Living in the SARS-CoV-2 era (distancing, wash hands, wear mask to protect others, but OK to go outside)

JKR wrote:

Sean in Ottawa wrote:

If the feds banned Americans likely the border would be shut down and Canada relies on it more than the Americans. At this moment supply lines cross it. The government is trying to preserve two things with the border being open for now:

1) supply lines that in many cases are critical for our response including medication

2) employment for those who can still work as the government needs the income to stop a financial disaster the will imperil what is a costly response.

A vindictive US president in this fragile time can severely damage the Canadians economy. Economic crisis damages emergency response- especially when it is likely to be a fairly long term emergency.

The government is balancing very difficult choices here.

Over simplifications should be avoided.

I think American tourists coming into Canada are being told they will have to quarantine themselves for 14 days if they want to stay in Canada. I hope this is true.

This is what I understand is happening. Does not make a tourist trip worthwhile.

It also means that cosing the border to tourists is probably only symbolic right now.

That said if people are afraid of staying in the US and think Canada is safer we could risk having people come for that. This is one reason why this could change. As well, the US may determine that closing the border is good for them as well to reduce internal travel to the border. 

It may be the measures taken so far are the right balance. Unfortunately, they were not taken earlier which is what has been happening all over the world. 

US and Canada to make joint announcementof closure of the border to nonessential travel.

I think a formality now. Hard to know details but Canada has gottent he US to not lose face and do waht we needed -- took just a couple days. No idea motivations or background.

Sean in Ottawa wrote:

US and Canada to make joint announcementof closure of the border to nonessential travel.

I think a formality now. Hard to know details but Canada has gottent he US to not lose face and do waht we needed -- took just a couple days.....

Great news!

Then there is the local response to people who did not get the memo that says STAY THE FUCK HOME.

Members of Tla-o-qui-aht First Nation (TFN), an Indigenous community located on the West Coast of Vancouver Island, are stopping cars travelling along Hwy. 4 from Port Alberni towards the Tofino-Ucluelet region.

“We are stopping cars to stop COVID-19 from reaching the Coast,” said TFN hereditary chief and emergency preparedness co-ordinator Simon Tom.

About six TFN members were gathered at Sutton Pass, the boundary line to TFN territory, on Tuesday morning. They did not have an illegal blockade set-up, but Tom said the number of TFN members that turn up at Sutton Pass might grow over the next few days.

“As much as we don’t want to do this, we need to cap the pandemic. We met about two or three times, chief and council, the message is, ‘Be proactive, not reactive.’ I was saying that we have to stop using the word ‘if’ and prepare for it now,” he said.

“We are doing this to protect all Tofino community and our residents. Not just our tribe, but the whole community. We have a small hospital so if it breaks out then we’ll have half the town will have to see the doctor. It’s safety precautions,” said Tom.

Michael Hunt stood with the TFN members on Tuesday morning.

“We were stopping the road to let them know about the virus. We weren’t letting anybody who were from out of town to come through. The only ones who are allowed to go through are those living in Ucluelet and Tofino and we didn’t stop the [delivery] trucks,” said Hunt.

“Traffic stopped. A lot of people were getting out and screaming at us. They were saying this is our land, not yours. We belong here more than you and a lot of young people started to jump out of their cars telling us this is not right and we don’t have a right to this,” he continued.

“We were just protecting not only our Nation, but Ahousaht, Tofino and Ucluelet and anybody who lives in the West Coast area. We were making a point to let people know we were serious about this virus,” he said.

Herediatry chief Tom said a few visitors heading to the West Coast did indeed turn around after they were stopped by TFN members.

Two RCMP officers from the Port Alberni detachment were on scene at the Sutton Pass gathering on Tuesday morning. They offered hand sanitizer to the TFN members and recommended that all of them wear high visibility clothing.

No westbound vehicles were denied travel, however several vehicles decided themselves to turn around, notes a statement from BC RCMP Communication Services.

“We understand that people have concerns and wish to do their part to mitigate the risk to their communities. In order to do so, we must continue to follow direction given by the Provincial Health Authorities and not put yourself or the motoring public at risk by obstructing traffic,” states Cpl. Chris Manseau BC RCMP Media Relations Officer in the media release.

On March 16, Ahousaht First Nation closed its community to non-residents as a precautionary measure against the spread of COVID-19.

Many Tofino and Ucluelet businesses have temporarily closed or are taking temporary measures as a response to COVID-19. The Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, one of 48 National Parks in Canada, will suspend all visitor services as of March 18.

https://www.albernivalleynews.com/news/covid-19-tla-o-qui-aht-first-nati...

For anyone hoping to surf, hike, or relax in the west coast paradise of Tofino in the coming weeks, a change of plans is in order.

The District of Tofino, along with Tourism Tofino and Tofino-Long Beach Chamber of Commerce is asking tourists to change any travel plans and steer clear of the Island destination for the immediate future due to COVID-19 concerns.

In a press release issued Wednesday, the District said they are “asking all visitors to postpone trips to Tofino for the next several weeks, and for visitors currently in town to begin to make plans to return to home.”

The District points to the recent travel advisories, restrictions and limitations issued from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, along with personal health and safety as being the driving force behind their decision.

“Like many other small communities, Tofino has extremely limited health care resources to serve our region. As the window narrows to help “flatten the curve” we need everyone’s help – including the thousands of visitors who love and cherish this area,” said the press release.

https://www.cheknews.ca/district-of-tofino-has-asked-all-travellers-to-p...

This is very informative. Lots of numbers and projections for people who are into that.

https://medium.com/@tomaspueyo/coronavirus-act-today-or-people-will-die-f4d3d9cd99ca

NorthReport wrote:

US government is preparing for the possibility of a coronavirus pandemic that could last up to 18 months and 'include multiple waves of illness'

https://www.cnn.com/2020/03/19/health/us-coronavirus-case-updates-thursday/index.html

I'm tracking a 12-18 month estimate with the army being called up to provide security to key pieces of infrastructure and supply (food).

Stores are already being emptied of meat products now. It's going to get a lot worse.