Before one begins, here are a few basic facts about the coronavirus:
Coronaviruses are viruses with ribonucleic acid (RNA) for genetic material. The common cold (which, to date, has no cure) is one such RNA virus. The strain being discussed here is COVID-19. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2. It causes upper respiratory infections. It is spread through personal contact. Sneezes, coughs or touching a surface with the virus on it could spread the virus. There are several symptoms of this particular coronavirus: coughing, shortness of breath, fever, headaches, muscle pains, nausea and diarrhea. In the worst cases, the coronavirus can cause respiratory failure and what is called a cytokine storm when an infection causes one's immune system to flood the bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cytokines which can kill tissue and damage organs. As the virus is new, there is no immunity yet to it. Most of the infection cases are of people who over sixty-five years old, have diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiac and respiratory problems. This is not to say that younger patients without pre-existing health problems are not affected. The measures considered to be effective in not getting the coronavirus include distancing one's self from others, hand-washing, cleaning surfaces well and wearing protective garb such as gloves and masks. It is now believed that patients are not infectious after eleven days.
The virus originated in China, more than likely a laboratory, and could have been spreading since October 2019.
The first reported case of the coronavirus was on January 27th, 2020. The patient came from Wuhan, China.
Canada did not seal its border with the United States until after March 17th despite strenuous objections from health minister Patty Hajdu and Trudeau, both of whom believed that closing the border and stopping flights from other countries (which have not been stopped) were ineffective measures and would only cause social discomfort. It should be noted that neither are medical or scientific professionals.
A debate on Canada's preparedness, particularly the stockpile of masks and other protective garb, and Trudeau's offering China sixteen tonnes of protective garb, has been a subject of heated yet stifled discussion.
As of this writing, there have been 85,091 confirmed cases, 34,933 active cases, 43,705 recovered persons, 1,537,404 tests (out of a population of 37 million) and 6,453 deaths. Nunavut is the only territory that has no infections or deaths whereas Quebec has suffered the lion's share of coronavirus deaths at 62%.
Considering these facts, after nearly three months of forced isolation, isn't it time to re-consider the strategy that did not result in fewer deaths, fewer hospitalisations, the re-introduction of Canadian-manufactured medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, better and more widespread testing and no shutting down of the economy?
Did it even work?:
Indeed, the American experience echoes the British one. More suicides and suicide attempts were reported than previously. Didn't anyone ask if the lockdown could be gradually lifted to avoid these deaths?
But did the lockdown prevent overwhelming the healthcare system with coronavirus cases?
In some cases, mostly in hot zones like China or Italy, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients. However, that hasn't been the case everywhere. Although the US has more testing and therefore more coronavirus patients, a hospital ship and even hospitals in Dallas saw few or no patients. In Canada, people were warned to stay away from emergency rooms which has led to a rise in unrelated coronavirus deaths or conditions.
So how did infections rise in some places? With churches and schools shut, most workplaces closed and only stores and other services deemed essential, how did store-workers get sick? Could shoppers not monitored for infection and not wearing protective garb have spread the virus? Weren't these measures initially balked at by the Liberal government not enforced in private businesses?
It is suggested that the more elderly the population and the fewer sanitary measures taken daily, the higher risk for the spread of the coronavirus. Couple that with no to little protective garb, lackadaisical and untimely testing ("Be caring", Doctor? To what end? It will take weeks to test and weeks for the virus to exhibit the first symptoms), and one has higher infections where other regions are seeing fewer infections.
While the United States and Europe are cautiously re-opening, Canada remains quite tentative. Canadians were glad to tow the line when the weather was cold but now would rather not. It seems that they were willing to follow the rules when it suited them, not because they were logical.
Inconsistency and hesitance has been Canada's game plan since January when firm evidence of the virus was well-known. The infection rate has not lowered in some places and the economy will crater out a lot sooner than one thinks.
Hasn't it occurred to anyone to draw up a new plan?
Coronaviruses are viruses with ribonucleic acid (RNA) for genetic material. The common cold (which, to date, has no cure) is one such RNA virus. The strain being discussed here is COVID-19. It is caused by SARS-CoV-2. It causes upper respiratory infections. It is spread through personal contact. Sneezes, coughs or touching a surface with the virus on it could spread the virus. There are several symptoms of this particular coronavirus: coughing, shortness of breath, fever, headaches, muscle pains, nausea and diarrhea. In the worst cases, the coronavirus can cause respiratory failure and what is called a cytokine storm when an infection causes one's immune system to flood the bloodstream with inflammatory proteins called cytokines which can kill tissue and damage organs. As the virus is new, there is no immunity yet to it. Most of the infection cases are of people who over sixty-five years old, have diabetes, high blood pressure or cardiac and respiratory problems. This is not to say that younger patients without pre-existing health problems are not affected. The measures considered to be effective in not getting the coronavirus include distancing one's self from others, hand-washing, cleaning surfaces well and wearing protective garb such as gloves and masks. It is now believed that patients are not infectious after eleven days.
The virus originated in China, more than likely a laboratory, and could have been spreading since October 2019.
The first reported case of the coronavirus was on January 27th, 2020. The patient came from Wuhan, China.
Canada did not seal its border with the United States until after March 17th despite strenuous objections from health minister Patty Hajdu and Trudeau, both of whom believed that closing the border and stopping flights from other countries (which have not been stopped) were ineffective measures and would only cause social discomfort. It should be noted that neither are medical or scientific professionals.
A debate on Canada's preparedness, particularly the stockpile of masks and other protective garb, and Trudeau's offering China sixteen tonnes of protective garb, has been a subject of heated yet stifled discussion.
As of this writing, there have been 85,091 confirmed cases, 34,933 active cases, 43,705 recovered persons, 1,537,404 tests (out of a population of 37 million) and 6,453 deaths. Nunavut is the only territory that has no infections or deaths whereas Quebec has suffered the lion's share of coronavirus deaths at 62%.
Considering these facts, after nearly three months of forced isolation, isn't it time to re-consider the strategy that did not result in fewer deaths, fewer hospitalisations, the re-introduction of Canadian-manufactured medical equipment and pharmaceuticals, better and more widespread testing and no shutting down of the economy?
Did it even work?:
Michael Levitt, a Stanford University professor who correctly predicted the initial trajectory of the pandemic, sent messages to Professor Neil Ferguson in March telling the influential government advisor he had over-estimated the potential death toll by "10 or 12 times".The Imperial College professor's modelling, a major factor in the Government's apparent abandoning of a so-called herd-immunity policy, was part of an unnecessary "panic virus" which spread among global political leaders, Prof Levitt now tells the Telegraph.Prof Levitt, a British-American-Israeli who shared the Nobel prize for chemistry in 2013 for the "development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems", has said for two months that the planet will beat coronavirus faster than most other experts predict."I think lockdown saved no lives," said the scientist, who added that the Government should have encouraged Britons to wear masks and adhere to other forms of social distancing."I think it may have cost lives. It will have saved a few road accident lives - things like that - but social damage - domestic abuse, divorces, alcoholism - has been extreme. And then you have those who were not treated for other conditions."
Indeed, the American experience echoes the British one. More suicides and suicide attempts were reported than previously. Didn't anyone ask if the lockdown could be gradually lifted to avoid these deaths?
But did the lockdown prevent overwhelming the healthcare system with coronavirus cases?
In some cases, mostly in hot zones like China or Italy, hospitals were overwhelmed with patients. However, that hasn't been the case everywhere. Although the US has more testing and therefore more coronavirus patients, a hospital ship and even hospitals in Dallas saw few or no patients. In Canada, people were warned to stay away from emergency rooms which has led to a rise in unrelated coronavirus deaths or conditions.
So how did infections rise in some places? With churches and schools shut, most workplaces closed and only stores and other services deemed essential, how did store-workers get sick? Could shoppers not monitored for infection and not wearing protective garb have spread the virus? Weren't these measures initially balked at by the Liberal government not enforced in private businesses?
It is suggested that the more elderly the population and the fewer sanitary measures taken daily, the higher risk for the spread of the coronavirus. Couple that with no to little protective garb, lackadaisical and untimely testing ("Be caring", Doctor? To what end? It will take weeks to test and weeks for the virus to exhibit the first symptoms), and one has higher infections where other regions are seeing fewer infections.
While the United States and Europe are cautiously re-opening, Canada remains quite tentative. Canadians were glad to tow the line when the weather was cold but now would rather not. It seems that they were willing to follow the rules when it suited them, not because they were logical.
Inconsistency and hesitance has been Canada's game plan since January when firm evidence of the virus was well-known. The infection rate has not lowered in some places and the economy will crater out a lot sooner than one thinks.
Hasn't it occurred to anyone to draw up a new plan?
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