The Border is Closed

[Renauda]

Managing Covid in Canada is primarily the responsibility of individual provinces. In this second wave, Jason Kenny's conservative government here in Alberta chose to heed the concerns of civil libertarians and the rural rabble and just ignore the growing case numbers. Minimal measures was and continues to be the driving policy. As a result Alberta now has the highest per capita growth rate of Covid in the country. We are averaging 1500 cases per day for the past 10 days, 9.3% positive test rate and our ICU capacity is being overrun by Covid patients. There is very real danger of collapsing the public health care system. Just yesterday it was disclosed that this week Kenny has requested for the Feds and Red Cross to supply and set up field hospitals.

Disgraceful. No wonder I, like many Albertans, have come to despise this populist and reactionary Conservative government.

[George K]

@Renauda said in The Border is Closed:

Managing Covid in Canada is primarily the responsibility of individual provinces.

Same here in United States. There has been (so far) a wide disparity between states as to how they handle things.

But, that said, states that were vilified earlier in the pandemic (Florida) are showing that now, months later, they are no worse than places like California. This shit spreads everywhere, and the regionalization of measures, I'm sure, is part of the problem.

I'm not sure how the UK differers in terms of its imposition of restrictions, but it's hardly been any more successful than the USA, or the EU in general.

[Doctor Phibes]

The UK is blessed with a leader almost as praiseworthy as the US.

"They call him Britain Trump" you know. They don't, of course. Nobody calls anybody "Britain Trump".

The results in the UK are mixed. The North of England is pretty awful, and the central government (i.e. Westminster) did a pretty poor job of managing to alienate the local governments.

It seems to me that Wales and Scotland have done a better job of managing it, but I don't live there, so I'm fairly disconnected. Maybe Andy can comment.

[Renauda]

@George-K said in The Border is Closed:

@Renauda said in The Border is Closed:

Managing Covid in Canada is primarily the responsibility of individual provinces.

Same here in United States. There has been (so far) a wide disparity between states as to how they handle things.
But, that said, states that were vilified earlier in the pandemic (Florida) are showing that now, months later, they are no worse than places like California. This shit spreads everywhere, and the regionalization of measures, I'm sure, is part of the problem.

During the first wave all the provinces except Ontario and Quebec seemed to manage it very well - I suspect the politicians actually listened to the medical experts then. The best were the Atlantic provinces and BC. This time round every province is having difficulty although the Atlantic provinces continue to lead in suppressing the spread, primarily owing to strict civil measures and closing their borders. The worst provinces in the lot now are hands down, Alberta and Manitoba.

I cannot say that any one province was ever vilified as occured in the US during this crisis, although Alberta's current lack of coherency or management is drawing criticism from all corners. I might add, deservedly so.

One aspect different from the US, is that overall Canadians have supported and continue to support the role of our Federal government in undertaking its responsibilities during this pandemic. Of course there have been highly questionable errors of judgement and omissions, but in general the Feds have risen to the occasion and led the country responsibly and most of all, compassionately. Respect for *The Dauphin * outside of redneck and whiny Alberta, is actually very high.

[Jolly]

Viruses are apolitical.

[Renauda]

@Jolly said in The Border is Closed:

Viruses are apolitical.

And viral pandemics demand of politicians responsible public health policies and directives at all levels of governance. Very political.

So what's your point?

[Jolly]

@Renauda said in The Border is Closed:

@Jolly said in The Border is Closed:

Viruses are apolitical.

And viral pandemics demand of politicians responsible public health policies and directives at all levels of governance. Very political.

So what's your point?

My point is that you can do whatever you damn well please, but at the end of the day, the virus will get through. You can flatten curves but you will not eradicate it.

[Renauda]

@Jolly

That has been an accepted and understood known known since last February. At least among the medical professions. Seems however, to have been used by certain agenda driven provincial politicians as an excuse to do nothing in this province.

[taiwan_girl]

@Jolly said in The Border is Closed:

@Renauda said in The Border is Closed:

@Jolly said in The Border is Closed:

Viruses are apolitical.

And viral pandemics demand of politicians responsible public health policies and directives at all levels of governance. Very political.

So what's your point?

My point is that you can do whatever you damn well please, but at the end of the day, the virus will get through. You can flatten curves but you will not eradicate it.

Yes and no. A country/province/state decides where it wants it bubble. Once that bubble line is drawn, you work inward to eliminate cases. At the bubble line, you control who goes in and out. Inside the bubble, Mandatory mask wearing, mandatory quarantine if positive or in contact with positive, detailed contact tracing, good hygiene

Taiwan - more than 200 days without a internal transmitted case. Population 25 MM
Thailand - more than 200 days without a internal transmitted case. Population 65 MM
New Zealand - more than 100 days
South Korea - less than 100 cases/day. Population = 55 MM
Singapore - 60+ days without a internal transmission

NOW, BEFORE ANYBODY SAYS ANYTHING, I REALIZE THAT DOING A BUBBLE AROUND THE WHOLE USA IS ALMOST IMPOSSBILE.

There is not the political or cultural will or legal ability (I dont think) to do what is needed.

Thailand will maintain it strict bubble until the vaccine is available. Definitely a big impact on the economy, as alot of Thailand is international tourist dependent. But if you talk to restaurant owners for example, alot of them are back to normal. Shopping malls are full, etc.

Took the below picture today on BTS. Almost every body is still wearing a mask, but probably not necessary.

[Renauda]

The early success of the Atlantic provinces in the first wave of mitigating then virtually eliminating Covid until just the past six weeks was owing to creating a bubble. Likewise the North West Territories undertook a similar bubble policy last spring and remains, other than one or two cases of Covid early on last spring, free of the pandemic.