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Lastpointe said:
Absolutely stunning article in the globe today about our public health issues. Investigative journalism article. Long so can’t post it. Well worth reading about how we had a good warning system and it was sort of turned off two years ago. How the government has replaced scientists in the health department with civil servants. How is 2018 we sent a civil servant to a WHO pandemic meeting rather than the epidemiologist that needed to go

what a mess

sorry I can’t get it posted
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Yeah, I read it, too. Some of the problems go back to Harper but a lot of it is recent so definitely on this government's watch. With two investigations underway (though I really only trust the Auditor General's since the other is under the auspices of the Minister of Health), there should be some interesting reading in the coming year.

Here it is, but remember the Globe's paywall limits non-subscribers to 10 articles a month or something like that. At least they didn't make this one subscriber-only. It's definitely something everyone needs to have access to.

www.theglobeandmail.com

‘We are not prepared’: The flaws inside Public Health that hurt Canada’s readiness for COVID-19

When Canada unplugged support for its pandemic alert system last year, it was a symptom of bigger problems inside the Public Health Agency. Experienced scientists were pushed aside, expertise was eroded, and internal warnings went unheeded, which hindered the department’s response to COVID-19
www.theglobeandmail.com www.theglobeandmail.com
 
I saw that too. That is a bit scary. How did they get it. Passing someone on the sidewalk?

we just got back from a hike on our golf course. As we passed people we all gave a wide circle. But we talked About how we were breathing hard in the two feet deep snow. As were the others. So did any virus linger in the air after we passed each other? could the cold air keep it airborn longer? After all, the two meters distance is a recommendation only
 
Luce NDs said:
You are a manufacturer of fear ..
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And one study estimates that no less than 129 billion face masks were being used every month around the world.

Face masks have also grown to litter every corner of our neighborhoods, from storm drains to creeks, parks to beaches.

It turns out that our oceans are swimming with face masks, according to a new report from marine conservation NGO OceansAsia.

The Hong Kong-based group estimates that some 1.56 billion face masks will have flooded our oceans in 2020 alone .

A major contributor to the ongoing crisis of plastic pollution in our ocean, with disposable face masks taking as long as 450 years to break down.

And with 52 billion masks being manufactured in this year, with the average weight of each single-use polypropylene surgical face mask being 3 to 4 grams, we could be looking at anywhere from 4,680 to 6,240 metric tons of new marine plastic pollution.

But it was worth it?

The report notes that the global sales force of face masks has grown exponentially, increasing from $800 million in 2019 to $166 billion in 2020.
 
Sensible people have quilting friends. Part of my Christmas gift was a new mask in a wild cartoon shark pattern, and a crocheted cotton ear saver that you thread your ponytail through, and she took back two favourite masks, for the fabric, but both had ties, not ear loops, so those are being replaced, and my absolute fav had lining fabric that had too much polyester in it, so I'm getting my batman masks re-conditioned, so to speak. And I'm sure as hell not tossing these hand made (with love) treasures around the park.

And in case one might remark that they had no quilting friends, I have an open offer to my co-workers that if they want nice masks in exchange for a donation to the church (I usually give $10 a mask), I will acquire them for them, and I have had my offer taken up. I've also distributed hand-crocheted ear savers to those who would like them.

And PG-13, I'm not sure where my beloved sister and good church friend, are getting the virus to sprinkle on their masks, lolololol...
 
Ritafee said:
And one study estimates that no less than 129 billion face masks were being used every month around the world.

Face masks have also grown to litter every corner of our neighborhoods, from storm drains to creeks, parks to beaches.

It turns out that our oceans are swimming with face masks, according to a new report from marine conservation NGO OceansAsia.

The Hong Kong-based group estimates that some 1.56 billion face masks will have flooded our oceans in 2020 alone .

A major contributor to the ongoing crisis of plastic pollution in our ocean, with disposable face masks taking as long as 450 years to break down.

And with 52 billion masks being manufactured in this year, with the average weight of each single-use polypropylene surgical face mask being 3 to 4 grams, we could be looking at anywhere from 4,680 to 6,240 metric tons of new marine plastic pollution.

But it was worth it?

The report notes that the global sales force of face masks has grown exponentially, increasing from $800 million in 2019 to $166 billion in 2020.
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And if a good portion of the world was responsible ... would we be having the same discussion? But this world is not heaven is it? So much to learn about things fringing on evil and claiming to be the best ... a subtle lesson!
 
BetteTheRed said:
And in case one might remark that they had no quilting friends, I have an open offer to my co-workers that if they want nice masks in exchange for a donation to the church (I usually give $10 a mask), I will acquire them for them, and I have had my offer taken up.
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Has it not been determined that paper masks are more effective than fabric? There was a study that came out a few weeks ago which suggested this. Additionally the paper ones are more comfortable to wear. in my experience anyways.

Agreed that is disgusting to see them tossed on the street.
 
A cloth mask, especially one made with quilting fabric (and especially if it's got a filter - paper or fused polypropylene) were ranked as almost as good as a paper mask from an effectiveness POV. It was the bandanas, and particular the neck gaiters, which were a real failure compared to surgical or N95.

And I've tried a bunch of things for "comfort", and the best is a well fitting mask that dips down below your glasses, has a nose wire, is made from pure quilting cotton, and either has perfect ear loops (hard to do) or is adjusted with a good ear saver, and finally I wear a silicone mask bracket under my mask to keep it a bit away from my mouth so that I'm not breathing in fabric, and it helps my voice project a bit better.
 
paradox3 said:
Has it not been determined that paper masks are more effective than fabric? There was a study that came out a few weeks ago which suggested this. Additionally the paper ones are more comfortable to wear. in my experience anyways.

Agreed that is disgusting to see them tossed on the street.
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I think it depends much on the person. I saw a doctor, and in a very short time frame it fell below his nose at least 5 times. For me, they always end up riding up, to the point where despite trying to fit them well by the time I'm getting out of the clinic I can't actually see where I'm stepping when going downstairs (can see in front of me).
The 3 layer fabric ones that I purchased from a friend fit me well, and the inner layer is made with an appropriate fabric to increase the protection. One time when I was wearing one, the outer layer split, it was very obvious the masking was going in and out with my breath as they are supposed to (instead of the air going in and out through the sides, top or bottom). I also find the elastics going around the head to be preferable to the ear loops and it drastically improves the fit.
 
Mendalla said:
And this just broke this afternoon. Two cases of COVID in Durham have been confirmed to be the UK strain. And the couple with it had not travelled internationally or had any obvious contacts so likely there are others kicking around undetected.

www.theglobeandmail.com

Ontario confirms first two Canadian cases of COVID-19 variant discovered in U.K.

The couple had no known travel history exposure or high-risk contacts
www.theglobeandmail.com www.theglobeandmail.com
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I would like to see contacts increased. High risk, medium risk and low risk - or close contact, medium contact, minimal contact and then no contact at the end. When Chemguy got tested technically he wasn't a close contact, but they were considering him to be - I suspect they just didn't trust them about being at least 2m apart to be safe. One can be in the same household and not be considered a close contact. 15 minutes, within 2 meters is too rigid IMO.
With the doctor whose mask kept falling down? Felt risky to me and I would have liked to have been notified and tested if he were positive even though were were together for under 15 minutes. There have been some good contact tracing, especially with super spreader events where that 2 m wasn't the make or break it factor.

It would be nice to hear what they had been doing. At a restaurant 2 m away from others? Grocery shopping? At a clinic? etc.
 
ChemGal said:
t. 15 minutes, within 2 meters is too rigid IMO.
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As it was explained to me, the 15 minutes are the total time, so if you live in the same household and meet three times for five= 15 minutes. As the new version of Covid is more contagious, we now don’t know anymore anyway.
As for masks- even the medical masks are different qualities- some of them really suck, fogging up glasses. As I get a new one every day at work, I have been cutting off the earloops and taking out the metal stay to use them on my self sewn masks ( after cleaning). I like the ear loops much better than the eastics.
 
Mrs.Anteater said:
As it was explained to me, the 15 minutes are the total time, so if you live in the same household and meet three times for five= 15 minutes. As the new version of Covid is more contagious, we now don’t know anymore anyway.
As for masks- even the medical masks are different qualities- some of them really suck, fogging up glasses. As I get a new one every day at work, I have been cutting off the earloops and taking out the metal stay to use them on my self sewn masks ( after cleaning). I like the ear loops much better than the eastics.
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It still seems too loose though. Once Chemguy was isolated I didn't spend 15 min that close to him. Plus like I mentioned with the doctor. Small room not consistent masking face to face for 5 minutes seems like it possible to get sick - for any variant.
 
So, 11 months after this started, our government is NOW requiring a negative test to fly to Canada

what on earth was the issue here? I get that a negative test is a snap shot of a particular moment in time. And that a two week mandatory quarantine is still needed. But really. The rest of the world has required negative tests for months and months
 
edmonton.ctvnews.ca

Updated personal training rules 'frustrating,' says gym owner

The Alberta government is clarifying how its public health orders affect fitness centres, which one owner says is confusing and frustrating.
edmonton.ctvnews.ca edmonton.ctvnews.ca

When it comes to rules, this type of thing is frustrating.. Basically if someone has a home gym, they can get a great 1-1 training session. If someone's home isn't set up for that, they cannot go to their trainer's gym. Plus the constant reclarifying of rules is confusing. Make it simple, 1 client is allowed in a facility, or even per area (so a large gym can have a pair in a cardio area, another pair in a weight training area, etc). I see no difference between trainers going from residence to residence or clients coming to them. I know of 3 home based business gyms where trainers have turned their basements into gyms. Risk of that seems pretty similar to chiropractic, massage, etc.
 
ChemGal said:
I see no difference between trainers going from residence to residence or clients coming to them.
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I would see the difference in that in a private home there are likely more people living there and the responsibility for the covid precautions is in the clients hands ( cleaning for example) while in a gym its the trainers responsibility as well as it is more under public view. The risk of a trainer getting infected by going into peoples houses and then spreading it into other homes is greater.
 
And Ontario passes the 3000 new cases in a day mark. Not just passed it by a bit, but f-ing blew clean through it. Hopefully, this is the Christmas wave starting and once we get past it, things will quiet down. Our provincial lockdown has, after all, only been in force for a few days now, not long enough to show an impact given incubation time.

toronto.ctvnews.ca

Ontario shatters single-day record once again with more than 3,300 new COVID-19 cases

Ontario is reporting a record-breaking number of new COVID-19 cases for the third consecutive day as case numbers climb above the 3,000 mark for the first time since the beginning of the pandemic.
toronto.ctvnews.ca
 
It is a sick situation for those that believe not in this syndrome of stress as dis-eased!

It is said to be an agent in rheumatoid conditions. These may be broad-spread in the paradigm ... pain of the ephemeral spirit!

It may be flighty ...
 
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