Coronavirus COVID-19 - Global Health Pandemic #84

[Bravo]

I hope some of our Canadians here will let us know what people ARE thinking about this. There are hardships all the way around, but real concerns of outbreaks as well.

This article does not mention a quarantine when Canadians fly back...I thought that was ini effect as well????

Yes quarantine is a must upon return. Any of our friends/family here in Ontario are fine with border shut. Which is why we have not visited my American Family. Husbands Mom relies on us to get her groceries etc. She is going to be 86 next month and lives alone in her home. Doing well but we have noticed some decline yet nothing concerning. It is important that we are available for her. So we face time with my American Family. I/we could drive over since it is my Sister, BIL and other Family. Siblings can visit. It's hard but it's just the way it is. For now.

 

[LadyL]

A friend of mine who lives in Canada (Ontario) just got back to Canada after flying to California to spend time with a very ill relative there ... she is now quarantining for 14 days, as she must do.

(She wouldn't have gone to California, and had been vacillating about doing so, but it is an extremely serious situation. Not sure if she got some kind of Canadian exemption before travelling.)

interesting
must have been deemed low-risk by the powers-that-be

 

[Bravo]

Canada is allowing some exemptions
ETA
Update on travel restriction exemptions for extended family members and for compassionate reasons - Canada.ca

 

[SouthAussie]

interesting
must have been deemed low-risk by the powers-that-be

I have a feeling it might have been allowed on compassionate grounds.

Also, my friend lives in a small town in Ontario, and will be very good about quarantining. She is a social worker and lives a quiet life.

 

[Satchie]

I hope some of our Canadians here will let us know what people ARE thinking about this. There are hardships all the way around, but real concerns of outbreaks as well.

This article does not mention a quarantine when Canadians fly back...I thought that was ini effect as well????

Canada is closed to any kind of tourism, not just from the US. Many tourists to BC usually come from Europe, or Korea and China, for eg.

But 90% surveyed were in favour of keeping the border closed to American tourism at this time. I recall reading this quote from the mayor of Niagara Falls "As much as this hurts — and it hurts — it's all about short-term pain for long-term gain," https://www.cbc.ca/news/business/canada-u-s-border-closure-support-mayors-tourism-trump-1.5722974

IMO there are cultural as well as economic differences that show up with Covid. There is massive federal funding to ensure people and small businesses don't pay the price.

A lot of people are travelling to popular spots within Canada to take advantage of the lack of usual crowds - so that those places did have decent business this summer.

We're lucky to be able to fly to the US and Mexico, but I would say most people are putting off booking anything. A flight for January to Puerta Vallarta that would be booked up by now, is available for 1/3 price...but I'm not tempted to go.
ETA: many flights may end up being cancelled.

ETA fixed link

 

[Satchie]

interesting
must have been deemed low-risk by the powers-that-be

No approval necessary, the US is allowing flights into US, just won't allow vehicles to cross.

 

[Bravo]

Travel Advice and Advisories

 

[Bravo]

I just remembered our passports expire in 2 days. Oh well. Will renew whenever.

 

[Satchie]

I just remembered our passports expire in 2 days. Oh well. Will renew whenever.

Don't want to derail the thread, but renewals can be postponed until further notice, ie you won't have to apply for a new passport like you normally would - Eligibility requirements for Canadian passports - Canada.ca

 

[Bravo]

Don't want to derail the thread, but renewals can be postponed until further notice, ie you won't have to apply for a new passport like you normally would - Eligibility requirements for Canadian passports - Canada.ca

Thanks for the info. Much appreciated Satchie

 

[BUF]

I just remembered our passports expire in 2 days. Oh well. Will renew whenever.

We sent ours in for renewal in June. It took over three months to get them back... but that is the US, Canada may be different. They were sent certified/return receipt. We got the receipt back promptly and they cashed the checks immediately. When you called about the status, there was a message about covid.

 

[musicaljoke]

I hope some of our Canadians here will let us know what people ARE thinking about this. There are hardships all the way around, but real concerns of outbreaks as well.

This article does not mention a quarantine when Canadians fly back...I thought that was in effect as well????

It's a pretty solid opinion in these parts that the border has to stay closed for now. Quarantine is still in effect. The tourist business may have taken a hit in the early months, but by July, which is when the kids normally would be out of school and tourism really kicks in, there were no issues with lack of tourists. Our island has a huge tourist industry.

Recently, one of the local municipalities called several businesses to participate in a zoom council meeting to discuss the hardships that they have endured and how the municipalities could help. All of the businesses said that they recovered well, and some said that they were busier than they have ever been.

We're still seeing loads of tourists coming north for the fall colours. There are no tour buses and boats though, and no plays, concerts and such. People who make an income from these types of activities will have a difficult time.

Even so, the consistent call is to leave the border closed.

 

[zecats]

Yes quarantine is a must upon return. Any of our friends/family here in Ontario are fine with border shut. Which is why we have not visited my American Family. Husbands Mom relies on us to get her groceries etc. She is going to be 86 next month and lives alone in her home. Doing well but we have noticed some decline yet nothing concerning. It is important that we are available for her. So we face time with my American Family. I/we could drive over since it is my Sister, BIL and other Family. Siblings can visit. It's hard but it's just the way it is. For now.

Travel advisories and quarantine rules are in effect in NJ as well, if we visit/travel to/ arrive from certain states that are on a certain list. Since I crossed the river and ventured into DE today, to meet 2 friends for a hike and lunch at a Mexican restaurant, I'm supposed to now sit tight for 14 days. It was worth it as it was a beautiful day, a beautiful trail and a wonderful (outside ) lunch with my friends since high school.

ETA We were cautious...stayed apart from each other and other walkers, and wore masks when necessary. It was a well needed day.

 

[musicaljoke]

When I see the Covid numbers climbing like crazy in places like Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, and even Italy, my heart breaks. I'm not throwing stones, because I also realize that Canada is probably not going to be far behind. There must be breaches in the safety protocol. What is happening?

Italy had such a horrible time early in the pandemic. You'd think that they, of all the countries, would have such a passionate desire to beat Covid, that everyone would be following the most careful protocols. But, I've been watching the Giro, and I can see that people in Italy are not in solidarity over Covid prevention.

Coronavirus Update (Live): 40,587,320 Cases and 1,121,895 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer

 

[Bravo]

IMO we all are in for a bumpy winter season.

 

[MimosaMornings]

COVID-19 cases linked to Charlotte church event jump to ‘more than 23,’ county says — The Charlotte Observer

“After sounding the alarm on Twitter Saturday, Mecklenburg County Public Health said Monday it is now investigating more than 23 confirmed cases of COVID-19 linked to an event at the United House of Prayer for All People on Beatties Ford Road.

On Saturday, Mecklenburg County urged all people who attended convocation events at the church Oct. 10 and 11 to get tested. At the time, the county linked at least nine cases of COVID-19 to the weekend event.

That number has now grown, according to Mecklenburg deputy health director Raynard Washington.

The county’s tally of over 23 cases for the two-day event appears to be the highest number of cases publicly announced by local health officials that were linked to a singular event or location.”

Sigh.

 

[cass523]

8,000,000 Americans slipped into poverty amid coronavirus pandemic, study finds.

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1317654156455411714

The number of Americans living in poverty grew by 8 million since May, according to a Columbia University study, which found an increase in poverty rates after early coronavirus relief ended without more to follow.

Although the federal Cares Act, which gave Americans a one-time stimulus check of $1,200 and unemployed workers an extra $600 each week, was successful at offsetting growing poverty rates in the spring, the effects were short-lived, researchers found in the study published Thursday.

After aid diminished toward the end of summer, poverty rates, especially those among minorities and children, rebounded, they said.

A family of four earning $26,200 a year or less is considered living below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The total number of people in the U.S. living in poverty is 55 million, including the 8 million who joined their ranks since May, according to the Columbia researchers.

8 million Americans slipped into poverty amid coronavirus pandemic, new study says

 

[10ofRods]

When I see the Covid numbers climbing like crazy in places like Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, and even Italy, my heart breaks. I'm not throwing stones, because I also realize that Canada is probably not going to be far behind. There must be breaches in the safety protocol. What is happening?

Italy had such a horrible time early in the pandemic. You'd think that they, of all the countries, would have such a passionate desire to beat Covid, that everyone would be following the most careful protocols. But, I've been watching the Giro, and I can see that people in Italy are not in solidarity over Covid prevention.

Coronavirus Update (Live): 40,587,320 Cases and 1,121,895 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Pandemic - Worldometer

It was Northern Italy that had most of the deaths - and took strongest measures to shut down. Southern Italy put measures in place before the virus could seed itself throughout the region, and then, when things reopened, people in Lombardy had 10-15% rates of antibodies. Fewer than 1% of people in Rome, IIRC, had antibodies.

So I think when they reopened the schools, it all started again. More and more research shows that if K-4 graders are tested for CoVid, that once the positivity rate goes up amongst them, about 4-6 weeks later cases erupt "suddenly" in the over-30 group. While 20-somethings seem to be hospitalized only rarely, the over-30's are a different matter. Anyway, positivity amongst the elementary school kids predicts positivity among their parent generation about a month later (and the positive rate among adults will rise at the same rate as the kid rates did, more or less).

About a month after the little kids get it, it then shows up in high school students. It's thought that it percolates up through the grades, through siblings, neighborhood play groups until it finally springs into view when grown-ups start having to be hospitalized. Until then, apparently most people like to think it's just a mild cold or allergies or even the flu.

In Paris, working people are upset with mitigation measures because most still commute via public transportation, work in indoor, poorly ventilated settings, and now have to head how without a nice relaxing meal with their friend, in Paris. Most believe that the spread is from schools, that it is their coworkers with kids who are the vectors, that coworkers in general are their biggest worry, and that outdoor cafés were not the problem (regardless of time of day). So...they're rebelling quite a bit.

Italian schools opened around Sept 15. French schools opened a little earlier. France's rates are mega-out of control right now (Paris, Marseille, some other southern cities especially).

 

[cass523]

BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The health situation in Belgium is worse than in March during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, with cases of infection reaching new highs and the number of people in hospital doubling each week, officials said on Monday.

“The situation is serious. It is worse than on March 18 when the lockdown was decided,” Prime Minister Alexander De Croo told Belgian television RTL-Info.

To slow the second wave of coronavirus the government has ordered bars and restaurants across the country to close for four weeks. Most employees must work from home and a night-time curfew will start from midnight on Monday.

Belgium says COVID-19 situation serious as infections reach new highs, bars close

 

[Cool Cats]

8,000,000 Americans slipped into poverty amid coronavirus pandemic, study finds.

https://twitter.com/NBCNews/status/1317654156455411714

The number of Americans living in poverty grew by 8 million since May, according to a Columbia University study, which found an increase in poverty rates after early coronavirus relief ended without more to follow.

Although the federal Cares Act, which gave Americans a one-time stimulus check of $1,200 and unemployed workers an extra $600 each week, was successful at offsetting growing poverty rates in the spring, the effects were short-lived, researchers found in the study published Thursday.

After aid diminished toward the end of summer, poverty rates, especially those among minorities and children, rebounded, they said.

A family of four earning $26,200 a year or less is considered living below the poverty line, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The total number of people in the U.S. living in poverty is 55 million, including the 8 million who joined their ranks since May, according to the Columbia researchers.

8 million Americans slipped into poverty amid coronavirus pandemic, new study says

This photo from your linked article, thank you for sharing, really says it all, really gets to me:

A Maricopa County constable escorts a family out of their apartment after serving an eviction order for non-payment on Sept. 30 in Phoenix. (John Moore / Getty Images)