I've really struggled writing this post. I've written and re-written it, as I felt the original draft might offend some readers, not because they fall into the category of folks I'm about to describe, but just because they live in the province in question. I hope I haven't edited it to the point of being insipid or failing to make a point, because I feel so strongly that there's a point or two to be made.
One of our Canadian provinces, which shall be unnamed, but which for the record leans hard right on the political spectrum, lifted Covid restrictions in mid-August. The new rules included, for example, no longer requiring positive cases to quarantine, no longer having to get tested (in fact, not being able to get tested unless visiting a doctor or hospital), and no longer requiring masking in public transit or taxis and ride-shares.
The reasoning given by both the premier and the top doctor of the province is that people have to get used to living with Covid, and that the only way to do that is through vaccines.
Fair enough. I agree. But shouldn't vaccine levels be at a significantly high level before lifting restrictions? The province in question has the highest rate of Covid infections and the lowest rate of both partially and fully vaccinated people in all of Canada.
Now Covid numbers are rising dramatically in that province. It's not surprising; it's pretty predictable, really, for anyone who's been paying the slightest attention to how Covid is spread and how it's thwarted.
But it's beyond maddening to see folks who need care for other illnesses unable to get it because hospitals are full of people with Covid who refused the vaccine because they feel their right to do whatever they wish is being curbed.
The same politician who ordered the lifting of restrictions is now promising $100 gift cards to everyone who gets the vaccine after refusing to do so all along.
Seems a bit backwards to be offering rewards rather than implementing consequences, as any parent (and a whole lot of non-parents) could attest.
There are valid medical reasons for choosing not to have the vaccine but the My Rights excuse given by many people who are refusing to get vaccinated just doesn't make sense.
People's individual rights need to stop at the point they are taking away other people's rights. That's a basic rule of civilized society.
I despair.
* * * * *
Update: On September 4, the province in question brought some restrictions back into place -- but too little and too late for this wave of infections. I feel so sorry for the medical community that has to treat unvaccinated patients who had the chance to avoid their outcomes and didn't take it. And I feel sorry for the vulnerable members of society who can't get back to any kind of normalcy because they are at higher risk even if vaccinated, as we are seeing from breakthrough cases, or because they cannot be vaccinated for medical reasons.
*****
I'm not sure if memes are equal to the task of taking anyone's mind off despair, but I will tell you that I've spent an awful lot of time the past few months on the internet looking for things that will help me to smile again. Join me in a few relevant ones today. And then some irrelevant ones. I think you'll know the shift when you get there.
 |
| Sorry for the not-family-friendly meme. Some days a Donkey can only take so much. |
 |
| I love this irked-looking cat. |
Have a good week, my people.
Sigh.
ReplyDeleteWe hear a LOT about rights but not a lot of about the flip side - responsibilities.
My city is in lockdown and likely to stay that way for some time because the State next door puts economics over health and didn't lock down for waaaaay too long.
Thanks for the smiles. I needed them. And some days counting to ten is totally insufficient.
Rights and responsibilities - that's the issue in a nutshell.
DeleteSo much in this pandemic depends on political leadership, doesn't it? Which is dangerous. For those politicians working closely with medical experts and willing to follow their advice, it's good. Otherwise, we see situations like yours (and the Canadian province in my post).
Not family friendly? Pffft, my family would love these.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything you said. We have lockdowns still in Melbourne and Sydney, but my Adelaide is okay for now. Our prime Minister wants restrictions lifted at a 70% fully vaccinated rate, my state Premier wants 80%. Me? I'd prefer 90%.
I'm with you on the 90%. I wonder if that's achievable anywhere? It seems there is a tendency to plateau at 70-75%.
DeleteHmmm. I agree with you. Here in my little corner of the world a.k.a. Denmark we're finally loosening restrictions, people are allowed to meet etc., hand sanitizing, distancing still being in efftect, but no masks. But only after having tested, re-tested, vaccinated and re-vaccinated. We're now at 72+% fully vaccinated. And the number of cases are slowly but steadliy sinking, now only those you can't vaccinate, and the "immortal and not vaccinated" youngsters getting hospitalized.
ReplyDeleteBtw try as I migth, I can't find out which part of Canada you're aiming at. None fits all three bills as far as I can see.
They / we need to learn this lesson. And I'm happy to be hearing from you again.
I think masks are the most underrated part of being able to get back to normal. I know they're uncomfortable, and difficult for many - especially little kids, which makes it even more critical that adults wear them - but they are good at slowing transmission right at the source (our noses and mouths).
DeleteI'm losing what little patience I had for folks who refuse to do their part to rid us of this plague. Their stated reasonings only infuriate me.
ReplyDeleteWe, or at least we here in the US don't seem to be able to do many "big things" any more, and somehow we did one this time, and developed several safe effective vaccines for a novel virus that has already killed more than half a million of us in less than a year, built on two decades of research on coronavirus vaccines.
And some people have made up reasons not to take them.
And the healthcare workers are being tortured by them.
I know tortured is a harsh word, but it is completely accurate in this case.
These folks did their job, without proper PPE gear and learning how to treat this novel disease on the fly as they did. They risked their own health and that of their families so the afflicted wouldn't just die alone.
The amount of suffering and death they have been exposed to over the last eighteen months is staggering, but they have soldiered on, always hoping that a vaccine would stanch the flow of sickness and misery they were attending to each day.
And then the vaccines came out, and the caseloads diminished for a while, and the immense debt of gratitude we owe them sort of seemed justified for a while.
Now, with the new variants, that we were fully warned would happen if we waited too long, the caseloads are surpassing even what they were in the dead of last winter in places with low vaccination rates, and healthcare workers are just saying "I'm done here" and leaving to do something, anything else, and who can blame them? They are human beings, damn it, and they are being abused by the people who won't get vaccinated to a point that no-one should be abused.
They signed up for healthcare, not war. And when war came, they stepped up. Now they are stepping down.
Very little about modern humanity can make me ashamed at this late date, but this situation does.
I apologize for the rant, but this just burns me up.
-Doug in Sugar Pine
YES, to everything you've said! It burns me up too. It's just such a senseless waste of people and resources when highly scientific solutions are spurned by people who have no training or credentials, and who then pass on their opinions as fact to anyone who will listen (which seems to be an awful lot of similarly untrained, uncredentialed folks).
Deletei think leaders of province in question made decisions with little mindlessness and such decisions always need cost no matter who pays it .in this case people have to pay what was wrongly decided by heads . still there is hope that with the cooperation of both parties things will be mended eventually. .
ReplyDeleteour government and govt of all five provinces seem really confused .they don't know what to do.the restriction button is on for the while and then off . can't say how long this will last .
here government took serious notice for those who were avoiding vaccine ,authorities shut down everything for them even they were restricted to get on a bus if don't show their vaccination card or at least the subscription of due date still things are messy .
blessings!
I think the restrictions like you mentioned (buses) is entirely justified and necessary. A person can choose not to get vaccinated, but there must be natural consequences that flow from that decision. And the consequences can't just be "well, they will get Covid" because that affects many other people: the health care workers who look after them, the people they will infect, and all the people who need other kinds of health care and can't get it because hospitals are full.
DeleteI'm from the "said" province and you are saying what most people are saying here. No offense from me. Our premier is completely lacking in common sense . He's off base on covid all the way. You have described in detail his complete incompetence.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear that you aren't offended AND that most people in your province are in agreement. Good leadership - which is supposed to rely on experts where necessary - is critical in situations like this.
DeleteI'm with you, Jenny-O. Beyond frustrating to hear the rants of the me-me folks who think the world should revolve around their so-called freedom, no matter the cost to those around them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the selection of funnies. I needed a good laugh...as Ernie says, WTF.
I realize I'm preaching to the choir with this post, but it was the only way to stop me getting so steamed up over it :)
DeleteGlad the funnies helped some. I find Youtube to be helpful too.
What concerns me is that so many people are getting their information from such dubious sources that they consider the vaccines dangerous. I don't know how this whole issue got so insanely politicized.
ReplyDeleteI agree. When people can't agree that scientific knowledge trumps personal (and often uninformed) opinion, there is something dreadfully wrong.
DeleteEven with my limited knowledge of Canada, I correctly guessed which province you were talking about. Madness.
ReplyDeleteThe dog in the last photo has been watching me in the kitchen.
LOL! Thanks for that last comment, Andrew :)
DeleteWell done on guessing the province, by the way.
I’m with you about that politician and what he’s done in that province. So glad I don’t live there, which is not helpful at all but that’s all I got. The pandemic has worn me down and I have less tolerance for stupidity.
ReplyDeleteTake care, Jenny.
Part of the problem is politicians pandering to their base, and it's made worse by our systems of electing those politicians - they can get into power even when they don't represent the majority because of how we weigh votes. I know there are many reasonable voters in that province but their voices aren't being heard.
DeleteAnd, yes, I'm worn down right now too, and have much, much less tolerance. I hear you.
It's such a vexxed issue, isn't it? I hope you stay safe and that the negative consequences you are experiencing are short lived.
ReplyDeleteSomehow I think you have surpassed yourself with the funnies this time!
It's not my province, kylie. But it's hard to watch it happen, regardless of that.
DeleteI think you only think that about the funnies because there are more dogs in there this time around :D ha ha
I wonder how this will end!
ReplyDeleteI don't think we have to wonder much, Joanne.
DeleteThis is all so frustrating! Your descriptions here sound like many areas of our country. In some areas we have political leaders making it *against* the law to require masks in schools. We had a mandate to wear masks previously and it ended last June. The Delta variant came in and took over worse than before so they brought the mask mandate back. People are having fits now and outright refusing to wear masks because of their freedoms. Meanwhile our hospitals are full and many of those with Covid are children. You said it perfectly: "People's individual rights need to stop at the point they are taking away other people's rights." We are quickly becoming an uncivilized country here.
ReplyDeleteThe province in question has a lot of similarities to some areas of the USA, you're right. I read quite a bit of coverage of US policies and the decisions to ban mask mandates are just unbelievable. I was glad to see that many school boards went against their governors' orders. But underneath all the responsibility that needs to be taken by leadership is the stark and frightening fact that so many people are rejecting science, rejection based on . . . nothing except their need to belong to a group, their inability to think critically, their stubborness and self-centredness.
DeleteIt's happening not just in your beautiful country but all over. Even here in my little province, which is not the province described in my post.
Buck buck!!! Love that one!
ReplyDeleteThat province makes me think of many areas of Britain....it was a shock to travel through England on our way to Wales and have the people in shops who weren't wearing masks...they don't have to there....were also the ones who didn't respect your personal space
Ah, but did you realize the chicken was actually talking in the last line? lol
DeleteI've read that Britain seems to be doing okay but they are an outlier and their data needs more study.
Yes, love the chicken having the last word!
DeleteLooking at the infection rate I don't think we are doing so well.
There are twice as many now as before last year's lockdown. They are denying that there will be another lockdown..but half-term will probably be extended as a lockdown....
Most of the ones in hospital are those unvaccinated...and young
I have no choice but to teach him how to drive.
ReplyDelete😂hahaha
And what dog wouldn't love taking himself for a drive? :)
DeleteI lived in said province and my children and grandchildren still do. Such a worry. Today in the paper it says the modelling they used to justify their ridiculous loosening of restrictions was incorrect. Give me strength!
ReplyDeleteYes, I saw an article on that, too. I think they knew what they wanted to do about restrictions and looked for data and models that supported their desired conclusion. Not good enough reasoning when lives are at stake.
DeleteI share your anger and frustration and sadly, am feeling contempt and a lack of empathy for those unvaccinated conspiracy lovers who are clogging up our hospitals. What a load of nonsense! They are so lacking in fact and good judgment or care for others that I truly despair. Too many people in my state want to depose our governor because he's strict and believes in science, masks and vaccines. I kid you not. :(
ReplyDeleteI know; I don't like to feel unempathetic but I just don't know how to accept such indifference to the health and safety of other people without making judgement on those doing it. I was relieved to hear of the government's plan for the USA. It won't stop the divisions but I'm not sure anything will, frankly - no amount of understanding or empathy so far has helped.
DeleteI can't believe how many people are choosing not to get vaccinated or wear masks. At the moment our hospitals are full of people who refused to be vaccinated. So basically taking the beds needed for people who are seriously ill with other problems. So selfish.
ReplyDeleteYes, precisely. And the reasons are not based in science at all for the most part. Yet the same folks will take horse de-wormer (and at fifteen times the recommended dosage!) with no science to back it up . . .
DeleteWhen I was very young, everyone in our tiny town went to the high school where we ate sugar cubes set out for us in paper cups. I didn't know what it was, but my mom said "eat it," so I did. Later I learned it was polio vaccine. Why can't we all get the newest vaccine? I'm grateful for its development. But we have all this fear of it based on lies. I appreciate your post. I also enjoyed the memes.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
I know! There hasn't been this opposition to vaccines until recently in history. Measles has become a problem again in some areas because of folks who think it's better for their kids to get sick than to have a vaccine. It maybe shouldn't have surprised us that this vaccine would meet with more resistance, especially since it's been politicized as well. It's just such a waste of lives.
DeleteI'm glad you enjoyed the memes; I enjoy posting them.
I've gotten to the point where I'm avoiding the news because I just keep repeating over and over, "What is WRONG with people?!?" I despair, too.
ReplyDeleteSo thanks for memes - it was nice to get a chuckle. :-)