Canada - Coronavirus COVID-19 #3

[LadyL]

'Figure of hope' praised for role in COVID-19 fight after death

 

[JDG]

I wonder what they will do with international students, students from China, who were required to receive Chinese-made vaccines that are not authorized by the Canadian government. I wonder if their universities will have to add on the cost of quarantine hotels to their students' financial aid packages, or if the universities in Canada will make a deal with the government to keep them in quarantine on their campuses.

I think if you dont have an approved vaccine, you have to go into quarantine on arrival.

Its up to the students/their families to pay for it. At least I sure hope so.

Has it even been determined IF/WHEN we are having international students in Canada yet??

We need to vaccinate our own population, fully, then see where the numbers and variants go from there.

If we open too early, we'll be back in quarantine.....again.

Speaking only for myself, I am not rushing into malls, hairdressers etc.

Shall remain in my new hermit lifestyle for awhile yet.

I can manage with the occasional take out pizza and my own food.

 

[JDG]

DBM

 

[otto]

I wonder what they will do with international students, students from China, who were required to receive Chinese-made vaccines that are not authorized by the Canadian government. I wonder if their universities will have to add on the cost of quarantine hotels to their students' financial aid packages, or if the universities in Canada will make a deal with the government to keep them in quarantine on their campuses.

International students have to have a quarantine plan in place regardless of whether they are exempt from quarantine. Students pay out of pocket for everything, including quarantine.

COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada - Travel restrictions in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

 

[Sundog]

International students have to have a quarantine plan in place regardless of whether they are exempt from quarantine. Students pay out of pocket for everything, including quarantine.

COVID-19 vaccinated travellers entering Canada - Travel restrictions in Canada – Travel.gc.ca

I wonder if international students at some universities will be able to use some of their financial aid/scholarship money to pay for the quarantine, as part of their housing allowance. That would make sense. A lot of students wouldn't be able to pay up to $2,000 up front for a quarantine hotel, which is the cost I read on the Canadian government website. Universities make a lot of money from international students, and I am guessing that they will want to help with these costs as part of the students' housing stipends. We're working with our international students here in the U.S. to do whatever it takes to help get them here, and there are some unusal costs/grants/aid money for things that wouldn't have been covered in the past.

ETA We have taken one of our older residence halls off line during the pandemic that was slated for renovations soon, and are using that residence hall as our quarantine facility for students (both international and domestic). It has worked quite well over the last year and a half, plans are to continue to use it this year as well. It is only for students who live on campus, not for students who live off campus.

 

[deugirtni]

Gisèle Lévesque, the first person in Canada to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, has died
The 89-year-old died peacefully of natural causes last Monday, surrounded by family. She's survived by her brothers and sisters, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends

Gisèle Lévesque, the first person in Canada to receive a COVID-19 vaccine, has died | National Post

ETA: Oops, sorry, didn't realize this story had already been posted: Canada - Coronavirus COVID-19 #3

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Some restrictions eased for Canadians, permanent residents crossing US border (clickondetroit.com)

Travel restrictions still imposed on US residents, travelers

Canada has eased some travel restrictions for fully vaccinated Canadian citizens and permanent residents crossing the U.S. border.

Canadian citizens and permanent Canadian residents may begin entering Canada without quarantining afterward on July 5 if they are fully vaccinated, CBC News reports. This announcement does not apply to U.S. citizens and residents traveling to Canada...

 

[otto]

I wonder if international students at some universities will be able to use some of their financial aid/scholarship money to pay for the quarantine, as part of their housing allowance. That would make sense. A lot of students wouldn't be able to pay up to $2,000 up front for a quarantine hotel, which is the cost I read on the Canadian government website. Universities make a lot of money from international students, and I am guessing that they will want to help with these costs as part of the students' housing stipends. We're working with our international students here in the U.S. to do whatever it takes to help get them here, and there are some unusal costs/grants/aid money for things that wouldn't have been covered in the past.

ETA We have taken one of our older residence halls off line during the pandemic that was slated for renovations soon, and are using that residence hall as our quarantine facility for students (both international and domestic). It has worked quite well over the last year and a half, plans are to continue to use it this year as well. It is only for students who live on campus, not for students who live off campus.

Foreign students in Canada pay 2-3 times tuition compared to Canadians. Students can use grant and scholarship money for the purpose intended, which is typically to offset educational or research costs. From the earlier link, there are specific quarantine sites for foreigners. University residences are not approved quarantine sites at this time, and that's not likely to change.

"The Government of Canada requires all students, and any family members accompanying them, arriving from an international location to:

• Stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel upon arrival for three days. ...
• Quarantine for 14 days (inclusive of your three-day hotel stay) and monitor themselves for symptoms."

 

[tarabull]

Here's what COVID-19 restrictions look like across Canada

 

[Sundog]

Foreign students in Canada pay 2-3 times tuition compared to Canadians. Students can use grant and scholarship money for the purpose intended, which is typically to offset educational or research costs. From the earlier link, there are specific quarantine sites for foreigners. University residences are not approved quarantine sites at this time, and that's not likely to change.

"The Government of Canada requires all students, and any family members accompanying them, arriving from an international location to:

• Stay in a government-approved quarantine hotel upon arrival for three days. ...
• Quarantine for 14 days (inclusive of your three-day hotel stay) and monitor themselves for symptoms."

Same here in the U.S., our international students pay much more for tuition, that is why they are in such demand in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, etc.

Mostly it is our international graduate students who get university aid for research (usually a stipend for being a teaching assistant), but both our undergraduate and graduate international students can also get financial aid for housing as well, especially our undergraduates (more rare for graduate students, although often there is subsidized housing for married graduate students with families).

The cost of study and the amount of aid provided by the university is broken down by category on the paperwork they receive from the university that they show at the embassy in their home country when they apply for their visa to study abroad. The Canadian government site says that they are trying to get all international student visas processed by early August, and urged international students to apply for their visas sometime in May (I forget the date) in order to get their approval in time to travel abroad before the fall semester begins.

The university where the student is attending will send the student paperwork that shows the cost of study for one year (including tuition, housing, etc.) and any financial aid or grants/scholarships that they will provide the student. If there is a gap in the cost of study and aid provided, then the student has to show how they will make up the difference before they can get their student visa approved. They need to show that they can cover the costs and won't need to work off campus. International students are only allowed to work on campus, usually for a maximum 0f 20 hours a week.

When I left Canada for graduate studies in the U.S., I had to get a student visa (F-1) from the university where I was going to study. My nephew from Beijing went to the University of Toronto and his university provided paperwork and student visa requirements were pretty much the same, we helped him with the preparation for when he went to the Canadian Embassy in Beijing to get his student visa.

Anyway, off topic, but concerned for the many international students who will be arriving this fall semester for their studies abroad in both the U.S. and Canada and hope that the universities are allocating funds to help these students with this particular hurdle regarding the costs of quarantine.

Many of the international students at our university stayed over the summer and didn't go home to see their families, in order to be sure that they were able to return. The student affairs staff and the staff in our international studies center at our university have been working hard to help them during this process. Over the last year, with the U.S. embassies closed for processing of visas, many of of our international students deferred enrollment, some have been able to take online courses within the government's policies related to online courses.

 

[otto]

Same here in the U.S., our international students pay much more for tuition, that is why they are in such demand in the U.S., Canada, and Australia, etc.

Mostly it is our international graduate students who get university aid for research (usually a stipend for being a teaching assistant), but both our undergraduate and graduate international students can also get financial aid for housing as well, especially our undergraduates (more rare for graduate students, although often there is subsidized housing for married graduate students with families).

The cost of study and the amount of aid provided by the university is broken down by category on the paperwork they receive from the university that they show at the embassy in their home country when they apply for their visa to study abroad. The Canadian government site says that they are trying to get all international student visas processed by early August, and urged international students to apply for their visas sometime in May (I forget the date) in order to get their approval in time to travel abroad before the fall semester begins.

The university where the student is attending will send the student paperwork that shows the cost of study for one year (including tuition, housing, etc.) and any financial aid or grants/scholarships that they will provide the student. If there is a gap in the cost of study and aid provided, then the student has to show how they will make up the difference before they can get their student visa approved. They need to show that they can cover the costs and won't need to work off campus. International students are only allowed to work on campus, usually for a maximum 0f 20 hours a week.

When I left Canada for graduate studies in the U.S., I had to get a student visa (F-1) from the university where I was going to study. My nephew from Beijing went to the University of Toronto and his university provided paperwork and student visa requirements were pretty much the same, we helped him with the preparation for when he went to the Canadian Embassy in Beijing to get his student visa.

Anyway, off topic, but concerned for the many international students who will be arriving this fall semester for their studies abroad in both the U.S. and Canada and hope that the universities are allocating funds to help these students with this particular hurdle regarding the costs of quarantine.

Many of the international students at our university stayed over the summer and didn't go home to see their families, in order to be sure that they were able to return. The student affairs staff and the staff in our international studies center at our university have been working hard to help them during this process. Over the last year, with the U.S. embassies closed for processing of visas, many of of our international students deferred enrollment, some have been able to take online courses within the government's policies related to online courses.

Same here - many international students who were here remained here. A few went home because classes were 100% online. However, in the Fall, classes will be a hybrid of in-person and online. Students I've spoken with are eager to have in-person classes and are unconcerned about pandemic. Faculty are more cautious.

There are some grants for international students, but the majority of awards are for merit.

 

[otto]

Pfizer seems to be 64% effective with the Delta variant, and some countries are considering a third covid shot for some population groups.

"According to the ministry, the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 has dropped by some 30 percent to 64%, given the spread of the Delta variant. The data shows that during May, when the strain was less prevalent, the vaccine was 94.3% effective. ...

Amid the rise in COVID cases across the country, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett along with Health Minister Nitzan Horowtiz instructed the Health Ministry on Monday to promote two medical studies on the need for a third vaccine shot against the coronavirus, which they said will provide decision-makers with “vital information.” ...

Netanyahu said in a video released on his social media channels that “from conversations I’ve had with some of the best experts in the world, I believe the third vaccine [dose] should be given to the over-50 population starting in August, in order to finish the task by the end of September.”

He said that no one currently knows when a drop in immunity will leave the population susceptible to infection once again. “The price of being late… could be deadly and cost many lives,” he said.​

Israel confirms vaccine less effective against Delta variant, eyes third dose

 

[KALI]

Good on you Canada! I agree 100%.
Neither China or Russia can be trusted to disclose the true worthiness of their vaccines.
Actually, they can be trusted...to lie.
ALL countries, including the USA should follow Canada's lead on this one.

Global News:
Want to skip Canada’s quarantine hotels? Depends on which COVID-19 vaccine you got

 

[deugirtni]

Good on you Canada! I agree 100%.
Neither China or Russia can be trusted to disclose the true worthiness of their vaccines.
Actually, they can be trusted...to lie.
ALL countries, including the USA should follow Canada's lead on this one.

I think if the WHO has approved the vaccines, they should be treated equally as far as travelling between countries. Canada was 'up in arms' about not being allowed to attend the Bruce Springstein concert in the US because the US was doing the same thing, and many Canadians had been vaccinated with the AZ vax. Canada's PM received AZ, Ontario's premiere received AZ, and Toronto's mayor received the AZ vax. We can't expect other countries to welcome Canadians when Canada is doing the same thing with other countries (ie not allowing people vaccinated with different, WHO approved, vaccines to enjoy the same privileges as those vaccinated with vaxes specifically approved by that country). jmo.

From the same article referenced:

Bowman pointed out that the AstraZeneca vaccine has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yet, so if that country followed Canada’s lead, then it would limit the freedom of movement for millions of Canadians.

He said Canada’s new policy will exclude millions of people who have received the Sputnik V vaccine or one of China’s two vaccines.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved those vaccines, Bowman said Canada isn’t following the scientific evidence.

Instead, he thinks there should be an international standard set by WHO.

“Otherwise, we’ve got problems with fairness and freedom of movement.”

Want to skip Canada’s quarantine hotels? Depends on which COVID-19 vaccine you got

Canadians who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are excluded from seeing Bruce Springsteen on Broadway, raising concerns for travel limitations moving forward.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1910484547891

The decision was then reversed:

Guests will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO approved vaccine in order to attend SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry into the theatre with their valid ticket. “Fully vaccinated” means the performance date you are attending must be:
– at least 14 days after your second dose of a FDA or WHO approved two dose COVID-19 vaccine, or
– at least 14 days after your single dose of a FDA or WHO approved single dose COVID-19 vaccine.
‘Springsteen On Broadway’ Reverses AstraZeneca Policy – Deadline

 

[JDG]

680News is reporting that 6 people were injected with saline at a Niagara area clinic.

205 people are being called back for another shot.

At the end of the day there were shots left over and an extra saline vial was used. Saline is used as a dilutant for the Pfizer shot.

Sounds like they know which day but not which persons got the saline only.

 

[LadyL]

Pfizer seems to be 64% effective with the Delta variant, and some countries are considering a third covid shot for some population groups.

"According to the ministry, the Pfizer vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 has dropped by some 30 percent to 64%, given the spread of the Delta variant. The data shows that during May, when the strain was less prevalent, the vaccine was 94.3% effective. ...

Amid the rise in COVID cases across the country, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett along with Health Minister Nitzan Horowtiz instructed the Health Ministry on Monday to promote two medical studies on the need for a third vaccine shot against the coronavirus, which they said will provide decision-makers with “vital information.” ...

Netanyahu said in a video released on his social media channels that “from conversations I’ve had with some of the best experts in the world, I believe the third vaccine [dose] should be given to the over-50 population starting in August, in order to finish the task by the end of September.”

He said that no one currently knows when a drop in immunity will leave the population susceptible to infection once again. “The price of being late… could be deadly and cost many lives,” he said.​

Israel confirms vaccine less effective against Delta variant, eyes third dose

oh crap
bad news for me

 

[LadyL]

Some Canadians experiencing stronger reactions to second COVID-19 vaccine dose; experts say that’s normal

 

[Sundog]

oh crap
bad news for me

According to the article -

The data, however, also shows that the vaccine is still highly effective against preventing serious symptoms and hospitalization. During May, that figure stood at 98.2%, and during June, it was 93%.

And regarding the third booster shot that Israel is recommending/considering, it is for immunocompromised individuals, including organ transplant recipients and cancer patients.

Health officials are concerned by data that shows immunocompromised people develop an insufficient antibody response from the two-shot vaccine to shield them from the virus.

Immunocompromised individuals include organ transplant recipients and cancer patients.

 

[otto]

There's optimism that vaccinated Canadians will ensure that hospitalizations are reduced, but the Delta variant is a serious concern in most of the world.

"Like other countries, Canada has been grappling with the rise of the delta variant, thought to be up to six times more contagious than the early strain of SARS-CoV-2.

"As delta spreads rapidly, it's acting like a heat-seeking missile targeting those who haven't yet been vaccinated," warned Dr. Tom Frieden, the former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in a social media post in late June.

Thankfully, the overall level of protection in Canada is now far higher than many other regions of the world. ...

Experts warn that as Canada continues reopening, providing delta more opportunities to transmit, those pockets of unvaccinated individuals act as kindling to a flame.​

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/delta-variant-1.6092203

 

[LadyL]

I think if the WHO has approved the vaccines, they should be treated equally as far as travelling between countries. Canada was 'up in arms' about not being allowed to attend the Bruce Springstein concert in the US because the US was doing the same thing, and many Canadians had been vaccinated with the AZ vax. Canada's PM received AZ, Ontario's premiere received AZ, and Toronto's mayor received the AZ vax. We can't expect other countries to welcome Canadians when Canada is doing the same thing with other countries (ie not allowing people vaccinated with different, WHO approved, vaccines to enjoy the same privileges as those vaccinated with vaxes specifically approved by that country). jmo.

From the same article referenced:

Bowman pointed out that the AstraZeneca vaccine has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) yet, so if that country followed Canada’s lead, then it would limit the freedom of movement for millions of Canadians.

He said Canada’s new policy will exclude millions of people who have received the Sputnik V vaccine or one of China’s two vaccines.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) has approved those vaccines, Bowman said Canada isn’t following the scientific evidence.

Instead, he thinks there should be an international standard set by WHO.

“Otherwise, we’ve got problems with fairness and freedom of movement.”

Want to skip Canada’s quarantine hotels? Depends on which COVID-19 vaccine you got

Canadians who received the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine are excluded from seeing Bruce Springsteen on Broadway, raising concerns for travel limitations moving forward.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1910484547891

The decision was then reversed:

Guests will need to be fully vaccinated with an FDA or WHO approved vaccine in order to attend SPRINGSTEEN ON BROADWAY and must show proof of vaccination at their time of entry into the theatre with their valid ticket. “Fully vaccinated” means the performance date you are attending must be:
– at least 14 days after your second dose of a FDA or WHO approved two dose COVID-19 vaccine, or
– at least 14 days after your single dose of a FDA or WHO approved single dose COVID-19 vaccine.
‘Springsteen On Broadway’ Reverses AstraZeneca Policy – Deadline

seriously people were freaking out about a stupid concert? smh