Re: Coronavirus
 

Sasak is halting organ donations due to surge in COVID hospitalizations.

I don't see how this wont cost lives, the entire healthcare system in several provinces seems to be at the point of collapse.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Eastern Fraser Valley, well parts of it in BC are going to see more restrictions amid rising cases and lower vaccination rates compared to neighboring regions.

Abbotsford, Chilliwack, Hope, Mission and Agassiz-Harrison are affected.

seniors living in long-term or assisted living facilities in BC will be getting a 3rd shot also announced today.

Vancouver School Board voted to mandate masks for all grades, although the province has not mandated lower grades to wear masks.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...t-27-1.6192150

Re: Coronavirus
 

Things keep getting worse; the icu's are full and now the government is stopping testing of asymptomatic people, just so they don't run short of test kits.
https://globalnews.ca/news/8228843/s...ople-covid-19/

Re: Coronavirus
 

More of the same. Big Dan from the club was finally supposed to get a new hip but now can't get a surgery date. That won't kill him, but people waiting for transplants have already died and more are certain to.
https://globalnews.ca/news/8232237/o...tchewan-covid/

Re: Coronavirus
 

Apparently the community I live in has the highest vax rate in Newfoundland. The communities currently experiencing a surge in cases here (small in comparison to AB and SK but big for here) have the lowest. Whod've to thunk it? I suspect there is a link to religiosity here unfortunately.
Oh yes, and Mr Kenney changed his mind and would like Nfld to send some help - to Fort Mac I believe - after turning down the offer last week.

Being in the UK the past 10 days was different. High levels of mask use on transit/trains but not all, including the young oik that sat next to me on a 45 minute replacement bus service ride last weekend. London office and pubs no mask usage at all. That was unsettling as we have to wear masks to go into the office here. The availability of rapid lateral flow tests is a game changer IMHO. In the UK you get them from the chemists. I took one before leaving my folks for travel to London. Taking a LF test before you do something - like going to school - seems like a good idea. I'm baffled as to why provincial and federal healthcare here don't seem to agree.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Our new case numbers are now pushing Ontario's, and they have over 13x more people.

https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...ad709d3e9d.jpg

Re: Coronavirus
 

A friend of mine in the UK went to a music concert begining of September, and it was basically like it used to be, no masks no distancing, infact it was packed! so it seems back to pretty normal times.

I am going to a concert in Toronto in a couple of weeks.... an outdoor concert, and I had an email from the venue saying we "urge" everyone to wear masks and distance... but I don't think its mandatory, it said you don't have to vaccinated to attend because its outdoors, so probably why they want people to wear masks. So there is quite the difference in rules between UK and Ontario.

Re: Coronavirus
 

It has been suggested that we have a work lunch, in celebration of some technical thing, and so a message came to me "find out if your people are double vaxxed". And with that prospect of a burger and a beer, all consideration of personal privacy laws vanished.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Did you watch any of the 24hr citizen festival last Saturday? Mostly outdoor venues but whilst masks were seen they were certainly few and far between and distancing was certainly not a thing, how can it be for these type of events realistically. Yes it was much like old times and nice to see some normality and people young and old enjoying some live music. Whilst England has dropped most all restrictions and continues to carry on we seem to be going backwards over here. Again this week cases were said to be rising in the Central Okanagan and other areas of BC that were doing reasonably ok are now seeing rising cases and now we have masks for ALL schools starting with kindergarten until at least January so it would seem that there is zero chance of us moving on with any relaxing of restrictions and if masks in schools remain a thing until the New Year you can bet they will remain for ALL indoor places too. I watched the BBC news last night, the only mention of COVID is a short 30 second or so recap on the days numbers and that's it, meanwhile our top doctor Tamm has stated that we need at least 80% of total population to be vaxxed before we reach a level of herd immunity that may be acceptable.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Sounds fairly reasonable.
Over in NB we've been hovering around 78-79% of those 12 and up for some weeks and our figures are way up.

Almost everything you'd do day to day we've been doing since last year with minimal figures. It was several months before we got our first covid death and only once or twice (Xmas and Easter) did we get to half a dozen people in hospital. All without vaccines but distancing and masks, some limits on crossings into next door provinces and having a steady 20 social group. Unless you counted those in the changing rooms for amateur football I don't think I was ever in a group that many in my younger day. :lol:

Our record daily cases has been broken 5 or 6 times in the last 10 days, we consistently have at least twice as many covid people in hospital as the previous highest and more covid patients in ICU than we previously had 'just' in hospital. And Daily deaths. They were previously rare occurrences, mainly old and sick and they're now daily and some in their 40s.

This followed the dropping of remaining restrictions - innocuous stuff like no longer having to leave contact details at a restaurant or bar and no mask mandate. So the mask mandate is back because of the huge error - apparently based on false or out of date information - by the NB government.

Of course the vast majority of people in hospital (80-85%) are the unvaccinated.
Something like 93% of over 70s are fully vaxxed but it's only around 65% and lower for under 40s.

80% of the population fully vaccinated may not be enough if more than a third of people under 40 are primarily responsible for continued spread and mutation.

Re: Coronavirus
 

BC is at 89% of the eligible population with 1 dose and 82% of the eligible population fully vaccinated.

Eligible population being everyone 12 and older.

Add in the 0-11 year old age group, they drop the overall vaccination rate to 79% with one dose and 72% fully vaccinated, but those 0-11 have no option to get vaccinated.

But if we have 12+ at 89% with one dose, presumably most will get a 2nd dose, and now the question is of the 10% or so not vaccinated, how many are one the fence vs diehard anti-vaxx types?

Also overall population may not necessaiirly be a good metric in provinces like BC, because its Vancouver and Vancouver Island pushing up the overall average.

Vancouver Coastal Health- 77.07% fully vaccinated
Vancouver Island Health- 72.6% fully vaccinated

But then it drops

Fraser Health 69.8% fully vaccinated
Interior Health 68.38% fully vaccinated
Northern Health 54.19% fully vaccinated.

And since the areas seeing the worst spread are the bottom 3, even if the top 2 were at 100% it would not make a huge dent in new cases because the bottom 3 are responsible for the bulk of the new infections.

When you have much smaller Northern Health with more new cases than Vancouver Coastal, we have a problem, one is a large population and one is a small population, but some reason people up north wont get vaccinated, Fraser Health is the largest health authority so its given they will have more total cases, they cover everything from Burnaby next to Vancouver all the way to Boston Bar, and their area also covers well known anti-vaxx hotspots in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, so the anti-vaxx mindset in the eastern Fraser Valley isn't new, pockets of very religious groups who refuse vaccines and have been responsible in the past for measels outbreaks.

I wouldn't necessary dwell on total population % if the total population isn't even distributed, because as you can see while BC is pushing 80% fully vaccinated, there are areas with horribly low vaccination rates and they are driving much of the new cases.

Re: Coronavirus
 

But can we be sure that the dropping of the mask mandate caused all this? Look at some other countries, England for example still seeing high cases but these have apparently stabilized as have hospitalizations and still no further restrictions being talked about so currently no mask mandate. Holland (a friend from here is over there visiting) currently relaxed restrictions including masks and distancing, 11 million are fully vaccinated but the Netherlands has a population of 17 million. They did relax stuff back in early summer and had a rise in cases so reintroduced some restrictions to curb this yet it hasn't stopped them from relaxing again despite heading into winter months. We cannot expect to easily achieve over 80% of total population vaccination and if by some small miracle we do its going to be well into start of next year when the vax is beginning to wane in the elderly and we find ourselves back to where we were.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes. Nothing else has changed that would have put more people in closer proximity to each other than was already the case for several months.

Re: Coronavirus
 

It isn't unreasonable to expect future mutations causing spikes, and the labs trying to play catch-up producing boosters. I'm sure they try to predict what they need, but if a resistant variant pops up on the other side of the world they only have so much time to work on it. Ups and downs, flattening the curve, the new normal, need I go on? I don't think we get to choose what the long haul entails. I found out last night that a friend of mine is an anti-vaxxer; Tyranny! and fake statistics and taking licorice root will neutralise covid. I'm still having trouble processing it, no red flags at all. I told him to make a sign and get on the street.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I venture at least one of us vaccinated on this website has had the virus since vaccinating and didn't know, I had a week about a month ago, where I had a little cough, and bit of a stuffy nose, allergies? COVID? one of the many regular viruses that cause colds? Any other time of my life, I would just have said I had a cold, but was it just a cold? Who knows.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Wasn't everybody out there choking on smoke most of the summer?

Re: Coronavirus
 

July and August got bad at points, September wasn't bad though, and I don't recall it being smokey that week, but it might have been, I didn't exactly keep a diary....ha ha

Re: Coronavirus
 

You're probably right that some of us have had it and not known; if you were asymptomatic and got over it without being detected everywhere you went would be under the radar.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Our Premier has been getting a lot of flak for refusing to enact gathering size limits and generally falling behind the national guidelines, even as case numbers and deaths continue to rise, and without a suitable bag man to blame he's attempting to shift control, or appear to, (while still calling the shots). Hopefully he has cost the Saskatchewan Party it's next election.
"The Government of Saskatchewan reported Thursday that the Provincial Emergency Operations Centre will assume operational, planning, logistical and administrative responsibilities of the fight against COVID-19."
https://regina.ctvnews.ca/watch-live...ntre-1.5614880

Re: Coronavirus
 

Us sickos who are immunocompromised can get a 3rd shot so I'm booked in for mine tomorrow. Hopefully I don't feel like crap for 24hrs after.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Got my text today yet my wife who is way more in need has yet again been left off their list it seems.
Seems the UK bods are predicting a serious winter flu season like no other because last year was almost non existent due to lockdown, masks and distancing they now fear peoples immunity is poor and it will take off

Re: Coronavirus
 

I almost think COVID is more serious for those like my wife, but hey immunocompromised enough for free flu shots, but I guess not enough for COVID booster.

Now it would doubly suck to get flu and COVID at the same time, which can happen being different viruses and all, both being pretty hard on the body, could spike deaths, but then if someone is double infected is it flu death, a COVID death or both?

Re: Coronavirus
 

BC Ferry seeking clarification from federal government over the new rules announced yesterday for their employees.

Apparently passengers on BC Ferries are exempt from the new federal rules.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...says-1.6202459

Re: Coronavirus
 

I work for a crown corporation and they announced mandatory vaccination for all of its staff yesterday. We have until Nov 22 to show HR our vaccination proof. Fine by me.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I have no issue with it.

Maybe some job openings will help some vaccinated unemployed get in with the government. :lol:

Tricky place to get hired anything involving the government, my wife got an interview once, but they didn't like her.....

Re: Coronavirus
 

Northern Health can't handle the their COVID patients, so far 35 have been transffered to Vancouver area as well as Vancouver Island.

Re: Coronavirus
 

One wonders if those with 3 shots will then look down their noses at those with only 2!

Re: Coronavirus
 

One wonders if the fully vaccinated will have to have 3-daily tests to prove that they don't have it? Seeing as they can still be infected and can still pass it on.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Boiler alert! Boiler alert!

Almost Canadian's account appears to have been hacked by Boiler. :lol:

Re: Coronavirus
 

It's me. As you know, I have both shots.

I simply don't like the way that jurisdictions are applying the rules arbitrarily. If they wish for everyone to be vaccinated, they should simply mandate that in a completely unambiguous way and then explain how that is going to deal with those that cannot be vaccinated. We all know that having both shots does not stop you getting C-19, or spreading it once you have it. I accept that it may make these less likely but the main benefit of the vaccine is to reduce the effects that C-19 will have on those that get it. That being the case, I fail to see why those that are vaccinated can go about their daily lives as if they have no chance of acquiring it, or passing it on, which they clearly can.

I also get that the passport nonsense is a shitty way of trying to convince those that don't have it to get it. It would be far easier to require everyone to have to have it and pay the supposed minimal political price of doing so.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Funny you say that as I accidently mentioned to my colleagues at our morning meeting that I was heading out at lunch to get a 3rd shot. That's when their questions started about why I was getting one and they weren't! Having a 3rd shot is not a medal of honor, it's the complete opposite in my opinion.

Re: Coronavirus
 

And that was much more reasonable than the Boiler type of post. :lol:

A few things seem a bit inconsistent but sometimes make sense.
Because of the outbreak we're having - still looks paltry compared to others, but massively so for NB - there is to be no household mixing over the Thanksgiving weekend but those from different households may go to the same restaurant and dine instead, surrounded by other people.

It sounds truly bizarre.

But the restaurant is a 'controlled environment' - proof of vaccinations required, mask wearing (except eating) and so on - so maximum or greater level of protection than would be the case at home where it might be a free for all.


https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...5eef872cbe.png

Re: Coronavirus
 

It will be coming for all, just wait and see.

Nothing that was supposed to work has worked yet (with the exception of lockdowns which we know can't last forever) and, IIRC, 70% fully vaccinated was supposed to provide enough immunity. It didn't. Booster shots are, currently, recommended for some and I anticipate that that will be expanded too and then those with only 2 shots will have to obtain 3 to obtain their passports. When that doesn't work something else will be required. And so on, and so on...

At some point, those with 12 shots will be looking down on those with only 11. Hopefully, a sense of proportion will be applied and societies will cease trying to get the numbers to zero, as that is never going to happen. Currently, I am waiting for the next variant which is almost inevitable in light of the low numbers of vaccines in certain parts the world, including one jurisdiction that was held up as the epitome of how to deal with this, New Zealand.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I agree.

Over here, the vaccinated can attend work with no restrictions upon testing, whereas the unvaccinated have to provide tests every 3 days and at their own expense. This is despite the fact that the vaccinated can acquire it and pass it on. Vaccines protect those that have them, they don't really protect anyone else, unless you wish to argue that, by not being vaccinated, you expose the vaccinated to risks caused by the hospitals being overwhelmed which, as far as I can tell, hasn't happened anywhere in Canada.

With the vast majority of Canadian society feeling the way it does, I don't understand why its leaders don't simply mandate vaccination, as I imagine that the political fallout would be minimal. However, if after having done so, that doesn't solve the problem, they would then have a big problem and that is why I believe they haven't done so.

Re: Coronavirus
 

We will very likely all need boosters, that much is fairly clear as the studies are showing waning efficacy with time,

Yes those vaccinated can still get sick, and spread but the key difference is the vaccinated end up in hospital far less often, and don't overwhelm the hospitals like the unvaccinated do, we will never rid outselves of the virus, its here to stay, but the vaccine does do a wonderful job at preventing hospitalization which is the key driver of decisions now in BC anyhow, not necessairly the spread, as vaccinated are not the ones causing the problems at hospitals and ICU's, there isn't an unlimited supply of doctors and nurses and support staff, and people are having surgeries delayed, some cancer patients even having surgeries delayed because so many unvaccinated COVID patients taking up the resources that are not unlimited.

COVID 0 isn't happening, and people need to stop thinking it will, but if life is made hard for the unvaccinated it will hopefully push them to get vaccinated.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Glad you're able to get that 3rd shot Danny, hope it doesn't hit you too hard.

It's been a bloody mission for me to get vaccinated. Had to cancel my first AZ jab due to having to go back on steroids for an autoimmune condition flare-up. Finally got the first jab 2 1/2 months ago, was booked to get my second in two weeks. Two days ago, another bloody flare-up. Christ up a gum tree! Have decided to swerve the steroids, I want that second jab! Oz govt. has said that people who are 'severely immunocompromised' will be offered a third jab but I don't think that includes me.

Re: Coronavirus
 

...although several pieces of research have shown the infectious period is shorter when vaccinated and depending on which variant is involved a lower load is passed on by the vaccinated. So less likely to pass on and possibly a lower load if passed on.
But I suppose one could argue that the vaccinated person, infectious but feeling good (or not too bad) might be more likely to go out and potentially expose others, whereas the unvaccinated and feeling lousy person stays home.
I suppose that depends on definitions. Alberta just borrowing medical personnel from Ontario isn't the first example. I recall reading Ontario (I think) borrowed medical staff previously.

NB currently has 4 or 5 times as many people in hospital as we had at any single time last year but an out patient thing I had due last year was delayed by 5 months and was then not done at the hospital. One hears about surgeries and other matters being put back indefinitely all over Canada.

In the UK the government paid a fortune to private hospitals to help the NHS out and there's just been a report to say they did a fraction of what was paid for. So much less than usual has been done.

Might not count as hospitals being overwhelmed but all the patients waiting even longer for hip and knee surgery and other things might not agree.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Except those like me who can't be vaccinated and are made to feel like lepers...totally fed up with it all. They could offer the option to show proof that you aren't carrying it as an option to the vaccine passport (i.e. a negative test).. but I guess the majority rules in this country

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes, I do wish they had exemptions for those who have been advised by their doctors not to get it as its not their fault.

Re: Coronavirus
 

There are only 2 medical reasons for exemption in Ontario. I suppose if you are one of those unfortunate people, you would not want to mix with the general public in case you catch Covid, or indeed flu as flu season is fast approaching. I realize that is not always possible ie doctor’s or dentist appointment, etc.