and spas are closed. Other than packing a picnic and hiking around (granted the scenery is breathtaking), it's hardly a full vacation experience.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Canadians spring-break in the same places that Americans do; Daytona Beach (and other Florida locations), WDW, Cancun and other similar destinations.

This is what I was figuring. It's why I'm wondering what impact colleges and schools canceling spring break here in the States will have for those places. You can still easily get on a plane and get there but you're not technically on a break from school so it would really be just how a school's approach to learning has been if someone can even realistically get away. I'm interested to see how this shakes up. Last year spring break was filled with controversy over FL beaches but we weren't under anywhere near the same viewpoint as we are now.

Some come west to ski the Rockies but that's not a great idea right now either. All the ski hills in Banff and Jasper are under extreme occupancy restrictions, it's hard to even get a time slot to ski.

Yeah most of the ski places have reservation systems going here in the U.S. I haven't checked to see if there's been difficulties in getting slots though but I would imagine at times there has been.

Bars and lounges are completely closed, restaurants are take-out only, and resort pools and spas are closed. Other than packing a picnic and hiking around (granted the scenery is breathtaking), it's hardly a full vacation experience.

This is probably the biggest difference. While there may be restrictions as far as closures largely they'd be open. However, the experience seems likely more amicable than it would be in Canada because of less likely to have closures.

The ski place in Colorado we've gone to in 2020 and 2018 has a lot of restrictions in place from limited seating inside to masks required indoors and outdoors to no outside food or drink allowed inside you have to eat outside or in your vehicle if you brought outside food, you can't change clothes inside (they recommend done at home, hotel room, or at one’s vehicle), no childcare, plexiglass galore, etc. We talked and we'd still go but I don't ski and so normally I sit at the cafeteria listening to music on my phone with my headphones and read. It's not really that easy or as enjoyable with the restrictions of the place itself the other restrictions are fine. We thought maybe if we could go to a ski resort that we could rent a cabin that you ski up to that would be a lot better and less covid exposure concerns at least while they are off skiing...who knows.

A relative of my husband did actually go to an AirBNB in Colorado in late fall and she and her husband (sans the kids) bought groceries, drove there (which is still a distance maybe 10+ hours to the border), and just stayed in the cabin they rented. They largely sat in the hot tub looking at the mountains and taking a walk every now and then. It was really just so they could get away and relax on their own rather than expecting a full-fledged vacation.

 

[NFLDERS]

No Spring Break for You!! OK, I guess, but why then still allow flights to/from the US, UK, Europe and beyond?
Canada airlines agree to cancel all flights to warm destinations - PM Trudeau | National Post

My guess is two fold. One to appease Business travel. The other, most sunny destinations are usually vacation destinations; so they could be offered up (Sacrificial lamb) to placate the voice of Business again?

 

[NFLDERS]

If only..

https://nationalpost.com/news/dont-...part-of-why-new-zealand-is-now-back-to-normal

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

If only..

https://nationalpost.com/news/dont-...part-of-why-new-zealand-is-now-back-to-normal

I take these opinions with grains of salt. The reason being "normal" is only normal until it's not. Hubris does not do well in a global pandemic and isolation tactics of any one country should be seen as a selective, limited capacity to do this; the whole world couldn't do this as hard as that may seem to think about. And NZ and AU hard as they like still can't get rid of the virus..it finds its way in.

That article that seemingly gloats about packed stadiums and dense crowds for NYE....what do you think would have been the narrative had that resulted in a resurgence in cases due to undetected carriers?

But I do like the take the article has on the cost and it links to a story about unpaid isolation and quarantine fees. In a linked article contained within the article says "The country's 32 managed isolation and quarantine (MIQ) hotels are costing taxpayers more than $2 million a day, and are due to go over budget before the end of December." (the article was written in early December).

 

[NFLDERS]

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/30/well/live/coronavirus-days-5-through-10.html

 

[ronandannette]

Borrowed from another thread here on the CB: Has anyone here yet received their vaccination, and/or do you intend to be vaccinated when it is available to you?

Nations world-wide are all at various stages of vaccine availability and priority protocols. I think it would be an interesting to hear from one another what's happening in real-time in our respective regions.

Canada has currently approved both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines but we do not have production facilities for either of them here. Our first doses arrived and were distributed to the provinces in late December. Priority phasing is the jurisdiction of each province's Ministry of Health, as is the delivery of all healthcare. Things are rolling out a little differently province-to-province and at this moment, we are in a holding-pattern nationally due to supply chain disruptions.

As for me, I certainly intend to be vaccinated, with whichever product is available as soon as I qualify - no qualms whatsoever. I haven't been vaccinated yet nor has anyone I know. Alberta's Group 1 was front-line healthcare providers and 1(b) was extended care facility workers and residents in those facilities. We almost got first doses into all of those people before the supply dried up but not quite. Announcements about who will be included in Group 2 will not be formalized until we have surety of supply again, hopefully by mid-February.

 

[White Cat]

Borrowed from another thread here on the CB: Has anyone here yet received their vaccination, and/or do you intend to be vaccinated when it is available to you?

Nations world-wide are all at various stages of vaccine availability and priority protocols. I think it would be an interesting to hear from one another what's happening in real-time in our respective regions.

Canada has currently approved both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines but we do not have production facilities for either of them here. Our first doses arrived and were distributed to the provinces in late December. Priority phasing is the jurisdiction of each province's Ministry of Health, as is the delivery of all healthcare. Things are rolling out a little differently province-to-province and at this moment, we are in a holding-pattern nationally due to supply chain disruptions.

As for me, I certainly intend to be vaccinated, with whichever product is available as soon as I qualify - no qualms whatsoever. I haven't been vaccinated yet nor has anyone I know. Alberta's Group 1 was front-line healthcare providers and 1(b) was extended care facility workers and residents in those facilities. We almost got first doses into all of those people before the supply dried up but not quite. Announcements about who will be included in Group 2 will not be formalized until we have surety of supply again, hopefully by mid-February.

My parents have and several dozen others that I know. They got the second this past week.

 

[elphaba91]

Borrowed from another thread here on the CB: Has anyone here yet received their vaccination, and/or do you intend to be vaccinated when it is available to you?

Nations world-wide are all at various stages of vaccine availability and priority protocols. I think it would be an interesting to hear from one another what's happening in real-time in our respective regions.

Canada has currently approved both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines but we do not have production facilities for either of them here. Our first doses arrived and were distributed to the provinces in late December. Priority phasing is the jurisdiction of each province's Ministry of Health, as is the delivery of all healthcare. Things are rolling out a little differently province-to-province and at this moment, we are in a holding-pattern nationally due to supply chain disruptions.

As for me, I certainly intend to be vaccinated, with whichever product is available as soon as I qualify - no qualms whatsoever. I haven't been vaccinated yet nor has anyone I know. Alberta's Group 1 was front-line healthcare providers and 1(b) was extended care facility workers and residents in those facilities. We almost got first doses into all of those people before the supply dried up but not quite. Announcements about who will be included in Group 2 will not be formalized until we have surety of supply again, hopefully by mid-February.

Vaccinations haven't started yet here in Australia; the Pfizer vaccine has now received full approval and vaccinations are due to start later this month (FYI it is February now here!). It is expected the Astra Zeneca will be approved soon and will be manufactured locally (about 30 minutes away from where I am currently sitting). Category 1a will be quarantine and border workers, aged and disability care residents and workers and certain health care workers (I think ER and ICU staff). Category 1b will be other health care workers, critical and high risk workers (including defence, police, fire and meat processing), people over 70, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, and younger adults with underlying conditions including disabilities. Category 2a is people over 50, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 18 and other critical workers (I don't know what this includes). I will be in category 2B - the 'everyone else' group - but will get it as soon as I am able. Then category 3 is for if they decide to vaccinate under 16 year olds.

The Pfizer vaccine will be administered from hospital hubs and then GPs and pharmacies will be able to administer the AZ vaccine from phase 2a. I am pretty sure my mum's workplace will be doing it (one of their pharmacists just did a refresher vaccine training last week in preparation) so I will probably get it there or possibly through my GP if I happen to be seeing her around that time anyway.

 

[ronandannette]

In other news, we have positive trends in cases here in Alberta. Yesterday there were 471 new cases diagnosed of +10,000 tests for a rate of 4.5'ish percent. That's down from an all-time high of 1,859 cases on December 5 when our positivity rates were about 12%.

 

[ronandannette]

My parents have and several dozen others that I know. They got the second this past week.

I presume that's in Florida? Tell us a little bit about how that works. Are there priority groupings or can anybody get it right now? Where are the shots being administered? Is there any cost? I'm sure it's been discussed on many other threads but I haven't waded through them enough to understand exactly what's what.