Land Border Opening?

[mshanson3121]

Calling it the UK variant is very offensive. Interesting how smug Dis Canadians were 6 months ago.

Actually, no it's not. Its not a derogatory term, it's a way of identifying a viral agent by geographic location of discovery, and is a common practice that has been in place for a long time.

Furthermore, no one is "smug". It's a global pandemic killing millions. Were we proud of how we have handled the pandemic? Yes. Are we still? Yes. Should we be? Yes. Even with this spike we're still in excellent shape compared to others. And it's the US asking us to re-open even with our rising cases, not the other way around.

But as TammyLynn said, this thread has nothing to do with who handled the pandemic better/worse - it's solely about speculating when the border is going to re-open.

 

[NewYKRunner]

Then let’s keep it on track. Fall time. By then both countries should have enough vaccinations we should see a dramatic drop in both new cases and also fatalities. We’re not in a rush to travel until restrictions wherever we go are also reduced, if not lifted altogether. We’re in no rush to spend good money on travelling only to be limited on what we can do.

 

[AdamsMum]

Then let’s keep it on track. Fall time. By then both countries should have enough vaccinations we should see a dramatic drop in both new cases and also fatalities. We’re not in a rush to travel until restrictions wherever we go are also reduced, if not lifted altogether. We’re in no rush to spend good money on travelling only to be limited on what we can do.

I really hope you're right. Crossing my fingers for December 2021.

 

[NewYKRunner]

I really hope you're right. Crossing my fingers for December 2021.

Us too, we would like to go to Hawaii, probably for the Honolulu Marathon on the 12th. We went to WDW January 2020 for my wife and a friend of ours to do the Dopey challenge. That same friend was signed up to do the full marathon (he missed out on signing up for the full Dopey again) this past January but that was obviously cancelled. Him and I were debating trying to go for the Dopey again January 2022 but it's not looking like it'll happen at this point.

 

[MamaLema]

I worry about my almost 12 yo if things lock down again, he is only starting to act semi-normal again. When you see a child who was athletic, confident, strong student and happy change into an anxious, stressed, scared and lacking motivation child - in a matter of a year is very very troubling to a family.

No advice just wanted to let you know I am in the same situation. My 24 and 22 year old work full time but my DS17 who used to play numerous sports, volunteer, etc spends the whole day in his room only coming out at meal times. He is really struggling mentally and I don’t know what to do.

 

[NewYKRunner]

No advice just wanted to let you know I am in the same situation. My 24 and 22 year old work full time but my DS17 who used to play numerous sports, volunteer, etc spends the whole day in his room only coming out at meal times. He is really struggling mentally and I don’t know what to do.

Is your 17 year old able to visit with friends? If not physically, what about facetime/zoom chats? We had some long distance friends introduce us to zoom chats and it's actually a nice way to connect with people you can't see regularly. Hopefully once the warm weather arrives you're able to get outside for some fresh air and sunshine? I know it can be hard to get motivated to go for a family walk, hike or bike ride initially but once you're out it can feel amazing. I'm not sure what some of the recent lockdowns are preventing but I think most places allow outdoor activities otherwise, within reason?

 

[quandrea]

No advice just wanted to let you know I am in the same situation. My 24 and 22 year old work full time but my DS17 who used to play numerous sports, volunteer, etc spends the whole day in his room only coming out at meal times. He is really struggling mentally and I don’t know what to do.

I have a 17yo too. Keep talking. I also go “visit” my daughter in her room multiple times a day to talk and just be with her. She’s struggling too. I tell her that I will always come to her, that I will always find her, even when she’s far away (which, until about a week ago, that’s what it’s felt like). I’m speaking metaphorically, obviously. I think they need to hear that we are available to them, and I also think we need to invade their space a bit right now for their own good. It’s a very tough time. I second getting out there for walks with him when you can. The one-on-one is good, as is the fresh air and exercise. Hang in there. This won’t last forever.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

No advice just wanted to let you know I am in the same situation. My 24 and 22 year old work full time but my DS17 who used to play numerous sports, volunteer, etc spends the whole day in his room only coming out at meal times. He is really struggling mentally and I don’t know what to do.

I’m very sorry, it really is unfortunate what is happening to the youth right now. In the month we were open (we are back to full lockdown for a month) our son started to turn around when sports in some capacity resumed, seeing friends outside.
Now done again, not even outside soccer, nothing. I really really hope the school doesn’t close as that will tip the scales.
Let’s pray this is truly the last of the lockdowns and restrictions. We talk to friends in North Carolina who have 3 kids ranging from age 7 to 15 and all 3 now play regular team sports (they wear masks everywhere), and next week when they have spring break they are driving down to Universal and Disney. My son said I don’t understand why are they doing normal things and we can’t do anything. Well.... for one most of their friends in their 30s and 40s have now been vaccinated or are scheduled to be soon. I know we shouldn’t compare but it is very frustrating for Canada, especially Ontario.
Thank you for sharing your experience, it doesn’t make me feel better knowing so many out there have the same issues, but it does make us all in this together and together we shall get better and I am really hopeful it will be soon. Let’s cheer each other on.
I will say we booked a Disney world vacation for actual Christmas time frame, so I’m trying to start thinking about things to look forward to and involving my kid in some planning.
All the best, hope everyone has a pleasant and healthy Easter.
Edited to add I thought I said it above but didn’t - keep checking on your son, keep trying to watch a movie together or walk or bike or anything you can force him to do It’s hard I’m sure as he’s an older teen (mine is 12 so I can still tell him what to do lol) but keep trying. He will know you are there for him.

 

[Minniemoo15]

A little bit of good news:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/02/health/cdc-travel-guidance-fully-vaccinated-wellness/index.html

 

[ottawamom]

Ah yes but Canada is one of those places still requiring all the jumping through hoops. Here's why?

People still arriving with Covid 19

I don't know what all this is going to mean. We will just have to wait and see how the vaccine rollout goes. Maybe then things will be able to change. But who knows when that will be.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

Ah yes but Canada is one of those places still requiring all the jumping through hoops. Here's why?

People still arriving with Covid 19

I don't know what all this is going to mean. We will just have to wait and see how the vaccine rollout goes. Maybe then things will be able to change. But who knows when that will be.

Well, in this article it says that ”As air travel is around 10% of pre-pandemic levels, it’s not responsible for the situation we are in”.
I am not saying they shouldn’t test, sure test on arrival then quarantine those that test positive. At some point acknowledge vaccinations. We can’t keep telling people to get the shot but nothing changes for them. Even CDC (as per above post) is saying if vaccinated people can travel without those restrictions such as testing and quarantine. At this point, we are in the thickest of the pandemic but come late summer or Fall, I would expect a lot of these guidelines to change. We are just not there yet...

 

[pigletto]

Ah yes but Canada is one of those places still requiring all the jumping through hoops. Here's why?

People still arriving with Covid 19

I don't know what all this is going to mean. We will just have to wait and see how the vaccine rollout goes. Maybe then things will be able to change. But who knows when that will be.

I’m confused as to what you are saying . The USA is way ahead of us as far as vaccinations go ( we are currently 42nd on that list ) but I fully expect once we have a significant portion of our population fully vaccinated that we as citizens will be able to move freely . I agree we should continue to test people entering the country , as we always should have been. But why should fully vaccinated Canadian citizens still be required to test and quarantine to come back to Canada ?

 

[tinkerone]

I’m confused as to what you are saying . The USA is way ahead of us as far as vaccinations go ( we are currently 42nd on that list ) but I fully expect once we have a significant portion of our population fully vaccinated that we as citizens will be able to move freely . I agree we should continue to test people entering the country , as we always should have been. But why should fully vaccinated Canadian citizens still be required to test and quarantine to come back to Canada ?

Because they can still be carriers. The vaccine does not mean you will not get covid, it means if you do get covid it should not be life threatening. Someone who is fully vaccinated can still contract and pass on the virus even if they don't know they have it. This means, until everyone is vaccinated, there is a possibility of bringing it into the country knowingly or unknowingly. With the variants this could be a very bad thing. I could be wrong but I think the idea is to get 80% vaccinated to ensure it will not be an issue.

 

[pigletto]

Because they can still be carriers. The vaccine does not mean you will not get covid, it means if you do get covid it should not be life threatening. Someone who is fully vaccinated can still contract and pass on the virus even if they don't know they have it. This means, until everyone is vaccinated, there is a possibility of bringing it into the country knowingly or unknowingly. With the variants this could be a very bad thing. I could be wrong but I think the idea is to get 80% vaccinated to ensure it will not be an issue.

Which is a good argument for testing ( which I already mentioned in previous post ) but not for continuing to restrict movement . I’m also discussing when a good portion of our population is vaccinated . And I’m all for testing if that’s necessary . But eventually the restrictions have to loosen and I would hope being fully vaccinated is a start to that process .

 

[pigletto]

Because they can still be carriers. The vaccine does not mean you will not get covid, it means if you do get covid it should not be life threatening. Someone who is fully vaccinated can still contract and pass on the virus even if they don't know they have it. This means, until everyone is vaccinated, there is a possibility of bringing it into the country knowingly or unknowingly. With the variants this could be a very bad thing. I could be wrong but I think the idea is to get 80% vaccinated to ensure it will not be an issue.

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/health/coronavirus-vaccine-walensky.amp.htmlAccording to multiple sources it’s not known if we could spread the virus once vaccinated yet . I was talking about when the vast majority of us were vaccinated anyway. I guess I wasn’t clear .

 

[tinkerone]

https://www.google.ca/amp/s/www.nytimes.com/2021/04/01/health/coronavirus-vaccine-walensky.amp.htmlAccording to multiple sources it’s not known if we could spread the virus once vaccinated yet . I was talking about when the vast majority of us were vaccinated anyway. I guess I wasn’t clear .

That's my point. We don't know, which is why Canadian citizens are still be required to test and quarantine to come back to Canada.
My response mentioned when the vast majority are vaccinated as well. We are both correct there. That's when I think, and I'm no one, things will start to change for less strict restrictions.

 

[Sue M]

Ah yes but Canada is one of those places still requiring all the jumping through hoops. Here's why?

People still arriving with Covid 19

I don't know what all this is going to mean. We will just have to wait and see how the vaccine rollout goes. Maybe then things will be able to change. But w ho knows when that will be.

With the new variants I don’t hold out much hope that our border will open in 2021.

 

[Sue M]

A little bit of good news:

https://www.cnn.com/2021/04/02/health/cdc-travel-guidance-fully-vaccinated-wellness/index.html

Good news for the US I guess. Different rules for us.

 

[Carolynleanne]

This is the tricky thing about getting the vaccination. If you can still spread it after getting your shot, then while it makes it safer for individuals and allows the hospitals to function okay, it does nothing to help us go back to living a normal life.

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

With the new variants I don’t hold out much hope that our border will open in 2021.

Other countries are re-opening with the variants present, but the key is they are way ahead in vaccinations. If we can reach PM’s new goals in terms of vaccinations then yes they will re-open in 2021. I don’t think we want to be at a point where other countries have almost no restrictions and they are told they can travel if vaccinated and Canada keeping us from doing anything and going anywhere? It will not go over well anymore. I’m not saying to reopen now, I think we are a few months away from it, but again if the world around us reopens (let’s just even say USA and UK who we follow closely) and Canada doesn’t solely because of lack of vaccines... I don’t think our PM wants that. The federal government knows they messed up with our initial vaccine rollout, they are doing everything possible now to catch up. It will not look good if we are locked up the second half of this year while other countries resume. Lets have a bit of a positive outlook at least.