Novel Coronavirus

[ChemGal]

Staggering break times, zoom meetings, eating at your desk, etc. I've seen people eating their lunch outside the hospital here. They also have a courtyard area that is sheltered and often sunny that people enjoy. There are options

You do know how cold Edmonton gets right? I don't see how staggering break times could work with visits there are presentations. They would still need a place to be anyway. Many don't have desks and when out of town those that do can't exactly just go there for lunch. I question some of the need to all come to the location here but don't know all the details.

 

[ChemGal]

Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws supports mandating masks in Greater Sydney

Follow the latest headlines from ABC News, Australia's most trusted media source, with live events, audio and on-demand video from the national broadcaster.

www.abc.net.au

The epidemiologist's advice I follow.

I support mask mandates I just support exceptions with them. I was annoyed with how long Kenney took to implement them for quite a while the city had a bylaw but they wouldn't include healthcare facilities.

 

[Luce NDs]

"I think most sane people interpret "no shoes" to mean bare feet and absence of feet would remove the requirement."

I just had a long conversation with an accountant friend (not Matthew) that I see infrequently. He gets a charge out of my responses to circulating stories. On reaction to my observation in insane human responsibility limits ... he stated that he is getting that frustrated with what people try and get away with in bookkeeping that he doesn't know if he is going to want to be here much longer as we drift towards disaster in all dimensions. This is quite a force considering the recent ruckus over an unneeded youth suicide as ER staff ignored her cries for assistance while even in company of her councilor in the wait area of our main hospital.

We appear to be doomed health wise ... and don't even know that much! the unconscious ND's! Numb utt's? Masked riders ...

 

[Northwind]

You do know how cold Edmonton gets right? I don't see how staggering break times could work with visits there are presentations. They would still need a place to be anyway. Many don't have desks and when out of town those that do can't exactly just go there for lunch. I question some of the need to all come to the location here but don't know all the details.

Yes, I know how cold it gets in Edmonton. I lived in GP and FSJ for years so know cold. Many companies/workplaces have figured out how to be safer. I don't understand how anyone would think a meeting with people from different places, even in a large room, was okay at this time. There are many safer ways to hold meetings.

 

[ChemGal]

Yes, I know how cold it gets in Edmonton. I lived in GP and FSJ for years so know cold. Many companies/workplaces have figured out how to be safer. I don't understand how anyone would think a meeting with people from different places, even in a large room, was okay at this time. There are many safer ways to hold meetings.

It's not just meetings, it's training, testing, etc. although I do think some of the in-person gathering is unnecessary.

 

[PilgrimsProgress]

Epidemiologist Mary-Louise McLaws supports mandating masks in Greater Sydney

Follow the latest headlines from ABC News, Australia's most trusted media source, with live events, audio and on-demand video from the national broadcaster.

www.abc.net.au

The epidemiologist's advice I follow.

I support mask mandates I just support exceptions with them

The problem with exceptions -as Bette has pointed out in her store - is that exceptions become an excuse for simply not being bothered to wear a mask.

And even if you have a medical reason for not wearing a mask doesn't mean that you can't be a potential covid carrier and spreader.

The only sensible practical solution is to order your medications, groceries etc online -or ask a neighbour or family member to shop for you.

When the pandemic started my pharmacist said that a pharmacy was the wrong place to be if I was in the vulnerable group. For over a year now I ring him when I need anything -medication, hair dye, etc -and he delivers them to my door the same day.

You might see it as discrimination, I see it as working for the common good.

Heck, we all face some form of discrimination - when you become old you might as well be invisible to many young folks. It's simply a case of "Suck it up, Princess!"

 

[Northwind]

It's not just meetings, it's training, testing, etc. although I do think some of the in-person gathering is unnecessary.

In person meetings, training, testing etc should only be done when necessary and with restrictions. Having a meeting in a large room would not seem to fit "necessary" or have proper restrictions.

 

[ChemGal]

In person meetings, training, testing etc should only be done when necessary and with restrictions. Having a meeting in a large room would not seem to fit "necessary" or have proper restrictions.

It fits the restrictions. Not much different than when dining in is allowed in restaurants, at least people in the room are masked for most of the time when there unlike in a restaurant.

 

[ChemGal]

The problem with exceptions -as Bette has pointed out in her store - is that exceptions become an excuse for simply not being bothered to wear a mask.

And even if you have a medical reason for not wearing a mask doesn't mean that you can't be a potential covid carrier and spreader.

The only sensible practical solution is to order your medications, groceries etc online -or ask a neighbour or family member to shop for you.

When the pandemic started my pharmacist said that a pharmacy was the wrong place to be if I was in the vulnerable group. For over a year now I ring him when I need anything -medication, hair dye, etc -and he delivers them to my door the same day.

You might see it as discrimination, I see it as working for the common good.

Heck, we all face some form of discrimination - when you become old you might as well be invisible to many young folks. It's simply a case of "Suck it up, Princess!"

Or we could say suck it up princess and demand stores actually serve people and come up with ways to do so.

 

[Mrs.Anteater]

In person meetings, training, testing etc should only be done when necessary and with restrictions. Having a meeting in a large room would not seem to fit "necessary" or have proper restrictions.

And have an hour or so lunch break for people to go and get it outside if the local cafeteria is unfit. We don’t allow receptions at weddings or funeral but people think a work gathering with people from different places would be ok? Common sense, people.

 

[ChemGal]

And have an hour or so lunch break for people to go and get it outside if the local cafeteria is unfit. We don’t allow receptions at weddings or funeral but people think a work gathering with people from different places would be ok? Common sense, people.

And eat where though? Especially when in dining was closed.

My point is though, we do make a lot of exceptions already, because it would be unreasonable and even dangerous to not do so. We can do the same for those with disabilities.

 

[BetteTheRed]

Or we could say suck it up princess and demand stores actually serve people and come up with ways to do so.

I hope the "princess" wasn't directed at me.

I figure that if alternatives are available, then it's not discrimination. That would imply that any store or office that supplied a service of any sort that wasn't completely accessible (stairs, with no elevator, for instance) was discriminatory. There's lots of restaurants with a few steps up and down, for instance. Lots of retail in older parts of older towns that require walking up a flight of stairs. My yoga studio required the ascent of a dizzyingly steep set of stairs. @Kimmio can tell you that despite best efforts, not everywhere is completely accessible. I just think that, in the interest of public health, in the interest of protecting essential workers as carefully as possible, people who cannot mask should review their hundreds and hundreds of options, from phone order, to on-line order, to curbside pick-up, to delivery, to accessing friends and neighbours, to using a taxi service to do your shopping, if you can't wear a mask, you shouldn't be in a store. I would completely make exemptions, with proper documentation from a GP at least, for medical/dental care. I don't think my dentist would, but if I were in charge of the rules, I would. And if you want a rigid place, our hospital in COVID lockdown is extraordinarily serious about this. A visit to a ward there right now is a nightmare of very careful protocol involving the Health Unit, the scheduling of the visit, etc.

There's a difference between inconvenience (you can't shop in 100% of the places you used to because we're in the middle of a pandemic) and discrimination (you can't acquire this service if you have this condition).

And as I said, it appeared that our store was going for some sort of curbside pick-up/on-line order system, but we've been re-thought or put on the back burner or something. Franchisees don't have huge control over these things, and as the smallest store in the system, probably, a local store at the very edge of a not huge city, we don't get prioritized. For anything.

 

[Mendalla]

I hope the "princess" wasn't directed at me.

See Pilgrim's Progress' post that she is responding to. It's a line PP used.

 

[BetteTheRed]

Gotcha, thank you, apologies chemgal.

 

[Mendalla]

And as I said, it appeared that our store was going for some sort of curbside pick-up/on-line order system, but we've been re-thought or put on the back burner or something. Franchisees don't have huge control over these things, and as the smallest store in the system, probably, a local store at the very edge of a not huge city, we don't get prioritized. For anything.

Interesting. The No Frills that is my regular Western grocery store has had an online order and pickup service since before COVID. So does the Loblaw's that's a bit further in the other direction. I think they are even bringing it out to your car now (used to be instore pickup).

 

[ChemGal]

Gotcha, thank you, apologies chemgal.

Yeah,, definitely not you and it's not like you're making the store's policies!

 

[BetteTheRed]

But I must say Alberta seems very lax compared to my particular health unit, which I think might be the most anal-retentive in Ontario. "In person meetings"? Our training has all become, "one trainer, two trainees, MAX", in the break room, masked, with distancing. And if there's training going on, only one person allowed in at a time to access their locker or eat in there, because there's a max of 4 in the break room. 3 in the office, which when you've got two employee, and a shift/tray change involving three people starting at the same time, it's very complicated. Every space in our little building has been analyzed for capacity, including the back rooms where people receive and unpackage delivered food.

 

[BetteTheRed]

Yeah, the "other No Frills, the "big one" has had on-line ordering for a while. I suspect we may be one of the only stores that doesn't offer delivery/curbside, etc. Centra doesn't either. Neither does the Great Canadian Superstore in town.

 

[Mendalla]

But I must say Alberta seems very lax compared to my particular health unit, which I think might be the most anal-retentive in Ontario. "In person meetings"? Our training has all become, "one trainer, two trainees, MAX", in the break room, masked, with distancing. And if there's training going on, only one person allowed in at a time to access their locker or eat in there, because there's a max of 4 in the break room. 3 in the office, which when you've got two employee, and a shift/tray change involving three people starting at the same time, it's very complicated. Every space in our little building has been analyzed for capacity, including the back rooms where people receive and unpackage delivered food.

I don't think it's your health unit. We are similar. The province put out documents with the rules and guidelines for various businesses back during first wave and the health and labour inspectors probably use those if they get called in or are doing a random inspection.

 

[ChemGal]

I hope the "princess" wasn't directed at me.

I figure that if alternatives are available, then it's not discrimination. That would imply that any store or office that supplied a service of any sort that wasn't completely accessible (stairs, with no elevator, for instance) was discriminatory. There's lots of restaurants with a few steps up and down, for instance. Lots of retail in older parts of older towns that require walking up a flight of stairs. My yoga studio required the ascent of a dizzyingly steep set of stairs. @Kimmio can tell you that despite best efforts, not everywhere is completely accessible. I just think that, in the interest of public health, in the interest of protecting essential workers as carefully as possible, people who cannot mask should review their hundreds and hundreds of options, from phone order, to on-line order, to curbside pick-up, to delivery, to accessing friends and neighbours, to using a taxi service to do your shopping, if you can't wear a mask, you shouldn't be in a store. I would completely make exemptions, with proper documentation from a GP at least, for medical/dental care. I don't think my dentist would, but if I were in charge of the rules, I would. And if you want a rigid place, our hospital in COVID lockdown is extraordinarily serious about this. A visit to a ward there right now is a nightmare of very careful protocol involving the Health Unit, the scheduling of the visit, etc.

There's a difference between inconvenience (you can't shop in 100% of the places you used to because we're in the middle of a pandemic) and discrimination (you can't acquire this service if you have this condition).

And as I said, it appeared that our store was going for some sort of curbside pick-up/on-line order system, but we've been re-thought or put on the back burner or something. Franchisees don't have huge control over these things, and as the smallest store in the system, probably, a local store at the very edge of a not huge city, we don't get prioritized. For anything.

I'm not really disagreeing with any of this. It goes to the sign - we won't serve you if not wearing a mask. I'm saying give an alternative way for a person to be served if they cannot wear a mask or let them forgo the mask, the only all or nothing is serve them, especially for something like a grocery store. For something like a eyebrow waxing, there isn't a reasonable accommodation and not being able to provide that type of service is acceptable. If that same business sells makeup products though, they should be able to offer a curbside pickup option.