[Richard White]

A mask mandate would not be onerous at all. That's all I would be asking for.

That would never happen.

That ship sailed months ago and there it will likely not return. The only way a mask mandate will return is if we have 1000 or more cases daily.

Even if a mask mandate was put back into place we would be one of the few jurisdictions globally that had one. It would make no sense and other than a few people it would likely be ignored.

 

[PinkLucy]

We have no real idea how many cases there are because we abandoned testing

 

[Richard White]

We have no real idea how many cases there are because we abandoned testing

I don't think there is an appetite for large scale publically funded testing anymore.

I do think however testing should be done in doctor offices on a case by case basis.

 

[DirectionNorth]

The federal restrictions are as good as done. Even the strictest domestic mandates won't matter for new variants if they continue to spread outside of Canada.

There is no reason why a pandemic should be of any specific duration. Again, that's reality. The virus continues to mutate, and therefore, the vaccines that we thought would put an end to it are less effective than anticipated. While people stick their heads in the sand, hundreds die every day in North America, and caring for the thousands who are hospitalized right here in Canada continues to strain our health resources. We should have at least kept the mask mandate.

Anecdotally, there were lots of people who stopped listening to the government's health requirements (including masks) after last fall. The mini-lockdown in January destroyed whatever public acceptance there was left. You can't impose whatever health restrictions you want, if the government doesn't want to do it, and the population doesn't want to do it.

Something else that is reality is that COVID measures are not going to be widely accepted anymore, and honestly, the more effective measures are disruptive and cause more harm than good.

COVID statistics and measures don't matter if the population doesn't want to accept it. We need to be balancing the value of a 'normal' (I use that word in quotations marks) society with the benefits of COVID measures.

Three weeks of COVID measures in March 2020 became three years, and the next time a pandemic comes along, apathy will be the defining reaction.

 

[Northern Light]

You are misreading the data. We are not at 2 deaths per day at all. There were 2 reported deaths yesterday, but the 7-day average is 32. The fact that the death toll has been higher so far than last year has been widely reported in both languages.

A mask mandate would not be onerous at all. That's all I would be asking for.

Thank you for that note on the charts, I have corrected my post accordingly.

I further examined the weekly average data from the 7 days ending Sept 26, 2021 vs 2022, and it does show a decline from ~35 to ~32, at low points in the curve.

When looking at this total vs the most recent peak, the number is down from 166 deaths per day on the average.

When comparing this with other causes of death, based on the chart I previously posted, the current total would place Covid at number 6 in causes of death, if annualized.

Of course, should the curve rise again, this will vary.

 

[lenaitch]

There's a lot of pasture between lockdowns, mandates, etc. and partying like it is 2019. I'm starting to notice more people wearing masks in stores, etc. and it will interesting to see how congregate settings, particularly dense ones like schools, fare. The main goal has to be the protection of our healthcare system, and hospitals are barely treading water as it is, and a flu season is coming up.

 

[PinkLucy]

I would be happy if people would realize that wearing a mask helps stop the spread of germs. By this point, we all know that we can breathe with one on.

 

[Bayer]

There's a lot of pasture between lockdowns, mandates, etc. and partying like it is 2019. I'm starting to notice more people wearing masks in stores, etc. and it will interesting to see how congregate settings, particularly dense ones like schools, fare. The main goal has to be the protection of our healthcare system, and hospitals are barely treading water as it is, and a flu season is coming up.

Indeed, the health care system is a shambles at the moment; protecting it would be enough of a reason to reinstate the mask mandate in indoor settings, at least until spring.

 

[zang]

I would be happy if people would realize that wearing a mask helps stop the spread of germs.

Smart and educated people do. Entitled whiners on the other hand…

 

[smably]

Mask mandates are good, but what I really want to see is widespread CO2 monitoring and ventilation improvements. I recently learned that CO2 has dramatic effects on cognitive function even at typical indoor levels (pdf link for the curious), so improving ventilation wouldn't just reduce the spread of airborne pathogens, it could actually make us smarter.

 

[AlvinofDiaspar]

Mask mandates are good, but what I really want to see is widespread CO2 monitoring and ventilation improvements. I recently learned that CO2 has dramatic effects on cognitive function even at typical indoor levels (pdf link for the curious), so improving ventilation wouldn't just reduce the spread of airborne pathogens, it could actually make us smarter.

The problem with mask mandates at this juncture is that you really have to mandate N95s (nevermind wearing them right) to make a difference. I think we should prioritize improving ventilation, ring-fence healthcare facilities and improve vaccination booster uptake.

AoD

 

[Towered]

Are any of you considering getting the updated vaccine booster? I don't know a single person who has even talked about it.

 

[PinkLucy]

Are any of you considering getting the updated vaccine booster? I don't know a single person who has even talked about it.

I will be. Everyone I know is. We obviously know different people

 

[Richard White]

Are any of you considering getting the updated vaccine booster? I don't know a single person who has even talked about it.

I MIGHT. I want to but the third dose put me out of commission for days. I am not eager to take time off work because of something I can avoid.

 

[lenaitch]

Are any of you considering getting the updated vaccine booster? I don't know a single person who has even talked about it.

We will, as soon as eligible in mid-November. That and the flu shot when it comes out. Only reaction either of us had to previous shots was a sore arm.

Pneumonia, Shingles, Tetanus, Hep A&B - I'll take anything they are willing to give me.