SvennoJ said:
I don't know how you feel about it, but I've stated plenty times that I was not happy with the slow response of our country. Canada kept listing the risk to Canadians as low for the longest time, with simply the advice to watch for symptoms and then self isolate for 2 weeks. Health Minister Patty Hajdu (Thunder Bay-Superior North, Ont.) said repeatedly in the early stages of the novel coronavirus outbreak that cautioning against travel to infected countries, or closing Canada’s border to them, wouldn’t help protect Canadians from the virus, and in fact could make things worse. She continued to say so until at least March 9; a week later, the government started to shut the border to nearly all foreign travellers. Public Health Ontario said there have been 135 deaths in the homes, 813 cases of COVID-19 among residents and 437 cases among staff. The order will also make it mandatory that staff only work at one facility, Ford said _ something several health-care worker unions have been requesting for weeks. Yep I'm concerned with how our own government is screwing things up. At least we have that fast testing kit coming and research on using anti bodies from surviving blood donors. And it seems most people are taking it seriously. |
I really don't like our Gov and JT leading it, but I don't put much blame on them this time around. Some, but not much. They initially handled it about the way I assumed they would, like many other first world countries. Nobody was going to jump to conclusions and risk being wrong. From a leadership perspective, it was far more likely they would wait till it got close before clamping down. That way they had a clear legitimate excuse to do so. Taking away peoples freedoms because we might end up with a problem, for around 1% of the country, typically doesn't go over well even in oh so forgiving Canada.
We also aren't anywhere near as densely populated as America, and our overall system is better built to handle crisis. Most times when America is hurting, we're not, or barely. Mind you, when America is thriving, we're only doing slightly better, unless you're smart enough to invest in American stocks.
The things I've been hearing are ridiculous though. A father and his two kids out walking some trail close to their home, with nobody else in sight, getting a $1000 ticket for not remaining indoors. The local county saying police will be pulling over random vehicles and if you aren't traveling for what they find to be valid reasons, you'll be sent home and fined up to $1000. The media now consistently saying that 'social distancing' could last up to two years. LOL. Give me a break.
Meanwhile a somewhat local old folks home had like 50 deaths recently because the care workers have been allowed to cycle home to home due to temporary work hours, more easily potentially contracting it and spreading covid. Good thing someone paid close attention to making strict rules for those most in jeopardy. My lord.
One of the things I'm most worried about is this dragging on, and I have a hard time believing that's not going to be the case based on the illness. If everyone has to be locked down like this, then the UK had the right idea for the most part. Lock down the elderly and anyone with underlying illness, and let everyone else contract it and become immune to it. The way it spreads in lock down, should mean it spread like wildfire typically and would be gone in no time. At the very least, once medical supplies are built up, go with that approach, don't drag it out leaving everyone stuck at home.
When this is all over, Canada, and the rest of the world, better give China a swift non physical kick in the a** for letting it get this out of hand. They've been getting away with too much already, so if this isn't the final straw, then we might as well just give up and bow to them.
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