Re: Coronavirus
 

If you believe that mask wearing is good for you, and for others, why do you not wear one?

Re: Coronavirus
 

I found the same. Perhaps its because Ontario is only a few days into not having to wear one and people haven't become cavalier about the risk yet.

Re: Coronavirus
 

No it's not limited to those sitting unmasked. If we have 6 people, say 3 sets of couples that's three individual households that are potentially spreading to each other and then all go back to their individual homes and potentially spread it to all who live there and so on. This is pretty much how it spreads as we well know unless lockdowns and strict meet up limits are introduced. Yes nobody wearing one anywhere is obviously a bigger problem but it all depends on a multitude of factors. I was out today in a well spaced out shopping mall, some were wearing them some not, no issues really. I went to get a haircut and again some wearing them some not but in this case you have to consider a higher risk factor. I noticed with interest that as dbd33 said above all Home Depot staff were wearing them, clearly a company policy. Yet a quick visit to Natures Fare which is a health food store catering for anyone wanting to buy healthy foods, drinks and vitamins. Only very limited number of people wearing one yet you would have thought that this type of store would have some kind of policy in place and maybe recommendations on the door.
So if there is a high number of deaths and hospitalizations is the NHS about to stop all non urgent surgeries? Have they reached a critical point whereby patient and staff safety is a major concern?
To quote from the BBC article we had record numbers of over 4 million recorded yet the numbers in hospital and on ventilators is exceptionally small by comparison and i quote:A high number of infections means the UK can expect Covid hospitalisations to rise too, although vaccines are still helping to stop many severe cases, say experts.

According to the latest figures, there were 17,440 patients in hospital with the virus on 24 March. About half will have been admitted for something else, rather than Covid, but tested positive.

Just over 300 of them needed an intensive care bed with a ventilator to help them breathe.

Re: Coronavirus
 

On the first paragraph, no, I would not expect a health food store to enforce healthy policies. Health food, naturopaths, people involved in alternative medicine tend more toward libertarian concepts and far right positions than they do to support public health. They are necessarily opposed to science as the potions and remedies they peddle are, in fact, nonsensical, and they need their customers to be ill informed.

300 patients on ventilators seems a scary number. Is there another condition that puts so many patients in intensive care? What are the numbers for RTAs and stabbings?

Re: Coronavirus
 

Laziness. Forgetfulness. Inconvenience. Social norms. Poor excuses, I should wear one. That is rather the point I'm making.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes, but you have ignored where I said compared to everyone else.
Ask yourself, what is the greater number of people - those dining out or those not dining out. It's the later. So the tiny minority of people dining out maskless would constitute a far lesser threat than if everyone else was going maskless willy-nilly.
It's more about getting them going again isn't it? There's a ton of statistics to show that patients haven't even been going to hospital as they previously did. Maybe there's been a cure for cancer and people haven't been getting it. :blink:

Yes, if you believe people on the ground, in the know, instead of politicians with all their 'world beating' claptrap.Yes we all know that it's "mild" and that vaccines help. We also know that means bad outcomes are much less likely.
But while it's infecting people at a far higher rate than previously, the same rate of bad outcomes results in a higher number of deaths. Hence that fact about January including the highest daily death total since February 2021. How many times does that need to be repeated?

Re: Coronavirus
 

I don't know but the figures they were stating were over 4 million cases and counting so in essence 300 is a minute percentage of those 4 million plus people who have it. It's also a small number considering the population of UK.
I suspect that stabbings in UK are much higher in hospital admissions, although not necessarily ICU, particularly in London and other major cities.

Re: Coronavirus
 

So what does this all mean? They lifted restrictions too early and people are dying and or not getting healthcare they need. Governments are ignoring health bosses and plunging the NHS into crisis and more people are suffering and not getting healthcare they need. NHS workers are jumping ship due to stress and burnout and not enough new ones to replace them and all the while there is a massive backlog to deal with.
We know that the only way to seriously reduce the numbers is lockdowns and strict capacity limits. We also know that most people don't really want that and the government has pretty much said they wouldn't go there again so where does that leave us? Putting masks back on again in indoor spaces is not going to save the NHS or seriously reduce the 4 million plus people who have contracted it, it's just not. I would suggest the NHS has been on its knees and working at 90% plus capacity for years and staffing shortages were always going to happen as nurses and doctors became disillusioned with the hours and the pay, COVID just exasperated it. Of course the only way to work through the backlog is to increase manpower but with that option on shaky ground its more likely increased working hours and weekend working will be the way forward effectively putting even more pressure on the remaining staff. I don't know what the answer is but it doesn't seem like the UK government is bothered by it.

Re: Coronavirus
 

It doesn't seem anyone in the UK is bothered by it either.... not anyone I speak to anyway, my sister says you would never know covid ever existed there now, pubs are packed, lockdowns are a distant memory and you may see an occasional mask wearer.... people are getting covid obviously, but its more if a roll your eyes, oh John isn't at work today he has covid......then.... hey what a nice day it is today and a weather conversation ensues....

Re: Coronavirus
 

I don't dispute this as I can well believe it.

It's perhaps another indication how selfish, uncaring and blinkered many in the nation have become. Just an extension of Brexit and cheering on the liars and thieves in the present government.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I wouldn't necessarily link it to Brexit or general uncaring. It's more an out of sight out of mind thing. There are still a thousand Covid deaths a week, but the media doesn't seem dwell on it, so the public assumes it's all done and dusted.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes agreed, as I have said before, the media drives the majority of the public, it can inflame the public and work them into a frenzy, it can also de escalate them very easily....
.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I don't think the media needs to dwell on it, people just need to pay attention and not be so dismissive. I'm just going to browse recent headlines and see what there is.

• Dad had both legs amputated after Covid battle turned limbs black - Daily Express today
• Figures reveal less than two-thirds of people self-isolating after testing positive - ditto today
• Dash to go private as number of patients opting to pay for operations soars while NHS waiting lists grow, doctors warn many of those needing non-Covid care are getting 'significantly worse' while they wait - Daily Mail two days ago.
• Granted localised but...NHS in Somerset 'more' stretched than before vaccine rollout - BBC today
• Another localised one...The number of patients being treated in hospital with coronavirus in the Anglia region is now the highest since February 2021 and in line with the peak of the first wave of the pandemic in 2020 - ITV News Friday.

I would think that was enough for people to think "hold on a minute..."
They don't need to go googling or doomscrolling or watching or listening to everything on the telly or radio, these bits of information are just there, right in front of them.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yep, that's they way I am feeling about it as well.
Incidentally, Spain is now treating this 'disease' as an endemic, wont be long for other countries to follow suit.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes, the information is there for anyone who cares to look.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes, the information is there for anyone who cares to look.

Re: Coronavirus
 

The point I'm trying to make is that it does not need looking for.
The examples given were BBC, ITV, Daily Express, and Daily Mail.
Those are resources that people routinely see and read (and then discuss) without having to search.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Well with Boris and his crew around it is all you can expect. They are such a fine example of humanity.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Sadly it's an issue not just in the UK but everywhere. The battle of good willed people versus me me me and this is why in reality we cannot sustain regulations that suggest we should be doing "x" to help others and be mindful of others etc..We know that a percentage of people would put on a mask to help protect others around them but my guess is that a greater percentage will put one on when they are forced to and remove it as soon as they are able. We don't live in a world where everyone looks out for and thinks about others unfortunately so it's no surprise the governments have gone down the path of "protect yourself" because at least that is achievable to a greater extent. Judging by the percentage of non mask wearers i am seeing already it's clear most are not focused on anyone but themselves and even those wearing one are probably doing so due to health issues or immune problems and protecting themselves as much as they can.

Re: Coronavirus
 

It's there as a side story, but unlike a year or two ago, they have moved on from spotlighting the virus and it's ongoing risk. A thousand deaths a week is still 2 x 747's worth of people, but it's pretty much swept under the carpet (as said before, not dwelt upon). I realise it's old news now, and fewer are interested to hear about it, bit it's precisely this national mindset that will lead to continuing infection. There are extra deaths in complacency, like it or not. In my view, the media should be developing a standardized "Covid risk" reporting format, and continuing a tone of urgency until the deaths fall below a few dozen. Something like the UV index and an outlook by locality. Something forward looking rather than a summary of the cases/deaths curves.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Sounds like it could have some interesting graphics. :lol:

Like those here

or this


https://cimg5.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...87cd75053e.jpg

:rofl:

Re: Coronavirus
 

I guess I better not take up base jumping. :)

Re: Coronavirus
 

Peterborough Public Health have launched a COVID risk index chart along with mask wearing, social activity advice for each level.
https://www.peterboroughpublichealth...19-risk-index/

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/british...6192e82266.png

Re: Coronavirus
 

Very good. Something like this (standardized) at a national level is the way to go. Some standardized guidance (risk mitigation) to go with each level too.

Re: Coronavirus
 

i think it's excellent though how many will take note of this is another matter. I wonder if other health units are using it
This is what the advice is for HIGH RISK, So no mall walking for me. The combo of the below seasonal cold weather and COVID rules is frustrating indeed. I'm rapidly going round the twist.

Guidance for General Population

• Mask: Recommended for all interactions with people from outside your household.
• Social Gatherings: Limit social gatherings indoors.
• High-risk Settings*: Limit attending high-risk settings.

Guidance for High Risk Population**

• Mask: Strongly Recommended for all interactions with people from outside your household.
• Social Gatherings: Avoid social gatherings in all settings.
• High-risk Settings*: Avoid attending high-risk settings.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Very clear guidance too. That's what's needed, simple and clear messaging. As you say, it remains to be seen how many will take notice, but this is precisely why the media and government should adopt and promote such a tool.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Good OpEd from Dr Christina Pagel at UCL.

https://www.theguardian.com/commenti...icron-pandemic

Three Covid myths: 1. Covid is endemic (it’s not because it can still spread out of control); 2. Covid is evolving to be milder (variants are evolving independently and a more serious variant can still emerge); 3. Vaccination program is complete (existing vaccines wane and are not necessarily effective against new variants yet to emerge).

Re: Coronavirus
 

BERLIN — A 60-year-old man allegedly had himself vaccinated against COVID-19 dozens of times in Germany in order to sell forged vaccination cards with real vaccine batch numbers to people not wanting to get vaccinated themselves.

The man from the eastern Germany city of Magdeburg, whose name was not released in line with German privacy rules, is said to have received up to 90 shots against COVID-19 at vaccination centers in the eastern state of Saxony for months until criminal police caught him this month, the German news agency dpa reported Sunday.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ts/7266815001/

Re: Coronavirus
 

With that Shanghai wide lockdown, I do wonder if it's ongoing "zero Covid policy" or some new variant ?

Re: Coronavirus
 

Hmm... having screwed the world up once, maybe they are trying to be a bit more considerate this time. :rolleyes:

Re: Coronavirus
 

I received my FOURTH vaccine invitation this morning for BC.

https://globalnews.ca/news/8742523/c...bility-canada/

Re: Coronavirus
 

That link is a little misleading. Or at least parts of it are.
I don't know about NS and PEI and it may very well be the case that guidance is being updated but 4th doses/2nd boosters have been recommended and available in NB since early February, pretty much in line with the other provinces.

When that announcement was made, there was the suggestion that it would be extended for others from April 19.

And just confirmed literally minutes ago on CBC

Re: Coronavirus
 

I don’t know about other provinces, but here in BC this is how my jabs were spaced apart according to the gov guidance at the time.

#1 May 2021
#2 July 2021
#3 October 2021
#4 Will book for April 2022

Re: Coronavirus
 

4th shot availability has just been extended to over 60s in Ontario so I will be chatting to the local pharmacy about when i can get mine. Peterborough and area remain high risk for infection, apparently a third of schoolkids are off sick right now.

Re: Coronavirus
 

NB has record hospital numbers of covid patients and critical staffing levels with loads of non urgent surgery and appointments being delayed.

It's a good job there isn't a pandemic isn't it.

Re: Coronavirus
 

NB is still recording numbers? Ontario prefers to take a more mystical approach

Re: Coronavirus
 

Now that self-administered RATs have become a large part of the initial-detection mix in all Canadian jurisdictions (and indeed in similar countries world-wide), daily "case counts" are inherently approximate measures. 2nd-order stats like hospital presentations and intakes remain decent indicators in countries like Canada, where the financial costs of presentation are zero, even if the pragmatic costs are higher.

Re: Coronavirus
 

The province is no longer counting patients admitted for "non covid" reasons as covid admissions even if a test confirmed they arrived with covid but is still recording patients in hospital 'with' covid. :blink:

Re: Coronavirus
 

Seems like we will be forever in this viral loop if we don't try and move past the daily counts and constant media attention about bringing back masks or other restrictions. So many recent reports with different sources calling for masks to be reintroduced and saying restrictions are lifting too early but in reality when is the right time? Because we know after lifting restrictions cases will climb, we also know that other countries like UK who lifted them earlier saw an increase and then it plateaued so we cannot jump up and down and stamp our feet when cases go up because its not if but when they increase, it's a known fact they will go up. Of course we don't want to see surgeries being cancelled and elderly people being hidden away to protect them but a lot of the issues we are seeing now are severe staff shortages everywhere due to sickness and we know that it has become the thing now to stay home if sick yet not everyone who is sick has COVID and not everyone is actually sick of course. Some modelling "expert" the other day was calling for masks to be reintroduced as cases were climbing higher than they should and they suggested we needed to slow it down yet how will this work in the real world where social distancing is gone, no limits on gatherings, no limits on capacity at pubs/restaurants and a free for all at your private home? Unless you bring back multiple restrictions wearing a mask inside a grocery store or shopping mall is not going to achieve any serious reduction.
How many health care professionals are off sick having caught the virus from a shopping trip or visit to their nearest library versus how many caught it socializing with pals at home, in the pub or restaurant?
Summer is fast approaching and already they are predicting sell out hotels, camping spots and air bnb, all the previous summer events that have been cancelled last 2 years are back on this year so locally in Kelowna we can expect a population explosion this summer and with it no doubt increase in cases yet would it make any difference if we were to have kept restrictions in place a bit longer? We are not going for the "zero COVID" approach so inevitably we will see cases rise but what is the right call here?

Re: Coronavirus
 

I'm not sure how they caught it is the issue, just that they are unable to work which adds to pressure in the health care system.

There is also nothing wrong with health care workers going shopping, visiting the library, etc - or are you suggesting they should be isolating from all when not in work?