Pandemic 2020

[DIY-HP-LED]

Alberta is about the closest we have to a "red state" the government there is to the right of the national conservatives. It is interesting to note the rural urban divide, rural people think they are less vulnerable to covid, but experience has proved them wrong repeatedly (especially in the states). Even with in a Canadian conservative party there is a rural urban divide over the pandemic response and issues like guns, here too folks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenney's divided house: COVID pandemic widens urban-rural rift within Alberta government | National Post

Kenney's divided house: COVID pandemic widens urban-rural rift within Alberta government
The intersection of political persuasion and geography on lockdown views in Alberta has been evident in polling throughout the pandemic

EDMONTON — Alberta’s rural-urban divide has become a deeper problem for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, as the province enters the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this week, Kenney announced another round of restrictions, saying it was his job to “make tough choices,” and taking the province back to strict rules that were in place in February during the second wave, when cases had grown rapidly and there were concerns the hospital system would be overrun.

“The only responsible choice to save lives and to protect our health-care system is to take immediate action,” Kenney said on Tuesday.

The premier also hinted some Albertans — and some in his caucus — weren’t going to be happy about it.

“I fully expect to hear some of those opinions publicly, in the coming days, and I welcome that,” Kenney said. “I just ask that the debate be informed by facts.”

By Wednesday night, it was clear just how many politicians felt that way: Seventeen out of 63 United Conservative Party caucus members — fully one-quarter — signed a letter addressed to Kenney, saying they disagreed with returning to more stringent restrictions.

For months there has been a handful of disgruntled UCP MLAs who’ve opposed further restrictions, or in some cases, advocated for an approach that treats parts of the province differently.

 

[schuylaar]

Donald Trump killed nuns and it wasn't over by Easter 2020..gave their lives for the caring of the afflicted and those who aren't wanted, now all dead because no one cared about them.



This combination of photos provided by Felician Publications from July 2020 to April 2021 shows 21 nuns from the Felician order who have died from COVID-19. Top row from left are Sisters Mary Clarence Borkoski, Mary Madeleine Dolan, Mary Felicia Golembiewski-Dove, Mary Alice Ann Gradowski, Victoria Marie Indyk, Mary Evelyn Labik and Celine Marie Lesinski. Middle row from left are Sisters Mary Seraphine Liskiewicz, Mary Christinette Lojewski, Mary Michele Mazur, Mary Bronisia Muzalewski, Christine Marie Nizialek, Mary DeAngelis Nowak and Mary Estelle Printz. Bottom row from left are Sisters Mary Patricia Pyszynski, Mary Martinez Rozek, Mary Danatha Suchyta, Thomas Marie Wadowski, Mary Luiza Wawrzyniak, Rose Mary Wolak and Mary Janice Zolkowski. (Felician Publications via AP)

'How many of us will be left?' Catholic nuns face loss, pain

GREENSBURG, Pa. (AP) — The nuns’ daily email update was overtaken by news of infections. Ambulances blared into the driveways of their convents.

apnews.com

 

[printer]

Alberta is about the closest we have to a "red state" the government there is to the right of the national conservatives. It is interesting to note the rural urban divide, rural people think they are less vulnerable to covid, but experience has proved them wrong repeatedly (especially in the states). Even with in a Canadian conservative party there is a rural urban divide over the pandemic response and issues like guns, here too folks.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kenney's divided house: COVID pandemic widens urban-rural rift within Alberta government | National Post

Kenney's divided house: COVID pandemic widens urban-rural rift within Alberta government
The intersection of political persuasion and geography on lockdown views in Alberta has been evident in polling throughout the pandemic

EDMONTON — Alberta’s rural-urban divide has become a deeper problem for Alberta Premier Jason Kenney, as the province enters the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Earlier this week, Kenney announced another round of restrictions, saying it was his job to “make tough choices,” and taking the province back to strict rules that were in place in February during the second wave, when cases had grown rapidly and there were concerns the hospital system would be overrun.

“The only responsible choice to save lives and to protect our health-care system is to take immediate action,” Kenney said on Tuesday.

The premier also hinted some Albertans — and some in his caucus — weren’t going to be happy about it.

“I fully expect to hear some of those opinions publicly, in the coming days, and I welcome that,” Kenney said. “I just ask that the debate be informed by facts.”

By Wednesday night, it was clear just how many politicians felt that way: Seventeen out of 63 United Conservative Party caucus members — fully one-quarter — signed a letter addressed to Kenney, saying they disagreed with returning to more stringent restrictions.

For months there has been a handful of disgruntled UCP MLAs who’ve opposed further restrictions, or in some cases, advocated for an approach that treats parts of the province differently.

“I fully expect to hear some of those opinions publicly, in the coming days, and I welcome that,” Kenney said. “I just ask that the debate be informed by facts.”

 

[CunningCanuk]

Canada is losing the race between vaccines and variants as the 3rd wave worsens

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-variants-canada-covid-19-vaccine-third-wave-1.5978394

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

Canada is losing the race between vaccines and variants as the 3rd wave worsens

https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coronavirus-variants-canada-covid-19-vaccine-third-wave-1.5978394

And I get "no appointment available" on the website! No too much panic here as the case counts are still low, we do testing, contact tracing and case isolation. Still there are a disproportionate number of older people in the Maritimes and if it got away we could end up like the Italian villages last spring, full of the dead elderly .

 

[captainmorgan]

Most kids with serious inflammatory illness had mild initial cases of COVID

Some cases, especially those that follow silent, undiagnosed COVID-19 infections, may be mistaken for Kawasaki disease, a rare condition that can cause red skin, swelling and heart problems.

www.wfla.com

 

[CunningCanuk]

And I get "no appointment available" on the website! No too much panic here as the case counts are still low, we do testing, contact tracing and case isolation. Still there are a disproportionate number of older people in the Maritimes and if it got away we could end up like the Italian villages last spring, full of the dead elderly .

I’m thankful my parents who are both in their 80’s are vaccinated. They are in the southern part of NB and the majority of cases there are in the north.

 

[hanimmal]

Might be time for a Pandemic 2021 thread eh.

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

Might be time for a Pandemic 2021 thread eh.

Naw, covid 19 was the name and 2020 was the year that it nailed our asses, 2021 should be called "Pandemic 2021 the recovery". Even in Canada, I figure we will largely be out of the woods by late July. I would expect the border to reopen by the first of July too, though we might need proof of vaccination to cross it either way.

As everybody who wants a vaccine gets one and immunity, they will care less and less about the unvaccinated because they will be perceived as less of a personal or family threat, the hospitals and medical community will care though. I think when people are immunized and only the anti vaccers show up at the hospital, they will be making the local news.

 

[hanimmal]

Naw, covid 19 was the name and 2020 was the year that it nailed our asses, 2021 should be called "Pandemic 2021 the recovery". Even in Canada, I figure we will largely be out of the woods by late July. I would expect the border to reopen by the first of July too, though we might need proof of vaccination to cross it either way.

As everybody who wants a vaccine gets one and immunity, they will care less and less about the unvaccinated because they will be perceived as less of a personal or family threat, the hospitals and medical community will care though. I think when people are immunized and only the anti vaccers show up at the hospital, they will be making the local news.

We'll see.

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

WTF! Are these morons going to Michigan for a fun fucking weekend or what? Jesus Christ, I'm gonna be on the fucking blower tomorrow and crucify my liberal MP! Are these people fucking morons, with our vaccination rate? I live hundreds of miles from the border, if I lived in Ontario I'd freak out on the government. Change in policy, all Canadians returning by land from the USA get a free stay for two weeks at the razor wire motel, just inside the border, accommodations under canvas.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canadians are flocking to US border cities to take advantage of a travel loophole — and it's creating lucrative opportunities on both sides of the closed border

A "Welcome to Canada" sign at the US-Canada border. Shutterstock.com

• Canadian tourists are driving up business in US border towns to avoid strict quarantines in Canada.
• Those arriving in Canada by land can save as much as $2,000 (Canadian) by not having to quarantine in a hotel.
• Transportation firms in cities like Buffalo, New York, are reaping the benefits with costly fares.

Canadian tourists are once again stimulating the economies of American border cities and bringing back the "Buffalo shuffle" despite the border between the two countries remaining closed to non-essential travel.

Transportation companies in Buffalo, New York, are experiencing a long-awaited boom in business by catering to Canadians heading north, CBC is reporting, and the reason is a loophole that allows them to avoid mandatory COVID-19 hotel quarantines when arriving back home.

Recently enacted travel restrictions in Canada require that residents returning by air quarantine in a hotel at their expense, up to $2,000 (Canadian), according to CBC. Canadians traveling across the land border, however, need only submit to a home quarantine while undergoing extensive testing for the coronavirus, in addition to providing a recent negative test to border guards.

Buffalo is one outpost that's seen an uptick in Canadian visitors, but not directly from Canada. Visitors from the north have been arriving by air from parts of the US and making the last stretch of their journey home by land, crossing the world's longest border by car.

One transportation company, Buffalo Limousine, told CBC that it transports an average of 50 Canadians per day and business has increased by 50%. The pandemic nearly decimated the company, along with countless businesses that relied on Canadian customers.

A Buffalo Limousine trip from Buffalo-Niagara International Airport across the border to Fort Erie, Ontario costs around $120 one-way for the 17-mile trip, CBC said.

Public transportation options before the pandemic included Megabus Canada and Amtrak, which took passengers from Buffalo to Toronto with stops along the way. Both have stopped cross-border services during the pandemic, according to their websites.

Reviving the Buffalo shuffle
Prior to the pandemic, America's neighbor to the north was more than willing to cross the southern border to save on everything from gasoline to airfare. Canadian visa holders also frequently visited the now-closed Consulate General of Canada in downtown Buffalo in order to apply for certain extensions that could only be done outside of the country, a trip known as the Buffalo shuffle.

 

[smokinrav]

This would be funny if not so disturbing

Google News

Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.

news.google.com

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

This would be funny if not so disturbing

Google News

Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.

news.google.com

They have been distilled down to their essence, as the ones subject to reason and facts have gone independent or democrat, the republican party has shrunk down in size considerably. About half of independents now are really "soft" republicans and they are the competent, nice old white man's target. The democrats can get a lot more done under Joe's cover than they ever could with Obama, the reaction will be much less intense. Joe is the kinda guy who grows on ya and he is growing on those independent voters and even left wing democrats with an eye on 2022.

 

[TacoMac]

This would be funny if not so disturbing

Google News

Comprehensive up-to-date news coverage, aggregated from sources all over the world by Google News.

news.google.com

 

[CunningCanuk]

“We have 28 people waiting for a bed": Q&A with Michael Warner, the Toronto doctor who's gone viral sharing his patients’ stories

"I want to set the record straight so people understand the severity of the situation, especially when communication from the government has been inconsistent at best"

torontolife.com

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

“We have 28 people waiting for a bed": Q&A with Michael Warner, the Toronto doctor who's gone viral sharing his patients’ stories

"I want to set the record straight so people understand the severity of the situation, especially when communication from the government has been inconsistent at best"

torontolife.com

They need to lock down even more and hit anti lockdown and anti mask idiots hard, surround their rallies, jail and heavily fine all involved, lock them all up for a two week quarantine period. Unfortunately many people are not responsible enough to make the right decisions and we need to enforce the laws on the books vigorously and with out exception, send a message, particularly to young people. This is not a matter of individual choice, but of collective action, common sense and law, Their rights end where my nose begins, plus six feet and a mask in public.

I hope they are surging anti body supplies in the hot spots, there is suppose to be a good supply, but it has to be given early and it's hard to predict lately who will do badly. I don't like being a hard ass about these things, but events have repeatedly proven that these behaviors have killed far too many innocent and stupid people. It's bad enough with inconsistent and stupid government policies. Freedom comes with responsibility and if the government can conscript you, confiscate your property and demand taxes for the common good and as part of your civic responsibility, this is small potatoes in comparison. Besides we owe the people working in the hospitals a Hell of a lot more as a society than working them to death and killing them with covid. How would you like to work is a sea of covid for the past fucking year with out a cure or treatment while putting your family at risk every day or not even seeing them out of fear of sickening them.

 

[injinji]

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

If you’re considering a trip to Europe this summer, here’s what to keep in mind.

With the number of people in the United States vaccinated against the coronavirus climbing, Americans are starting to explore their prospects for international travel this summer, a season when Europe is traditionally a big draw.

Most of Europe has been off-limits to most U.S. residents for over a year, and the continent is grappling with a third wave of coronavirus infections and a surge in more contagious variants, making it unclear when borders will reopen. But some European countries have started to welcome vaccinated travelers, including American tourists, and others are making preparations to ease restrictions in time for the summer season.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends against travel. And ultimately the course of the virus will determine what travel looks like across the world. But here’s what we know about how European countries are preparing to resume tourism.

“The current focus is on opening up internal markets within the E.U. and U.K. and then, depending on reciprocity agreements, more third countries will be included,” said Eric Dresin, the secretary general of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association. “But right now, we are not talking about Americans visiting Europe.”

Travelers coming from the United States do have some options, though: Having brought the virus under control, Iceland is allowing all vaccinated travelers to enter without being subject to Covid-19 testing or quarantine measures.

Greece said it would reopen for all tourists in mid-May, as long as they show proof of vaccination, antibodies or a negative Covid-19 test result before traveling. Turkey said that it would not require international travelers to be vaccinated this summer, and that it would re-evaluate testing policies after April 15.
more...

 

[Dr.Amber Trichome]

If you’re considering a trip to Europe this summer, here’s what to keep in mind.

With the number of people in the United States vaccinated against the coronavirus climbing, Americans are starting to explore their prospects for international travel this summer, a season when Europe is traditionally a big draw.

Most of Europe has been off-limits to most U.S. residents for over a year, and the continent is grappling with a third wave of coronavirus infections and a surge in more contagious variants, making it unclear when borders will reopen. But some European countries have started to welcome vaccinated travelers, including American tourists, and others are making preparations to ease restrictions in time for the summer season.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends against travel. And ultimately the course of the virus will determine what travel looks like across the world. But here’s what we know about how European countries are preparing to resume tourism.

“The current focus is on opening up internal markets within the E.U. and U.K. and then, depending on reciprocity agreements, more third countries will be included,” said Eric Dresin, the secretary general of the European Travel Agents’ and Tour Operators’ Association. “But right now, we are not talking about Americans visiting Europe.”

Travelers coming from the United States do have some options, though: Having brought the virus under control, Iceland is allowing all vaccinated travelers to enter without being subject to Covid-19 testing or quarantine measures.

Greece said it would reopen for all tourists in mid-May, as long as they show proof of vaccination, antibodies or a negative Covid-19 test result before traveling. Turkey said that it would not require international travelers to be vaccinated this summer, and that it would re-evaluate testing policies after April 15.
more...

That’s something to consider. There might be some really good deals out there!

 

[DIY-HP-LED]

That’s something to consider. There might be some really good deals out there!

For the vaccinated, the unwashed, not so much.