Coronavirus outbreak

[higgyfan]

Phase 1, December to February: Residents, staff, essential visitors with long-term care and assisted living; people waiting for long-term care; people in remote Indigenous communities and hospital workers caring for patients with COVID-19.

 

Phase 2, February to March: Seniors over 80; Indigenous seniors over 65, Indigenous elders; more health-care workers; vulnerable populations and nursing-home staff.

 

Phase 3, April to June: Members of the general public aged 60 to 79.

 

Phase 4, July to September: Members of the general public aged 18 to 59.

 

Quote from Premier:

 

B.C.'s plan is no longer based on a person's risk of exposure due to their profession, with the exception of health-care staff. That means some front-line workers — like teachers, first-responders and grocery store staff — are no longer getting higher priority because of their job.

"I receive mail a couple of inches thick from advocates saying their particular sector, their particular sector deserved a higher priority. All of the arguments were very compelling," said B.C. Premier John Horgan. "But the science is pretty clear ... age is the dominant determinant factor on severe illness and death."

 

The province said front-line workers outside of health care might be added to Phase 3 if more vaccines become available (they think the AstraZeneca vaccine will the greenlit in the spring).

[Sharpshooter]

1 hour ago, gurn said:

I thing that has bugged me for years:

If an essential worker is essential, how come they get pay raises that don't match inflation?

Their service is essential.

 

Their recompense apparently isn't.

[4petesake]

1 hour ago, stawns said:

I do want to make clear I don't feel I'm owed preferential treatment for vaccination, but if we're considered so essential that they pack us into these old, poorly ventilated buildings, no differently than we were ore-pandemic, because keeping kids in school is vital to keep our economy going then I'd expect vaccinating the people who work in those buildings would carry the same importance.

I try not to get wound up about these decisions but this vaccination schedule is the height of idiocy. I’m 62, wife and I both retired, hardly any reason (groceries, walks, etc.) to be out and about. We’ll be vaccinated as soon as reasonably possible but why the heck should we be prioritized over Stawns and others out there doing their best to keep the economy rolling?

[Gurn]

19 minutes ago, 4petesake said:

I try not to get wound up about these decisions but this vaccination schedule is the height of idiocy. I’m 62, wife and I both retired, hardly any reason (groceries, walks, etc.) to be out and about. We’ll be vaccinated as soon as reasonably possible but why the heck should we be prioritized over Stawns and others out there doing their best to keep the economy rolling?

From higgyfan's post quoting  Horgan

 

""I receive mail a couple of inches thick from advocates saying their particular sector, their particular sector deserved a higher priority. All of the arguments were very compelling," said B.C. Premier John Horgan. "But the science is pretty clear ... age is the dominant determinant factor on severe illness and death."

 

[4petesake]

12 minutes ago, gurn said:

From higgyfan's post quoting  Horgan

 

""I receive mail a couple of inches thick from advocates saying their particular sector, their particular sector deserved a higher priority. All of the arguments were very compelling," said B.C. Premier John Horgan. "But the science is pretty clear ... age is the dominant determinant factor on severe illness and death."

 

Thanks, I did see Horgan talking about that. Still I am able to remain in a fairly safe bubble. Teachers and others aren’t so fortunate. 

[bishopshodan]

 

‘Realistic possibility’ COVID-19 variant from U.K. could be deadlier, researchers say

 

https://globalnews.ca/news/7593659/covid-variant-uk-deadlier/

[kingofsurrey]

2 hours ago, 4petesake said:

Thanks, I did see Horgan talking about that. Still I am able to remain in a fairly safe bubble. Teachers and others aren’t so fortunate. 

Yah, I wonder if Horgan and Dr B elbowed their way to the front of the line.....

 

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union also weighed in on the new timetable Friday.

UFCW local 1518 president Kim Novak said the union remained optimistic its 24,000 members could still be vaccinated in phase three of the province’s four-phase program.

 

“For a lot of people who have been going into the grocery store or for our members who work in food processing plants, they’ve been the ones who have been feeding British Columbians and Canadians throughout this pandemic,” Novak said.

 

 

Geoff Plant @GeoffreyPlant

 

Canada. A country where provinces can legislate to stop people from taking beer from one province to another, but can’t stop people from taking Covid from one province to another.

Edited January 23, 2021 by kingofsurrey

[Russ]

7 hours ago, trek said:

Show me your papers 

Is safe place a wallet lol?

[Russ]

9 hours ago, thedestroyerofworlds said:

The only way we can get back to "normal" is if the overwhelming majority get vaccinated.  If this plan plays out, we should be back to "normal" right around the start of the 2021/22 season.   PLEASE, lets get there.  

Well with all the anti-maskers maybe we will get bumped up from that august-september time frame

[Slegr]

I suppose it would get too complicated, but I’m a bit surprised that people’s blood type didn’t get prioritized for vaccine in the final stage. 
There’s mounting evidence that indicates you’re more likely to have more serious issues depending on your blood type.

https://www.vchri.ca/stories/articles/2020/11/04/blood-type-factor-covid-19-severity

[Gawdzukes]

14 hours ago, gurn said:

From higgyfan's post quoting  Horgan

 

""I receive mail a couple of inches thick from advocates saying their particular sector, their particular sector deserved a higher priority. All of the arguments were very compelling," said B.C. Premier John Horgan. "But the science is pretty clear ... age is the dominant determinant factor on severe illness and death."

 

I wish people would stop bitching about selection. Distribution is the problem.

 

Why did BC glorify their top doctor into celebrity status I can't understand, being from a different province as I am. We don't make our doctors celebrities here. They just concentrate on healing people. Is it because you guys have movies shot in your city maybe? . A whole misconstrue of weirdness. Mind blown but to each their own.

 

The next Toronto, lol? Sorry, not being a dick but you people seem confused.

 

Edited January 23, 2021 by Gawdzukes

[thedestroyerofworlds]

[higgyfan]

15 hours ago, 4petesake said:

I try not to get wound up about these decisions but this vaccination schedule is the height of idiocy. I’m 62, wife and I both retired, hardly any reason (groceries, walks, etc.) to be out and about. We’ll be vaccinated as soon as reasonably possible but why the heck should we be prioritized over Stawns and others out there doing their best to keep the economy rolling?

While rolling out the vaccination plan, it was also said, 'The province said front-line workers outside of health care might be added to Phase 3 if more vaccines become available (they think the AstraZeneca vaccine will the greenlit in the spring).'

 

The AZ (Oxford) vaccine was cleared and has been in use in Britain for a couple of weeks; over 5m vaccinated so far.  Hopefully, it will be passed in Canada in the coming weeks, which will give us a 3rd option for the vaccination plan.  There's a very good chance that the remaining essential workers will be rolled into phase 3. 

 

The idea of having the most vulnerable population, along with all essential workers being vaccinated before July is amazing.  The remaining younger folks will still have to be cautious, but at least will not have the added burden of passing the virus onto their parents, grandparents, aunt's, uncles, neighbours, etc. 

 

The thought of everyone in BC (who wants a vaccine) will have one by end of September is fabulous.  Maybe even earlier, if new vaccines continue to be passed and utilized.

 

[thedestroyerofworlds]

12 minutes ago, higgyfan said:

While rolling out the vaccination plan, it was also said, 'The province said front-line workers outside of health care might be added to Phase 3 if more vaccines become available (they think the AstraZeneca vaccine will the greenlit in the spring).'

 

The AZ (Oxford) vaccine was cleared and has been in use in Britain for a couple of weeks; over 5m vaccinated so far.  Hopefully, it will be passed in Canada in the coming weeks, which will give us a 3rd option for the vaccination plan.  There's a very good chance that the remaining essential workers will be rolled into phase 3. 

 

The idea of having the most vulnerable population, along with all essential workers being vaccinated before July is amazing.  The remaining younger folks will still have to be cautious, but at least will not have the added burden of passing the virus onto their parents, grandparents, aunt's, uncles, neighbours, etc. 

 

The thought of everyone in BC (who wants a vaccine) will have one by end of September is fabulous.  Maybe even earlier, if new vaccines continue to be passed and utilized.

 

Ya, to think that phase 3 trial were only just happening at that time last year, to then have millions of people vaccinated with a new vaccine is amazing.  To think, that next hockey season may be back to having fans in the stands gives me hope.

[Gurn]

Some one should at the very least be losing a job:

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/canada/at-least-10-loblaws-warehouse-staff-worked-while-symptomatic-during-covid-19-outbreak/ar-BB1d209t?ocid=msedgntp

During a COVID-19 outbreak, employees at a Loblaws warehouse in Calgary worked while symptomatic, didn't wear masks, and didn't disinfect equipment, according to a recently issued health order. 

Alberta Health Services said epidemiologists determined at least 10 people were working while showing symptoms of COVID-19 during the ongoing outbreak at Westfair Foods, a warehouse located at 55 Freeport Boulevard N.E. that serves Loblaws stores like Real Canadian Superstore and Shoppers Drug Mart in Calgary.

The health order, issued Thursday, also states that there was inconsistent masking among forklift operators at the warehouse. 

"The most recent outbreak includes many positive cases among employees within this role (attack rates of 23 per cent and 30 per cent respectively between the two outbreaks)," the order reads.

It stated that disinfection procedures weren't being observed, washrooms weren't being disinfected frequently, and there was a lack of evidence that systems to prevent spread of COVID-19 were being carried out or monitored by on-site management. 

Loblaws was ordered to implement daily screening at the warehouse and maintain records, ensure all workers are wearing masks, complete a risk mitigation plan, and share materials with AHS that were provided to employees about COVID-19.

CBC has reached out to Loblaws for comment.

There are currently multiple COVID-19 outbreaks at warehouses in the Calgary area, including at three Walmart Logsitics facilities, a Sobeys distribution centre, a Cargill processing facility, and an Amazon warehouse.

Other health orders

The health order was also one of a few issued in the city this week.

Fatima restaurant in northeast Calgary was ordered to close for breaking COVID-19 and other food safety rules, including storing open foods alongside mouse droppings and a food handler wearing a mask beneath their nose.

Dynamic Furniture in the city's southeast was ordered closed, as close contacts of COVID-19 cases were working while legally required to be quarantined, some staff were not wearing masks, and staff were wearing dirty gloves.

And Northside Baptist Church, in the northeast, was ordered to allow health inspectors to enter the facility and to enforce COVID-19 rules, after pastor David Atkins refused to allow a public health inspector to enter and dozens of congregants were observed entering the church without masks. 

TOPICS FOR YOU

[The Colt 45s]

I have two jobs.  I am a hospital chaplain at a non-profit hospital and a specialist for a state run youth prison. 

 

At the hospital, I recieved my first Pfizer shot ten days ago and have eleven days to go for the second.

 

My job at the state is unionized.  Despite having COVID outbreaks in our region, my colleagues have yet to receive their COVID shots.

 

Everyone wants to move on from COVID.  We all have served prison time this year.  Granted staying at home has helped us to save money.

 

 

[ImConfused]

14 hours ago, The Colt 45s said:

I have two jobs.  I am a hospital chaplain at a non-profit hospital and a specialist for a state run youth prison. 

 

At the hospital, I recieved my first Pfizer shot ten days ago and have eleven days to go for the second.

 

My job at the state is unionized.  Despite having COVID outbreaks in our region, my colleagues have yet to receive their COVID shots.

 

Everyone wants to move on from COVID.  We all have served prison time this year.  Granted staying at home has helped us to save money.

 

 

Keep up the good work sir.

 

We are all hoping for the situation to get better down south!

[-DLC-]

I was in ER on Monday and had symptoms and.....they forgot to do a COVID test while I was there??!

 

Now, in their defence, it was very good treatment while I was there but .... why not rule COVID out?

 

I have had other tests done that have left me full of anxiety and waiting for more follow up.  But, in the mean time, would have been nice to know it isn't COVID?  I don't have any lingering symptoms but those that also go hand in hand with anxiety...so probably not. 

 

 

Anyhow, I hate this so much.  Got word from a friend that it's taken out a family member of theirs and that just isn't right.  It's awful.

[Ghostsof1915]

4 minutes ago, debluvscanucks said:

I was in ER on Monday and had symptoms and.....they forgot to do a COVID test while I was there??!

 

Now, in their defence, it was very good treatment while I was there but .... why not rule COVID out?

 

I have had other tests done that have left me full of anxiety and waiting for more follow up.  But, in the mean time, would have been nice to know it isn't COVID?  I don't have any lingering symptoms but those that also go hand in hand with anxiety...so probably not. 

 

 

Anyhow, I hate this so much.  Got word from a friend that it's taken out a family member of theirs and that just isn't right.  It's awful.

Sorry to hear Deb. 

[-DLC-]

9 minutes ago, 6of1_halfdozenofother said:

I hate to sound cynical about it, but a part of me thinks that this is because then the health authorities aren't (at least at this stage) obliged to provide you service at one of their three long-term recovery centres in the Lower Mainland.  You need to test positive for it first before they're willing to accept your referral for treatment.

 

https://www.providencehealthcare.org/sites/default/files/PCRC FAQs.pdf

 

Well they'd said they were going to do a COVID swab then a bunch of other stuff happened and after a long day in there, I was released.  But I got home and thought "they didn't ever do a swab" so I called and they said...they forgot.

 

It was recommended by 8-1-1 (called there in the morning) that I call 9-1-1 and go by ambulance to ER.  So was admitted to hospital with difficulty breathing and some heaviness in my chest.  Seems like a no brainer. 

In their defence, it was crazy busy in there and the lady in the bed next to me was having huge issues (they had to give her 2 units of blood).  But it shows how we really have to take charge of our own health...and I failed miserably that day.  Was just so happy to get the hell out of there!