COVID-19 >>"True and Helpful" Covid Information Thread

[Anonymous]

We had 1115 new infections with sixteen new deaths today.

[Anonymous]

BC set a record for new infections today with 941 cases and ten deaths.

[cc]

Did it ever - The jump is drastic as we had been running fairly level 500 - 600



Bonnie's new regs seemed rather superficial to me. We will have to get tougher I think



Meanwhile seems your govt has declared "Public Health Emergency" . How tough are new regs?



EDIT - I see you already posted them

[Anonymous]

Alberta declared a state of public health emergency and enacted these new measures.



Social gathering restrictions



The first new restriction is aimed at social gatherings, and prohibits any indoor social gathering in any setting, and outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people, effective immediately.



"Social gatherings are the biggest problem," Kenney said. "It is the key reason why COVID-19 is winning. These gatherings in the home continue to be the largest form of transmission."



No more than 10 people can be present at wedding and funeral ceremonies as of Tuesday, and receptions are also off limits.



"For those grieving, I know this is a particular sacrifice," Kenney said, acknowledging that the emotional nature of both funerals and weddings make them higher risk for transmission of COVID-19.



Festivals and events are also prohibited under the state of public health emergency, and people are encouraged to work from home if possible. Masks were made mandatory in workplaces in the hotspots of Calgary and Edmonton, and their surrounding areas.



Kenney said despite the vast majority of faith communities following the province's public health guidelines, some groups have flagrantly ignored them, leading to outbreaks. As a result, attendance at places of worship is being capped at one-third a building's fire code capacity, while also requiring masks and physical distancing between households.



We will enforce these rules against indoor social gatherings and those who break these rules will be subject to fines," Kenney said, adding the government is exploring ways to allow peace officers to deliver those fines.



The fines could range anywhere from $1,000 to $100,000.



Kenney also said an Alberta Emergency Alert will be sent to all Albertans this week to make sure everyone is aware of the restrictions.





Changes to school structure



"Rising cases in our workplaces and homes, driven disproportionately by the social gatherings, means that we are seeing rising cases in schools as well," Kenney said, reiterating there is little evidence of transmission in schools.



Kenney said the cases in schools has put a strain on staffing, negatively impacting the quality of education Alberta's students are getting.



Schools across the province are also moving to online learning until the new year – with Grades 7 to 12 starting at-home learning as early as Nov. 30.



Students in Kindergarten to Grade 6, and early childhood learning, will begin online learning on Dec. 18.



Keeping younger students in schools for longer also offers parents, and daycares, a break when it comes to caring for young children.



All students will be out of the classrooms until Jan. 11, 2021. The decision to extend the winter break is so any students who have been around family during the holidays will have a window to monitor for symptoms before returning to class.



Diploma exams were also made optional for the rest of the school year, meaning students can choose to write them, or be exempt from the April, June and August 2021 examinations.



Restaurant, retail and gym limits



More restrictions are also coming to the hospitality and fitness industries, with restaurants, bars, pubs and coffee shops now only allowed to seat people from the same household.



Businesses like hair salons, personal wellness services and hotels can still operate, but on an appointment-only basis and all patrons and service providers must comply with existing health measures.



As of Friday, banquet halls, conference centres and concert venues will be closed temporarily to any in-person service.



Kenney said in recent weeks, as many as nine outbreaks have been traced back to amateur sports games.



If Alberta's COVID-19 numbers don't improve, the government will look at bringing stricter measures "likely in three weeks' time."







Gyms and fitness centres can remain open for people exercising individually, operating at 25 per cent capacity.



"Retail businesses and services may remain open, but will be restricted to 25 per cent of occupancy limits," Kenney said.

https://globalnews.ca/news/7481178/alberta-covid-19-new-restrictions/">https://globalnews.ca/news/7481178/albe ... trictions/">https://globalnews.ca/news/7481178/alberta-covid-19-new-restrictions/

[Anonymous]

Alberta reported its 500th death on Wednesday as we reported nine new deaths and 1,265 new cases of COVID-19.

[Anonymous]

Two and a half billion people will be vaccinated before Canadians.

[Anonymous]

I was wondering why a sanitizing mask hadn't been developed.



Alberta researcher gets award for mask innovation



Salt that crystallizes with sharp edges is the killer ingredient in the development of a reusable mask because any COVID-19 droplets that land on it would be quickly destroyed, says a researcher who is being recognized for her innovation.



Ilaria Rubino, a recent PhD graduate from the department of chemical and materials engineering at the University of Alberta, said a mostly salt and water solution that coats the first or middle layer of the mask would dissolve droplets before they can penetrate the face covering.



As the liquid from the droplets evaporates, the salt crystals grow back as spiky weapons, damaging the bacteria or virus within five minutes, Rubino said.



"We know that after the pathogens are collected in the mask, they can survive. Our goal was to develop a technology that is able to inactivate the pathogens upon contact so that we can make the mask as effective as possible."



Rubino, who collaborated with a researcher at Georgia State University in Atlanta to advance the project she started five years ago, was recognized Tuesday with an innovation award from Mitacs. The Canadian not- for-profit organization receives funding from the federal government, most provinces and Yukon to honour researchers from academic institutions.



The reusable, non-washable mask is made of a type of polypropylene, a plastic used in surgical masks, and could be safely worn and handled multiple times without being decontaminated, Rubino said.



The idea is to replace surgical masks often worn by health-care workers who must dispose of them in a few hours, she said, adding the technology could potentially be used for N-95 respirators.



The salt- coated mask is expected to be available commercially next year after regulatory approval. It could also be used to stop the spread of other infectious illnesses, such as influenza, Rubino said.



Dr. Catherine Clase, an epidemiologist and associate professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, said the "exciting" technology would have multiple benefits.



Clase, who is a member of the Centre of Excellence in Protective Equipment and Materials in the engineering department at McMaster, said there wasn't much research in personal protective equipment when Rubino began her work.



"It's going to decrease the footprint for making and distributing and then disposing of every mask," she said, adding that the mask could also address any supply issues.



The Public Health Agency of Canada recently recommended homemade masks consist of at least three layers, with a middle, removable layer constructed from a non- woven, washable polypropylene fabric to improve filtration.

[Anonymous]

OTTAWA — A new poll suggests many Canadians are gaining weight because they're eating more and exercising less during COVID-19 pandemic.



Nearly one-third of respondents in the survey conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies said they have put on weight since March, compared to 15 per cent who said they lost weight over that time.



As well, about one-third of respondents said they're exercising less, while 16 per cent said they're working out more since the first wave of the pandemic landed in Canada in the spring.

[cc]

I was wondering why a sanitizing mask hadn't been developed.



Alberta researcher gets award for mask innovation



Salt that crystallizes with sharp edges is the killer ingredient in the development of a reusable mask because any COVID-19 droplets that land on it would be quickly destroyed, says a researcher who is being recognized for her innovation.



Ilaria Rubino, a recent PhD graduate from the department of chemical and materials engineering at the University of Alberta, said a mostly salt and water solution that coats the first or middle layer of the mask would dissolve droplets before they can penetrate the face covering.



As the liquid from the droplets evaporates, the salt crystals grow back as spiky weapons, damaging the bacteria or virus within five minutes, Rubino said.



"We know that after the pathogens are collected in the mask, they can survive. Our goal was to develop a technology that is able to inactivate the pathogens upon contact so that we can make the mask as effective as possible."



Rubino, who collaborated with a researcher at Georgia State University in Atlanta to advance the project she started five years ago, was recognized Tuesday with an innovation award from Mitacs. The Canadian not- for-profit organization receives funding from the federal government, most provinces and Yukon to honour researchers from academic institutions.



The reusable, non-washable mask is made of a type of polypropylene, a plastic used in surgical masks, and could be safely worn and handled multiple times without being decontaminated, Rubino said.



The idea is to replace surgical masks often worn by health-care workers who must dispose of them in a few hours, she said, adding the technology could potentially be used for N-95 respirators.



The salt- coated mask is expected to be available commercially next year after regulatory approval. It could also be used to stop the spread of other infectious illnesses, such as influenza, Rubino said.



Dr. Catherine Clase, an epidemiologist and associate professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, said the "exciting" technology would have multiple benefits.



Clase, who is a member of the Centre of Excellence in Protective Equipment and Materials in the engineering department at McMaster, said there wasn't much research in personal protective equipment when Rubino began her work.



"It's going to decrease the footprint for making and distributing and then disposing of every mask," she said, adding that the mask could also address any supply issues.



The Public Health Agency of Canada recently recommended homemade masks consist of at least three layers, with a middle, removable layer constructed from a non- woven, washable polypropylene fabric to improve filtration.

Good that you posted this



I was going to and got doing other things and forgot all about it

[Anonymous]

OTTAWA — A new poll suggests many Canadians are gaining weight because they're eating more and exercising less during COVID-19 pandemic.



Nearly one-third of respondents in the survey conducted by Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies said they have put on weight since March, compared to 15 per cent who said they lost weight over that time.



As well, about one-third of respondents said they're exercising less, while 16 per cent said they're working out more since the first wave of the pandemic landed in Canada in the spring.

I managed to stay active and not over eat. I'm naturally thin and I exercise at home.

[Anonymous]

Coronavirus may have been around longer than we first assumed.



COVID-19 was spreading in Italy by September 2019, study indicates



COVID-19 was probably already circulating in Italy by September 2019, according to scientists at Milan's National Cancer Institute (INT), months before the coronavirus was first documented in the Chinese city of Wuhan.  



Gabriella Sozzi, an INT biologist, told CGTN Europe that while Italy's first coronavirus patient was officially detected on February 21 in the northern region of Lombardy, blood samples taken in September 2019 showed the presence of the antibodies against the Sars-Cov-2 virus.



"What we noticed, and it was unexpected, we found more than 10 percent of the samples presenting antibodies against the COVID-19 virus," said Sozzi. "This finding seems to tell us that the Sars-Cov-2 virus was probably circulating at a low level in Italy before the outbreak that we had in February."

https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-11-17/COVID-19-was-spreading-in-Italy-by-September-2019-study-indicates-VuSqUttP8s/index.html">https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-11-17 ... index.html">https://newseu.cgtn.com/news/2020-11-17/COVID-19-was-spreading-in-Italy-by-September-2019-study-indicates-VuSqUttP8s/index.html

[Anonymous]

This appeared in Sun News Media and describes the situation in Alberta, but it's applicable in every province.



By Lorne Gunter



Pandemic fearmongering

'Progressives' would rather have another complete lockdown than take a measured approach



"Progressives" in Alberta really, really, REALLY want to be locked in their homes to be protected from the pandemic. Moreover, they really want the rest of us locked in our homes, too



Damn the consequences. Don't worry about the businesses that would close forever if there was another lockdown. Stop thinking about the tens of thousands of Albertans who would be thrown out of work and who might eventually lose their careers and homes.



"Just stop everything until the virus goes away," they seem to be demanding.



Within minutes of Alberta Premier Jason Kenney and chief medical officer of health, Dr. Deena Hinshaw, announcing severe restrictions on private dinners and parties at the beginning of the holiday entertaining season, a six- week pause in in-person schooling for older students and a doubling down of restrictions on restaurants, bars, gyms and casinos, "progressive" social media posters began scoffing this was just a "mockdown."



Alberta's public- sector unions called for a "zeroCOVID" strategy. One infection is too many. Shut everything down until there are no new infections. ( That took three months in Australia.)



Much of this is undoubtedly coming from people who don't have to worry about where their next paycheque is coming from ( like public-sector union members who might get sent home during the pandemic, but won't get laid off).



So let's try to put a little more perspective on just how bad the pandemic is in Alberta.



For one thing, while more people are getting infected ( something we want very much to stop), the chances of dying from COVID have decreased by nearly two-thirds since the spring.



There have been approximately 500 COVID deaths in Alberta. The first 250 deaths occurred from the first 15,000 infections. But as our medical professionals have become better at treating the disease, the next 250 deaths came from over 35,000 additional infections.



Another fact to keep in mind: Under three per cent of the Albertans who have died of COVID had no underlying conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, COPD, cancer, dementia, cirrhosis, heart or kidney disease and autoimmune disorders.



That's 11 people out of the 50,000 Albertans who have been infected.



By contrast, 92 per cent of people dying from COVID have two or more "comorbidities."



According to the Centre for the Mathematical Modelling of Infectious Diseases, the rate at which Albertans with the virus are passing it on to others is about the same as Ontario and B.C., and slightly higher than Quebec's.



The UCP's and Hinshaw's Tuesday measures were based on the best available information from the province's extensive testing and contact tracing. The measures are designed to stop the spread where it is actually occurring, rather than hammering the whole province until it goes away.



The government is following the science. It's the "progressives" who are feeding the fear.

[Anonymous]

Ontario is set to begin rapid testing for staff and patients of old age homes.

[Anonymous]

The data so far suggests that indoor dining has not significantly contributed to the spread of COVID-19. Businesses have already invested in measures and devised protocols to allow for a safe return to shopping and dining. For the many people who aren't comfortable with indoor dining, they can stay home.



As for the idea that patio dining must be banned, it is just a ridiculous notion not at all backed up by anything resembling concrete evidence. This decision should be reversed.

[cc]

I'll add  some perspective from my spreadsheet which goes way back



Alberta has been doing better than any  I can see in the world in that area all along & continues today



Using the "easy snapshot in time" calc for comparison only it's come down to just above 1 death / 100 cases



That of course is not accurate when cases are either rising or falling and one needs to use cases as of 2 - 3 weeks ago  .. leaving Alberta at about 1.5 / 100 when one uses 2 or 3 week ago case numbers vs current death numbers



However I calculate it, Alberta has been the best I can find anywhere in the world



For perspective, Ontario is now down to around 4 / 100 and Quebec around 5+ (they are the reason Canada is high at about 3.5)



We have now got ours down a lot from before and are closing in on Alberta at about 1.3 & better each week even when factoring in the lag between new cases and deaths



All have gradually improved, now  greatly ..  as going way back Canada was 8+ and we were 6 and ON & Quebec you don't want to know   .. Those were very scary times