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Seems to be a grey area as to whats essential.
Well, there's that, but that's a whole different grey area. My employer is legally essential (home health and treating COVID patients) and we need IT, administration, accounting, etc. operating to support that so our head office remains open even though it may not be the "essential" part of the business. However, my team are all capable of working from home (again, IT) so only one of us actually goes in most days (since we need to be able to ship out replacement equipment, change backup tapes, and other activities requiring on-site). So even though my employer is essential health care and open, my job function can be carried out off site so we work from home as much as possible. And that needs to be encouraged.

Read a good article in the Globe, too, about some businesses buying the 90 minute PCR tests to test employees on site. Sadly, it is behind their paywall, so I haven't bothered to share it.
 
I don't like some of the "essential"/"non-essential" categories. Many so called non-essential services can operate safely. Arguably too, things like TVs, hobbies and such are essential when people are locked in. Many stores like Best Buy or Michaels offer a curbside pick-up service so people don't even have to enter the store. BC didn't close those businesses in March and it worked out well then
 
I don't like some of the "essential"/"non-essential" categories. Many so called non-essential services can operate safely. Arguably too, things like TVs, hobbies and such are essential when people are locked in. Many stores like Best Buy or Michaels offer a curbside pick-up service so people don't even have to enter the store. BC didn't close those businesses in March and it worked out well then
Grey in Ontario allows curbside, just not customers in the store. However, some businesses argue online with curbside is still hurting them since in-store customers can make impulse purchases and some people won't buy certain items sight unseen.
 
Here's a summary of the new rules for Ontario from the London Free Press. Effective date is December 26.

One thing they left out that I found out from CTV London is that travellers coming/returning to Ontario from the rest of Canada are now being asked to isolate. That's a new wrinkle that I don't think we have had in Ontario before.
 
Here's a summary of the new rules for Ontario from the London Free Press. Effective date is December 26.


I'll have to look again. The bullet about big box stores is unclear. Are they open or closed?

These are similar restrictions that we have. Stores and malls are open with restrictions. I had to reluctantly go to the mall yesterday. There were lots of people there but not even close to what it would normally be like five days before Christmas. It was also easy to maintain a distance. Masks are mandatory.
 
I'll have to look again. The bullet about big box stores is unclear. Are they open or closed?

Only ones that carry essential goods (like groceries) are open. Things like Best Buy will be curbside only. And in some health units currently in grey, they've put in additional restrictions that areas with unessential items have to be closed off. So in Walmart Superstores, you'd be able to shop in grocery and pharmacy, but not toys or electronics. That does not seem to be included in the provincial rules, though.

These are similar restrictions that we have. Stores and malls are open with restrictions. I had to reluctantly go to the mall yesterday. There were lots of people there but not even close to what it would normally be like five days before Christmas. It was also easy to maintain a distance. Masks are mandatory.

All non-essential stores, including mall stores, here will be curbside only (and already are in grey areas). No in-person except for grocery and pharmacy.
 
Watched the press conference. Ford was quietly critical of Trudeau. Commented that vaccines are “trickling” into Ontario. Also specifically mentioned Pearson had 69,000 arrivals last week. That he has asked for mandatory testing since March and it isn’t being done. He said if Feds won’t step up and do it, he will. While I doubt they could access the airport buildings without fed approval they could certainly set up a traffic stop at the exit roads and test everyone in every car.

he also mentioned $10,000-20,000 availabe for small businesses. When asked about why wait, he was interesting. He said the current lock downs were given notice. That in particular restaurants need time to deplete inventory that they have already purchased.

he also specifically called out people traveling from one zone to the next. While he didn’t actually say cottages, it is inferred. Certainly here in Grey county we don’t like the Toronto weekend folks arriving. Come, but stay. Don’t go back and forth
 
Should have started the lockdown right away and be damned about putting inventory (things) above people's lives, IMO.
 
Re: traveling from region to region. In some parts of the province people do this for work. A family member lives in Durham and works in Toronto. 20 minute drive tops.
 
So in Walmart Superstores, you'd be able to shop in grocery and pharmacy, but not toys or electronics.

This is what I don't like about the essential/non-essential categories. Isn't it rather like having no peeing sections in the swimming pool.

Also specifically mentioned Pearson had 69,000 arrivals last week. That he has asked for mandatory testing since March and it isn’t being done. He said if Feds won’t step up and do it, he will. While I doubt they could access the airport buildings without fed approval they could certainly set up a traffic stop at the exit roads and test everyone in every car.
It seems to me Alberta has implemented testing at Edmonton and/or Calgary airport(s). @ChemGal probably knows the answer to this.
 
Re: traveling from region to region. In some parts of the province people do this for work. A family member lives in Durham and works in Toronto. 20 minute drive tops.
Sure. Tons of people live in Barrie and work in Toronto. But unless they are essential workers they will be working for home. I suspect the numbers of people who do that in Barrie accounts for Barrie already being in the red zone. Where we are it’s two hours to Toronto. So a very few make the trip one day a week but very few. Just that little bit too far, especially in the winter
 
What I don’t get: Germany has quick tests- take 30 minutes for the results right on the spot 90+% accuracy and administered directly in the nursing home to visitors. NS now has pop up testing sites with “ quick tests” for people with no symptoms, meant for people who are planning to visit elderly in nursing homes as they said today on the radio or for people who have been socializing a lot, which of course only guarantee you not being contagious on that day, but it takes 48-72 hours to get the results.
 
What I don’t get: Germany has quick tests- take 30 minutes for the results right on the spot 90+% accuracy and administered directly in the nursing home to visitors. NS now has pop up testing sites with “ quick tests” for people with no symptoms, meant for people who are planning to visit elderly in nursing homes as they said today on the radio or for people who have been socializing a lot, which of course only guarantee you not being contagious on that day, but it takes 48-72 hours to get the results.

None of the 30 minute tests have been approved by Health Canada, else we would be using them the same way. Too high a false negative rate is the reason, IIRC. There is one that gives results in 90 minutes but Health Canada doesn't consider that a rapid test due to the time. Some businesses are starting to buy and use it for testing employees per an article (paywalled) in the Globe.
 
I know someone who thought she had mild cold like symptoms but wasn't knowingly near anyone with covid. She got a spit test instead of the up the nose thing. I think she said it was quick. It was negative for covid-19.
 
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