Re: Coronavirus
 

Investing for possible emergencies should be apolitical.
I'm no better than any other. Like most, if not all, voters I haven't been shouting about impending pandemics, but then I've not offered myself for a position of governmental responsibility.
We hear time and again from political leaders that the first responsibility of government is to protect the nation and this argument is used to spend vast amounts on the bright shiny things. History will note that no political party paid it any attention because it didn't enter the national consciousness, but that's no excuse.
And, yes, I'm speaking from hindsight. Perhaps this'll learn 'em though.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Ontario says their projected models show 3,000 to 15,000 people dying, and that is just one province. Not sure if Canada has a projected model for the country as a whole.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toron...ions-1.5519575

"Provincial health experts say they expect COVID-19 could kill 3,000 to 15,000 people in Ontario over the course of the coronavirus pandemic, the ramifications of which could last up to two years."

Re: Coronavirus
 

BC Ferries is laying off 1,400 people and cutting service, they have seen massive drop in demand.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...-bay-1.5521120

They are also cutting a pretty major route.

"A statement Friday said BC Ferries is seeing an 80 per cent drop in passengers due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To save money, the corporation said it is suspending service on the Horseshoe Bay-Departure Bay route linking West Vancouver and Nanaimo for 60 days."

City of Vancouver is going to provide meals and cleaning services to 21 SRO's in an effort to prevent an outbreak within the DTES.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...dtes-1.5521008

Re: Coronavirus
 

53 new cases, 4 more deaths, for a total of 35 deaths now, number of patients in hospitals has dropped.

4,399 acute care beds available for COVID-19 patients largely because they cancelled 11,276 non-urgent elective surgeries between March 17 and April 2.

498 active cases.

641 recovered cases.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/briti...alls-1.5509133

Vancouver convention center should be ready for patients if needed soon, the province may not need to even use it, but better to have it set up and ready rather than wait until its needed, very proactive on the part of the government.

https://vancouversun.com/news/covid-...-by-wednesday/

Re: Coronavirus
 

But it's not. As we have seen.

Re: Coronavirus
 

We are so lucky here, those numbers are good. Fingers crossed we can stay at under 100 new cases per day.

Re: Coronavirus
 

This guy is an idiot. BC Solicitor General even called him an idiot.

https://globalnews.ca/news/6777373/b...site-hospital/

My question is if he thinks this is a hoax/doesn't exist, why does he wear a mask in parts of his video?

Re: Coronavirus
 

I cannot watch the vid. Are we sure its not his underpants ?

Re: Coronavirus
 

There seems to be a lot of reduplicated effort at dealing with something like Covid at the provincial rather than national level. That's quite a broad range Ontario has come up with.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Nah, it was really a mask...ha ha

Re: Coronavirus
 

This man should be arrested and put behind bars in solitary confinement. That he could ‘encourage’ people to join him at his non social distancing get together says a lot about their sheep like mentality too. What a narcissistic, self aggrandizing, pillock.

I did see a man walking down the road yesterday with one of the small bright green dollar shop reusable bags on his head- he had just cut out two eye holes :unsure:

Re: Coronavirus
 

Would the USA notice if Canada halted the export of any items to them?

https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/3m-s...ions-1.4881032

Re: Coronavirus
 

"There is much trade that goes back and forth in essential services and it could hurt Americans as much as it hurts anybody else."
What the article didn't quote was Trudeau making the point that this is a bad time for a trade war over medical supplies in a way that Trump can understand. He mentioned that there are a lot of nurses and other medical personnel that cross from Windsor into Detroit to work in American hospitals every day. It was an indirect threat, the sort Trump is known for. I like it.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I haven't watched the video but I don't understand why there isn't more of that sort of reaction to people like this. Legally of course ;)

Something that is risking the health of other people in this way...I see it as very similar to when people with HIV could be charged for not disclosing the condition to someone they have sex or needle share with.

I hope they were paying him for the advertising. ;)

Re: Coronavirus
 

Police are investigating, if he does end up charged for breaking health orders, there are significant fines and/or up to 6 months in jail, I am sure he will be charged with something once police collect enough evidence.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Having made his point regarding the US ban on exports of 3M masks to Canada, Trudeau can take the high ground (so easy with Trump) and announce that no retaliatory measures are being considered. He makes a point of noting that constructive discussions are going on with different levels within the Trump administration. I take that to mean he isn't talking to shithead anymore; only people that can reason.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/corona...s-pm-1.4882563

Re: Coronavirus
 

Yes.

I believe the raw material used in the masks that 3M makes is natural resource from Canada.

Re: Coronavirus
 

It is broad and also somewhat exaggerated.

Currently our new cases trends below the 80,000 cases point to generate 1600 deaths. That was their best case scenario.

It's not arrogance but we've been in isolation 3 weeks so I actually think we'll do a lot less than this.

My concern is more when I will work again and how long I can pay my landlord for.

This is a controversial statement but the politicians are more concerned with killing tax payers in the long term to save a few retirees in the short term.

The pyramid scheme continues to pay upward.

Re: Coronavirus
 

There was a report in yesterday's local paper about delivery of newspapers and flyers, concluding that there was only a very, very, small chance of the virus remaining viable on newsprint.

Not a word about how the flyers always arrive in a plastic bag and the newspaper does 99% of the time.

If your newspaper carrier is a carrier of more than newspapers, I would imagine the virus might remain longer on the plastic bag than the newspaper itself. Not that it would necessarily remain viable, but it's worth thinking about I feel.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Take the bag off carefully and place in the trash. Wash your hands.

Re: Coronavirus
 

29 new cases in BC, total now 1,203.

3 more deaths.

23 long term care facilities now have outbreaks.

COVID-19 strategic advisory committee is being created in BC to facilitate research related to the virus.

Re: Coronavirus
 

That's exactly what I do :thumbup:

I just thought that the report might discourage this.

Re: Coronavirus
 

NB just went up to 98 cases, no deaths, 4 in hospital, one of those in ICU.
90% travel related or close contacts of those travellers.

Re: Coronavirus
 

149 in hospital here with 68 in ICU, and 704 have recovered, leaving 461 active cases.

47,352 tests completed as of April 3.

Re: Coronavirus
 

That's awesome. It looks like you have flattened it!

Re: Coronavirus
 

$2 for a can of beans now. FFS !!

found a family size for 1:99 that be me for the weekend

Re: Coronavirus
 

That's a lot of beans, I have beans with my breakfast and an ordinary can is good for about 5 mornings (always with salt and pepper and a good dash of wooster).

Re: Coronavirus
 

Excellent news. BC folk should be very proud of these results. Staying the fack home is working.

Re: Coronavirus
 

NB?
I think it's the same as everywhere else, just lower numbers. We're only 776,000 in the province. The positive results tripled in 6 days at one point.

But being that much smaller, less dense, all the usual responses happened earlier so our peak may be less dramatic so long as people don't get complacent.

I suppose, when you consider the proportion of older people is much higher here than other provinces things could be worse.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Our graph looks much better than other places, we seem to be doing well.

BC is also part of 25 initiatives around the world working toward a vaccine for COVID-19.

South Carolina is the closest state to BC's population both having around 5 million, they have 1,917 cases, 35 deaths and they have done far less tests 18,314 vs BC at 48,508 tests as of today.

So I do think we are doing very well so far.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Lots of signage around here about social distancing. People are advised to stay 6' 5" apart. I know the government says 2 metres so, at last, I have an idea of a metre beyond "a yard and a bit".

Re: Coronavirus
 

Does anyone have a plan as to how we expose everyone to this, or is life never going to return to normal? I get that we have to keep the healthcare system going, but how is the future spike to be avoided?

Are the borders going to be permanently shut?

Re: Coronavirus
 

I'm seldom surprised at the lack of common sense some people display.
The original idea was to reflect the penetration of cough droplets at about 6 feet or 2m. You have wonder at the lack of understanding displayed when making a sign stating "advised to stay 6' 5" apart". So 6' 4" is too close and 6' 6" too far apart?
Looks like I'll need to go out with a tape measure in future, wouldn't want to upset the sign police.

Re: Coronavirus
 

maybe we’re not assimilated enough. Every radio news report seems to simplify it as an (ice) hockey stick apart. 🏒🏒🏒

Re: Coronavirus
 

And..... Nothing but GREED.
https://globalnews.ca/news/6777097/c...spensing-fees/
I've rarely seen a more despicable example of exploiting a crisis by a recognised representative organisation than the restriction of dispensing prescriptions to 30 days whilst retaining the full dispensing cost.
When we see other health professionals putting their very lives on the line, we witness the most heinous example of price gouging I can remember. It's even worse to my mind than paid hospital parking.. but only just.
The excuse that this is to retain supply during the C19 crisis betrays the understanding that the same quantity is dispensed and since individual prescriptions are staggered the daily supply will not change. This is nothing more than blatent exploitation by a monopolistic cadre of those in need.

Re: Coronavirus
 

Never realized so many people get 90 days of medications at once to make such a difference. The province covers our dispensing fees but never really thought about how much extra they pay because our prescriptions are monthly, my wife alone has probably $50/month in dispensing fees covered, her doctor though wont prescribe more than 30 day supply though, so its not the pharmacists fault.

My doctor does 60 day supply.

But could certainly see if people are used to every 90 days, suddenly having to pay a filling fee/s monthly could really add up if one has several prescriptions. Often the filling fee exceeds the cost of the medication, why can prescription drugs just be sold at one set price and do away with the filling fee altogether?


I wonder if those in houses with yards and space are feeling better vs those stuck in small apartments with limited outdoor space and room inside. Seems being in a house with a yard would be more beneficially mental health wise vs stuck in a small space with no yard etc, at least with a yard there is something to do to occupy time, not so much in an apartment or condo.

I wish we had a kind and understanding landlord like this one.

“I really don’t care about money right now, I care about YOU … You shouldn’t be struggling to find a roof for your family.”

Re: Coronavirus
 

I heard that on the radio a few days ago. I would never have guessed a hockey stick was that long.

I wonder if the pharmacist association are thinking that there may be some interruption to supplies. Like the USA mysteriously diverting shipments their way. Again. Or so many staff being off sick or dead that production falls. Maybe they've had warning about it.

Perhaps the thinking is that a certain number of patients will get three months worth, come down with the virus and either through hospitalisation or death will not need the remaining supply which will go to waste. If that happens when they've only been given a month of meds there's potential to save two-thirds for everyone still breathing on their own. :ohmy:

Presumably it makes no difference to those with employee coverage that pay a %? Or do health benefits not cover the dispensing fee?

Re: Coronavirus
 

To me the joke was just the same old one about butter coming in 455millisomething slabs because metric is easier. Canadians are simple, literal, people so, when the government says "2 metres" the shop owners, knowing the public shops in imperial, translate it to something very specific even though the original number was a guesstimate.

Re: Coronavirus
 

I think you're being far too charitable.
It doesn't matter how frequently the medication is dispensed, the same quantity is supplied.
It's the wish to retain the same individual dispensing cost that betrays why this is being done. As pensioners, in our case this will triple the dispensing costs for no other reason than their wish to grab this opportunity in order to enrich their member individual pharmacists. Greed pure and simple.
The fear that a proportion of medication going to waste in anticipation of patients dying of C19 is grasping at straws.

Re: Coronavirus
 

It triples my cost too. But for Seniors in NB they are only going to charge the dispensing fee on the first one and not on the next two.

My point about an interruption in supplies was that yes, it's the same quantity overall but if three months are dished out to two thirds of the people needing the meds and then the supply is interrupted and it's all gone, then those who would be about due to get their three months worth cannot and may not get any.

Whereas if the others have only been allowed one month at a time, then everyone has something to be going on with while they await further supplies.

It's the same thinking behind the bog paper when some couldn't get any because others took more than was needed.

Why are you so sure they are not allowing for the possibility of shortages? We've just seen the US getting medical supplies intended for Germany and Canada.