Discussions

I think we should start a topic to focus on what is opening and what restrictions are coming down. Businesses that have hope. People going back to work. ( a bit of positivity?) Specifically for MB and Canada.  
 
There are too many threads of doom and pandemic gloom, debates, and rants.  
 
I understand that pandemic facts are facts, but must we post so many of them here? Many watch the news.  
 
It may brighten a few people's days.  
*I understand that this post might vanish.

I think this thread is a good idea!!  
 
A reminder, with things slowly starting to open, that the current health order expire in 6 days (on Feb 12). The province is looking for feedback on what should open next.  
 
You can provide feedback at https://engagemb.ca/restartmb-pandemic-response-system  
 
The survey is likely only open for another day or so, so if you'd like to provide feedback you should consider doing it sooner rather than later!

I took that survey. I think everyone should as the consensus will decide further restrictions removed (or hightened) based on public opinion. Then broadcasted on Feb. 12.

looked at walmart wow alot of cars in parking lot  
its going to get crowded in there and the line outside didnt look like a 6ft distance to me  
so why cant a gym open up where there is much less people in there when your only allowed in when your time slot app allows you to making it less crowded then these big box stores that are packed and aisle ways are full going different directions not following arrows  
 
Edited by Brian, 2021-02-07 08:00:23

I suspect one of the bigger issues with this reopening on top of new strains (forgive me for bringing it up again lol) is the spreading potential of them VIA inadequate ventilation systems. I've seen some businesses (out of province) tackle this with UV treatment within the ductwork. Is it time for the province to start halfiing the investment cost of such systems for businesses?  
 
I get that the pandemic has tapped us out already. But aside from allowing restraunts, gyms and such to reopen, it's also an investment in limiting future flu seasons and airbourne pandemics.  
 
Edited by Simonwalcal, 2021-02-07 09:58:38

I'm glad we can buy clothes again, online shopping for womens clothes is an absolute nightmare!  
 
Walmarts line up is a nightmare too, last time I stopped for groceries I had to tell the person behind me to back off as they were almost breathing down my neck. I would feel much more comfortable if people would actually social distance themselves.  
 
I am excited to see things open up, but that being said people need to be aware of distance otherwise it's going to get bad again.

I wondered the same thing when I did it. But at least we have some say in this ordeal.  
 
Edited by covidsux, 2021-02-08 21:25:47

How many people here know someone who has died from covid or is suffering the long term effects of covid.  
On 28th January 2021 our family friend and neighbour died of covid 19.  
As a young woman she had aspirations of becoming a nurse but was prevented from doing so by her parents. She later married and with her husband raised 5 children on a successful 50 acre livestock farm. These children grew to become leaders in their respective fields, two of them in healthcare and one a highly respected cancer research scientist.  
Due to a health condition restricting her mobility she had to enter a long term health facility in April 2020 where this lifelong hardworking woman, mother and grandmother contracted covid 19 in January 2021.  
This person like so many others deserved better than to suffer and die in this way through no fault of her own.  
This is one story of many that have lost their lives unnecessarily due to covid 19.  
Maybe we should consider this when we next complain about a covid restriction or how it ‘inconveniences’ us and our lifestyles.  
As new variants circulate it is imperative that we wait until many more people are vaccinated before we further relax restrictions.  
We owe it to each other to not let down our guard against this virus.

People die daily in numbers we wouldn't probably think of....be it covid, heart attacks, cancer, accidents, suicides, pnemonia, or whatever other causes, etc.  
It's never easy loosing family or friends regardless of how they die...it's still traumatic. I lost 2 family members around Christmas the one on boxing day actually a uncle. He was a serious war vet and fought in different countries including Egypt. Yet at the same time, we can't keep living in fear under our beds with this virus. We can follow the rules to a tee but there is no guarantee we won't catch it or someone we know. I don't know the latest on the new mutated strains from UK and Africa, but hopefully they will not spread like the original covid. We have to keep going forward and it's not being negative towards those we lost, as we should keep their memories and love in our hearts, but we can't let this virus make us paranoid of others or stop us from living either. Sadly when it's someone's time you may or may not be able to change that. I'd give almost anything to hug someone from my family I lost, just for a few seconds, yet I'm glad they aren't going through this. I espc feel bad for the elderly in carehomes who can't see family or get a hug. That's worse to some than the virus itself.  
There will be mixed views on the reopening of things, but wouldn't our loved ones we lost want us to try and move on? All we can do is do what each of us can each day, and hopefully by summer we can have some normal again, cause living like we have been the past year isn't good or healthy for anyone physically or mentally or financialy..... Kindness, empathy, patience and respect go alot further than judgement, fear, shaming, fingerpointing, blaming or actual acts of violence. A friendly hello doesn't hurt either since we can't see smiles We need see through masks lol  
Oh, And please be kind and not judge those who are legitly mask exempt and not acting like the idiots who make the drama. Not everyone without a mask is a covid carrying zombie. And there are legit reasons on govt mb site for not wearing a mask and some businesses/jobs/public forget that part and just judge. Bylaws protect both sides. There's no excuse for those who abuse this and make those who can't mask look bad. I do see some cool mask designs and colors though. The two mask suggestion is abit too much.  
So let's be careful and be happy things are going forward and people can open up businesses and get work and pay their bills and take care of their families. Hug someone in your household including the fuzzy ones and just do your part each day the best you can.....And lets kick covids a** lol  
 
Edited by covidsux, 2021-02-09 21:52:42

Sorry I don’t know how to quote a previous poster on my phone but as to the post from covidsux about other death counts, the difference is that most of those other examples you gave , cancer, heart attacks, suicide, etc are not contagious. It bothers me to no end when people pull that out because as tragic as those deaths are, no one catches cancer from the person behind them in line. No one catches a heart attack because they went to a party. There is just no comparison and I really wish that people would stop throwing that out there. Yes people die every day from something or another but I would wager ( I don’t have statistics), that most are not highly contagious, passed from person to person things.

Just a friendly reminder that Covid isn't just about mitigating deaths, but infections too.  
 
Why? Because the more people get infected, the harder it will become to control the illness.  
 
Why? Because it applies pressure-cooker conditions to allow it to evolve into more infectious and deadly forms.  
 
Case in point: The UK variant (B.1.1.7) that has the world scrambling may have originated in a *single* person with what's described as a "chronic Covid infection". He was sick for 102 days before eventually dying, but somewhere between day 63 and day 82 the virus acquired the deletion that makes it spread so much more easily. (see https://www.wired.co.uk/article/chronic-infection-uk-coronavirus-variant)  
 
The reality is that if we ever want to return to normal *later*, we need to control the virus *now*.

I think this was done by design. I know we all have suggestions or opinions on these subjects but can you imagine every person how answered the survey (50000+) having an "opinion" on every question. It would never resolve anything. There would always be some say open it all, some say don't open any, some say too fast...I get we all want to be heard. This situation will never please everyone. As for the limited opening...the businesses not being allowed to open aren't the problem the people who can't follow the rules are. If you can't trust people to stay 6 feet apart in a line...can you trust them to properly clean equipment in a gym???? I hope things open more in the next couple of weeks. I stress that I don't believe the businesses are the problem...the people patronizing these businesses are the problem.