spouse of scouse

I just don't understand how a basic health precaution like wearing a mask has become 'you're infringing on my human rights/freedom' for some people. It doesn't make sense, not to me anyway.

Revin Kevin

There is a lot of evidence that the 2nd wave is more of a "Covid-lite" than the first wave with hospitalisations and deaths proportionally far less than first time round, maybe the second wave isn't as virulent, maybe the first wave took out the weakest, perhaps we learnt how to treat it it better or probably its a combination of these things.

Revin Kevin

Comparing the demographics of Vietnam and the UK in terms of weight, diet and exercise may explain at least part of such a huge discrepancy.

scrubbedexpat091

Maybe it depends where you are, but certainly isn't Covid-lite here in BC, our hospitalizations have been exceeding the numbers from the spring.

Jan 1 to September 30 BC average 26 deaths per month from COVID, if the current trend continues for the next 6 days, October 1 to November 30 will have seen an average of 57 deaths per month from COVID.

The 2nd wave is proving worse than the first wave in the spring so far here in BC, particularly in the lower mainland.

scrubbedexpat091

I guess one bright side is passengers going through TSA checkpoints is still about 50% less than last year, so it could always be worse.

Airlines are in a tough spot, Air Canada is encouraging travel as well through advertising, I think airlines are getting desperate in general.

If the federal government didn't have a moron in charge at the White House things may have been different, while the federal government is somewhat restricted what they can force a state to do, airlines, Amtrak and such are 100% federal control so it would have been within the federal government's powers to place restrictions on airline travel.

Siouxie

More likely it's mainly the younger generations that are catching it (due to not being able to / want to social distance / wear masks .. and those that are spending more time socialising together / going to college/uni etc.,) and with stronger constitutions their bodies are able to fight it off better so the virus doesn't impact them as badly.

I'm starting to wonder if only people with some symptoms should be counted as 'positive' - while I realise that there are silent carriers (asymptomatic) they are probably few and far between. Let's count those that are ill- those that get a positive result can self quarantine but if they don't become ill, let's not count them in the stats!

scrubbedexpat091

Kind of what BC does by default as they really don't test those not showing symptoms.

scrubbedexpat091

Looks like the Ministry of Health has provided some clearer guidelines on the restrictions in regards to physical activity.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...2020-1.5814645

Public health officials have ordered dance studios, yoga studios, gymnastics centres and other spaces offering group indoor fitness activity to temporarily suspend those activities across B.C. Also include cheerleading and pilates as well as strength conditioning.

Stumpylegs

Think this may be true of the harder hit first time round areas - as it very much has already took a swing at the most susceptible to the virus - but for many countries that haven't had exposure to Covid - they are not in that boat.

Sounding like a broken record but as I 100% don't trust the figures its hard to know anything for certain relating to whether the virus is or isn't getting less serious - but also makes it very hard for such countries to weigh up the risk and potential death toll of keeping open.

Taking out the mental health aspect of shut downs - although for me that's a bit of a strange one and not directly linked to the situation we are in (not in the sense that I don't believe people suffer with it due to Covid, they definitely do, and support mechanisms don't exist for it - but I'm of the believe that governments world wide should alter the educational piece of mental health and personal development for all, as opposed to focusing on fixing those suffering from it, prevention is better than cure etc. but that was an issue long before Covid) the other argument is purely economical and aside from the ethical issue of looking at it from £/life basis the main issue is not there is less money - purely that the money is being diverted to other people - whether that be mail order companies, amazon etc as opposed to local shops.

printer

Well looks like they might fair better than us with a vaccine. Story today says we could be last in line and i quote:
A lack of vaccine-production capabilities in Canada means the United States, Britain, Germany and other countries could have some of their citizens inoculated against COVID-19 before Canadians start to get shots, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday.

scrubbedexpat091

I was always of the opinion Canada would not be first in line, and depending on how the roll out goes in the US, have contemplated going to the US to receive the vaccine if it becomes available there sooner to the general public.

Anyhow BC record high of 941 cases reported today.

10 more deaths.

284 in hospital, up from 198 a week ago.

48 people have died since last Tuesday.

Some reason the mask mandate still doesn't apply to schools.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...2020-1.5814873


And according to the lady at Wal-Mart today, I am a paranoid sheep who should be ashamed. Some crazies out there I tell ya.

Former Lancastrian

I was somewhat shocked and surprised to learn that Canada did have many years ago vaccine production capabilities but for whatever reasons we now have none and have to rely on other countries to produce vaccines.

Jerseygirl

Trudeau said same today. Said he hoped countries would honour their agreement with Canada, but he expects they will give the vaccine to their own people first. That sounded disappointing. Think we may look into either going to the US or UK for the vaccine.

scrubbedexpat091

Burnaby Hospital near Vancouver has stopped accepting most new patients, only ICU, maternity and community palliative care will continue to admit new patients. 55 patients currently have COVID due to an outbreak in the hospital, and 5 have died. Sounds like these patients acquired COVID while in hospital at least some anyhow.

A fire on November 15th contributed to the outbreak getting worse as patients had to be moved around the facility to evacuate the area on fire.

The hospital hopes to reopen the ER in a few days.

It's one of area hospitals that should be replaced, it's old and outdated.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...reak-1.5815156


63% of residents at a care home in Abbotsford have so far since Nov 4 tested positive, currently 67 active cases – 44 residents and 23 staff.

Danny B

Well that sucks for us. I guess I'll be buying it on the black market instead.