Covid And The Rest of Us

[MommyinHonduras]

Has anyone heard from @MommyinHonduras since the last hurricane Iota? Honduras and area were hit very hard, not sure about Roatan. Always enjoy her interesting views.

Thanks for asking! I have no covid news now that hurricane recovery is so crucial for so many. I still read but have nothing to add to this thread really.

 

[NFLDERS]

An American friend sent me a Reddit thread on this situation, thinking I might not have heard about the fiasco. One girl said she went to high school with the owner and insinuated he hasn't changed his lovely ways. Insert sarcasm.

An absolute attention hound.

It is a shame when there are many small business owners with valid points, that should be at least heard and considered.

I'm hoping he gets the book thrown at him, and that the fines get his due attention.

 

[NFLDERS]

I wish I had never quoted either of your/the posts. Honestly. Because it is a broad conversation that has been ensuing in general. People pushing boundaries with risk taking because they know better than specialists, not realizing how difficult it would be in the quiet of the day, if one's loved one suffered and died alone because of a choice one made, obviously not thinking of these repercussions coming to fruition.

I didn't think anything was right wing Annette, nor callous. And never have with any of your posts. And certainly did not here. You know in real life I discuss the miracle of you and I laughing over such very different viewpoints.

Factually stating the life expectancy of Canada did absolutely have meaning Annette. Meaning beyond playing here are the facts. And beyond your added pertinent data on the post. Did not feel like it was callous nor a threat, but it did absolutely have meaning.

And your post jumped off of it. And mine followed suit.

I have never wanted any factual information suppressed. I am saddened that my post gave off that vibe in any way.

Even without my life experience, I would be able to know that humans often think they can live with emotional consequences, that many truly can't. I had both frustration and loving worry for people's choices going forward. And by people's choices, I am not referring to how governments decide to go forward. I truly mean individual choices. Way more than any single trigger. I am truly sorry that got lost.

None of us should assume we know how we will live with our choices, after the fact - in time. And we can not even rely on anyone's words. Not even when stringent and firm and confident, before of after. I assure you that I have seen too many claim *they knew* they were emotionally fine/done, or would be, and most definitely were not. And in tandem we are seeing that almost daily with stories coming out regarding Covid.

Even with the medical professionals that face it all daily. And suffer that constant wearing down of saving lives AND hearing the pain of being alone without loved ones - from both sides.

**I am truly scared for the future emotional repercussions of what might seem like simple rational choices of the day for many. **

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Also, what the world deems rational is of course beyond important. Facts are definitely the anchor, of any situation. But there is a tendency to think that emotional viewpoints do not have the same merit. They indeed do, they have a place and strength as well.

HEAR! HEAR!

 

[prairie_girl]

I think we need to keep in mind that mandates/regulations without enforcement are meaningless. If something is vital enough to mandate, there must be some real threat of consequences for non-compliance. At this point, I see it as a real problem because almost every locality nation-wide has extensive restrictions that are up to the various provincial and municipal jurisdictions to enforce, which in some cases is just logistically impossible, or at least it has been up to now.

I just read this, but I will agree to disagree with you.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I've beginning to wonder if whenever that day comes when I don't wear a mask all the time out in public (aside from eating or drinking at a restaurant or out in a park or whatever away from peeps) if it will feel like when I go out of the house without my wedding ring on lol. I'm so used to wearing my wedding ring out and I've gotten used to a mask being something I have to think about. Did it feel freeing or were you a tad nervous?

That sounds like a nice little break you'll be having in Queensland!

I'm still not used to wearing a mask in public. Hopefully that day will never come. I'm tired of muffled voices, maskne, hidden smiles and emotions...among other things. I can not wait until we are free from mask mandates.

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

The U.K. is in a confusing pickle. At the moment Wales is out of lockdown. However, England is in lockdown until 2 December, then in Tiers, with most of the country being in the highest tier. In reality only Cornwall on the mainland will be out of lockdown plus some of the UK’s islands. Wales is set to announce new lockdown rules on Monday but apparently there will not be tiers. Scotland and Northern Ireland are also doing their own thing.
All University students have been asked to test/retest for COVID, before leaving their University towns to return home for Christmas and to travel between 3 and 9 December. Presumably they will be asked to test/retest again before returning to University in January.

 

[NFLDERS]

I think we need to keep in mind that mandates/regulations without enforcement are meaningless. If something is vital enough to mandate, there must be some real threat of consequences for non-compliance. At this point, I see it as a real problem because almost every locality nation-wide has extensive restrictions that are up to the various provincial and municipal jurisdictions to enforce, which in some cases is just logistically impossible, or at least it has been up to now.

The newest mandates, fines ie should make a dent in Alberta's Covid19 numbers too. IMO new monetary increases Canada wide on infractions are finally a lot, and hopefully not a little too late.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm still not used to wearing a mask in public. Hopefully that day will never come. I'm tired of muffled voices, maskne, hidden smiles and emotions...among other things. I can not wait until we are free from mask mandates.

I get it. I'm used to it but I'm not enjoying it (though I love to wear my wedding ring so not quite the same in that respect). I just meant it's become a habit to me to the point where I wondered how it would feel to remove it in all the settings I wear and and not think to need it like the poster getting a manicure IIRC without the mask. I personally look forward to that day at well that's for sure!

I completely agree with you on emotional and smiles. It was something I was concerned about early on. It's really common for me to be "ope excuse me, ope gonna just squeeze past ya, oh no worries you're fine, etc" to people and I always do it with a smile. I still do it with a smile and I'm sure that carries through my voice but I miss the facial expression aspect connection with people. My sister-in-law deals with maskne and she hates it because she normally doesn't have acne, it's frustrating to her.

So I get it, I guess I just got used to thinking about "where's my mask, time to clean my mask, ope time to put on my mask, etc" and in being honest I did not think I would be like that in the early spring so I surprised myself there.

 

[BadPinkTink]

We don't have Thanksgiving in Ireland, so Christmas is our big family holiday. Further to last nights announcment, there have been updates about households mixing on Christmas Day.

• When visitors arrive, everyone washes their hands, uses hand sanitizers and wears a mask
• No hugging or physical contact
• Wear masks when cooking and serving food
• Limit the amount of people in the kitchen
• No buffet style / sharing of food, individually plate the food for each person
• No sharing of glassware , utensils etc
• Only people from the same household should sit together at a table
• Keep windows and doors open

For me personally, this is not an issue, we wont be visiting any other household and we will have no one visiting us.

But on social media people are not happy and the general feeling is that people wont be complying.

 

[TLSnell1981]

We don't have Thanksgiving in Ireland, so Christmas is our big family holiday. Further to last nights announcment, there have been updates about households mixing on Christmas Day.

• When visitors arrive, everyone washes their hands, uses hand sanitizers and wears a mask
• No hugging or physical contact
• Wear masks when cooking and serving food
• Limit the amount of people in the kitchen
• No buffet style / sharing of food, individually plate the food for each person
• No sharing of glassware , utensils etc
• Only people from the same household should sit together at a table
• Keep windows and doors open

For me personally, this is not an issue, we wont be visiting any other household and we will have no one visiting us.

But on social media people are not happy and the general feeling is that people wont be complying.

Wash your hands AND use hand sanitizer? Also wearing a mask when cooking? NO physical contact? You can interact without getting in someone’s face. Seems a bit extreme. Folks are more likely to comply with reasonable precautions JMO

 

[Karin1984]

Washing your hands AND use hand sanitizer? Also wearing a mask when cooking? NO physical contact? You can interact without getting in someone’s face. Seems a bit extreme. Folks are more likely to comply with reasonable precautions JMO

I have more issue with keep windows and doors open. In Winter in Ireland, that's not very warm.

 

[TLSnell1981]

I have more issue with keep windows and doors open. In Winter in Ireland, that's not very warm.

The doors may be open but that's our norm. 20+ people generate a bit of heat. If it's cold we will build a bonfire so we can enjoy the outdoors Our weather isn't quite as extreme as Ireland.

 

[moorhunhe]

Wales is set to announce new lockdown rules on Monday but apparently there will not be tiers.

New lockdown rules for Wales already? They just came out ...

The amount of people from England, going to Wales for Primark and that sort of thing seemed insane this time 'round. (from reading on FB mainly)
Maybe there should be some police at the border? (not sure if they already were though)

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I have more issue with keep windows and doors open. In Winter in Ireland, that's not very warm.

I about asked that but didn't. It's the advice here too in the U.S. but not necessarily easy for parts at this time of the year let alone Christmas. We left father-in-law's place last night it was 32 degrees and the car was frosted up.

 

[lisaviolet]

I'm hoping he gets the book thrown at him, and that the fines get his due attention.

Who knows.

For everyone else -

His supporters went to picket Ford's house (our premier). He told them to leave his family and neighbours alone. And then told them to stop acting like buffoons.

Or he would raise the cost of beer (added lies my me! )

• No buffet style / sharing of food, individually plate the food for each person
• No sharing of glassware , utensils etc

Hmmm. I honestly thought there was strong evidence against the possibility of surface spreading.

I agree with TLSnell1981, it would have been way more effective with more reasonable suggestions.

Funny that citizens of the world are concentrating on different parts of the Irish Covid Christmas countdown.

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I have my balcony door wide open most days. So that one wouldn't have made me blink.

 

[ronandannette]

Wash your hands AND use hand sanitizer? Also wearing a mask when cooking? NO physical contact? You can interact without getting in someone’s face. Seems a bit extreme. Folks are more likely to comply with reasonable precautions JMO

You're not wrong but believe it or not, millions of us world-wide are trying our best to comply with whatever gets thrown at us, even if it does not make complete logical sense or when it might rankle against our own opinions. Canadians in particular are not a rebellious lot and historically, we have not had reason to developed an overt distrust of our leadership (like them or not).

That's part of what makes the Ontario BBQ guy and the protesters at Ford's house so alarming. I mean, really, radicals gotta radical and certainly that goes on to a degree all the time but when (relatively) regular people start acting up, I'm concerned.

 

[TLSnell1981]

You're not wrong but believe it or not, millions of us world-wide are trying our best to comply with whatever gets thrown at us, even if it does not make complete logical sense or when it might rankle against our own opinions. Canadians in particular are not a rebellious lot and historically, we have not had reason to developed an overt distrust of our leadership (like them or not).

That's part of what makes the Ontario BBQ guy and the protesters at Ford's house so alarming. I mean, really, radicals gotta radical and certainly that goes on to a degree all the time but when (relatively) regular people start acting up, I'm concerned.

I understand and you are not alone. Those who follow the rules will continue to do so. Others have never abided by the rules and are unlikely to ever comply. Piling on unreasonable expectations may not have the desired effect.

 

[BadPinkTink]

I have more issue with keep windows and doors open. In Winter in Ireland, that's not very warm.

Exactly. Our temperatures in December are around 0c to 6c / 30f to 40f with wind and rain most days, which makes it feel colder. This is currently an issue in schools. They are keeping windows and doors open to make sure there is air flow and are allowing children to wear hats and gloves and extra clothes and some even bring in blankets.

Also some of the criticism about these rules is that the majority of homes are small, with an open plan kitchen living area and no room for an extra table so that households can stay separate. These rules are only practical really for those who live in big houses / apartments ie rich people.

Hmmm. I honestly thought there was strong evidence against the possibility of surface spreading.

I agree with TLSnell1981, it would have been way more effective with more reasonable suggestions.

Funny that citizens of the world are concentrating on different parts of the Irish Covid Christmas countdown.

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I have my balcony door wide open most days. So that one wouldn't have made me blink.

Well its like why they are getting rid of buffets on cruise ships. Its basically to just take precautions and limit the spread as much as possible. Also when you have a buffet set up, people are more likely to be very close to each other.

Oh gosh, we have had our heating on since the middle of October. Right now its 45f / 7c with 98% humidity, so cold and damp.

 

[MommyinHonduras]

millions of us world-wide are trying our best to comply with whatever gets thrown at us

These rules are only practical really for.... rich people.

These two quotes are pulled out not directed at either of you. They both just trigger me to respond.

Anyone who has a home, can work from said home and afford to then stay in said home, has the freedom to willingly comply with crazier and crazier regulations.

That applies to almost no one in this country. It never really did but fear is a motivation to many too. The fear along with not having anywhere to go with everything shut down, just shifted into high gear just to survive and see our neighbors and friends survive. There is no going back to any of the regulations pushed for 8 months anytime soon.
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-latin-america-55064560

 

[BadPinkTink]

These two quotes are pulled out not directed at either of you. They both just trigger me to respond.

Anyone who has a home, can work from said home and afford to then stay in said home, has the freedom to willingly comply with crazier and crazier regulations.

That applies to almost no one in this country. It never really did but fear is a motivation to many too. The fear along with not having anywhere to go with everything shut down, just shifted into high gear just to survive and see our neighbors and friends survive. There is no going back to any of the regulations pushed for 8 months anytime soon.
https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-latin-america-55064560

Thats ok. I guess I am more aware of the wealth divide especially in Dublin, which has become more prominent with Covid. Alot of it is systemic, and generational. While I totally understand why you might think Ireland is rich compared to what you see in Honduras, there is a huge homeless crisis in Dublin. Huge numbers of people live in tents, which now that our temperatures are dropping, means that that many will die during the winter. Already this year 50 homeless people have died in Dublin compared with 37 this time last year. Yes the majority of people do have a home but many families this winter will have to choose whether to buy food or to pay for heating. My dad was a teacher in a disadvantaged low income area. They had a breakfast club in the school which was funded by the council, because most of the children in the school did not have breakfast at home. A food bank in that district delivers 2.4 tons of food per week.

The cost of living in Ireland is 15.10% higher than in United States and 57% higher than EU average. Rent in Ireland is, on average, 8.90% higher than in United States.

I know you are suffering in Honduras, but just because countries like mine are seen as rich, does not mean that desperate poverty, homelessness does not exist