Senate Pandemics in the Age of Globalization: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Discussion: See OP Warning

Even with Trump gone, it's going to take years to smoke out all his cultists, lackeys, and sycophants that he's placed into government.

 

We locked our water fountains. Only the bottle filling station works. There is literally a bucket locked over the fountain part so no one can try to use it.

 

Interesting point. Before 2016 Trump supporters didn't exists as a force in government. Donald Trump's meteoric rise and success in politics left little time for his lackeys to take root. Almost all his followers would have been placed into government after Trump became president and easily identifiable. If Biden wins he can replace many of Donald's executive branch appointments immediately.

Sounds like HHS is mostly staffed by the same scientists and doctors from before 2016 with a few new voices added after 2016 in leadership / advisor positions applying heavy pressure to make COVID-19 info support a political agenda.

 

Ironically we got rid of our water fountains last year (didn't even realize that to someone told me) as they are now only bottle filing stations as it was part of our green initiative at school. How ironic.

Meanwhile the CDC Advisory Board is deciding who gets the first rounds of vaccines though I think it's apparent the military and health care workers followed by seniors should get them first. Also they cautiously against trick or treating. 2020 can bite me!

 

The same federal judge who struck down Governor Wolf’s 25-person limit on indoor gatherings and 250-person limit on outdoor limits has refused to stay his decision pending appeal. Given that a wrestling tournament occurred last weekend with well over 500 people with chairs that were zip-lined together (ie no distancing) at the PA Expo Center in Philadelphia, expect a major surge in Pennsylvania soon.

The potential fallout cannot be overstated. I’m not happy.

 

God dammit. I’ll let me friends know from PA. Thanks for the heads up

 

Listening to sports radio is torture. The hosts are begging for spectators to be allowed back. Constantly pointing out some stadiums are doing it, so all of them should (yes they are partially filled only 20%, but I say 0%). I will go back to arenas and stadiums when I know it's safe no matter how long it takes. I long for the day, but I can wait. Problem is sports kinda need the revenue. I'm sure the major leagues will find a way though.

 

Every time I see a football game or whatever with live people I always wonder how many will get Covid

 

I actually think it's relatively speaking safe to have a few fans in the stadium as there are ways to do it but given we are going into our "danger zone" as Dr. Fauci put it today, it is best to keep them out until after the new year and then reaccess. Yes @Runjedirun the lack of a gate draw really hurts but the TV deal money is still coming thru and now they are getting pieces of the gambling money therefore they should be just fine for the time being. I actually have not missed the crowds much at all with football, I really haven't. They focus more on the game and not the yahoos in the stands who are often obnoxious drunks.

FAA making the approval for a vaccine is going to send Trump thru the roof as one being approved before Election Day impossible now. Im sure he is going to go on a epic rage fit. Good.[/QUOTE][/QUOTE]

 

The number of new cases per day in Quebec and Ontario keeps increasing everyday: in Quebec, last week, we were at 100 new daily cases, now we've surpassed 500 new daily cases. They might have to close down again restraurants, bars and other public attractions. The Montreal and Quebec City regions are on alert. The Quebec provincial government is thinking of giving the authorizations to the police all over the Quebec province to enter people's home to forbid small gatherings even in people's private space and make sure they respect the new rules put into place.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will adress the nation this evening regarding the current situation with the rising of new cases and a possible second wave of infections. Federal government authorities feel that all the provincial and federal government infrastructures might not be ready to face a second wave of coronavirus, after medical personnel and infrastructures have already been exhausted by the first wave. The Northern territories of Canada have also recorded their first case of coronavirus.

The coronavirus pandemic is also causing another problem: the patients who had to be treated for cancer or other diseases than coronavirus cannot be treated this year after the medical infrastructures have already been submerged by the coronavirus pandemic. This could mean that, not only Canada but in other countries as well, we might be facing another medical crisis with people having to delay their medical operations and treatments for other deadly diseases than coronavirus.

And a side note: we have to forget to celebrate Halloween and Christmas this year between friends and coworkers this year since we might not be out of this situation by the end of this year...

 

Office Christmas parties are normally a big moneymaker for pubs and restaurants here in the UK. If they can't happen that will be a big loss for those places.

 

Here in Boston, the city just extended outdoor patio dining until Dec. December! In Boston! Is like 20ºF, and snowing. Sure, let's eat outside on the sidewalk with slush and snow piles and plows driving by. I feel so bad for restaurants and pubs who have had to deal with this. This winter is going to be bad, no matter what.

And this city is kind of strange tbh. I hear in normal times, it's really hard to get permits to do outdoor dining, or outdoor drinking. We don't really have an outdoor dining scene, we don't typically have wide enough sidewalks, except in a few trendy spots that - I suppose - can afford it (Newbury St, the Fort Point Harbor). We don't even have happy hour here because of ancient Blue Laws (old puritan church laws about drinking and opening up before noon on Sunday and whatnot that are randomly enforced and stuck by). Most places shut down by 10pm at night, and bars have to close by 12:30am. But that's all changing due to the pandemic. Most restaurants all across the city this summer had sidewalk seating, and it was lovely. And by August, you could order drinks and cocktails to go.

 

Well, this year has already been devastating for hotels, restaurants and bars. According to a study, 20% of Montreal's downtown small businesses as restaurants, bars, hotels and shops might face closure or bankruptcy. The city of Montreal is thinking to decrease their taxes and ask landlords to decrease the prices of the rent for small businesses. But at the same time, this means that there's less revenue for the city of Montreal, which means less funding for public services. The city of Montreal, while it has been living some sort of Renaissance era during the past 5 to 10 years with new projects and new businnesses keep coming, has to face difficult choices and has to cut some services as garbage collection, police funding and stop new infrastructure projects...

Many cities around the world have to face the same problems because of this pandemic.

 

England has brought in new rules as of tomorrow that means pubs and restaurants have to close between 10 PM and 5 AM. That means close with customers out the door, not stop ordering drinks and meals after 10PM and finish what you have. Also outdoor dining isn't really practical here in the winter either given the weather and the fact that it gets dark around 3:30-4 PM in the London area in December.

 

Just like Portland! (The getting dark early part only)

 

It really sucks there won't be trick or treating on a Saturday night when the fall back time change would also give our kiddos an extra hour of sleep. This calendar is set up perfectly for Halloween. Oh, you know many cities are going to do it anyway. "How do we know the virus will spread?".

And cancel Thanksgiving or Christmas? Pffft, my mom still expects my family at her house for both gatherings. Plus my yoga teaching sister, her kid who attends pre school in person, my elderly father in law. It's one of those, I don't wanna but I feel obligated things. No, my mom wouldn't understand. It could really rift our relationship. I hate this virus.

 

We don't do Thanksgiving in the UK, though I usually try to find a turkey dinner of some kind for the day. And I'm normally on my own for Christmas so not much of a change there.

 

We are doing it @Runjedirun but having a "parade" instead of them knocking on doors, the candy will be at the end of the driveways individually wrap that the kids can pick up as were encouraging people to sit either at their porch or top of their driveway to cheer them on. Then we are going to follow what @LAJ_FETT said and despite it most likely going to be cold and brutal, have a scavenger hunt type trick or treating where they have to go and find the candy in a couple giant parks/forest area around our house (everyone is getting assigned to a particular park/forest area so they we can spread out). They are also having a couple drive thru trick or treat events but other then the one on the 24th, we are going to skip them.

Far as the holidays are concerned, we are just keeping it our immediate family. My brother is hosting Thanksgiving with my parents and my in laws while we will have Christmas at our house with the same group and perhaps New Year's Day but I don't think they are having bowl games on that day so it might be pointless. We might see our my aunt's family at some point as they are a small group relatively speaking and like us they are being careful but that is it. My dad's family which is massive cannot have anything but us "kids" are working on setting up a zoom party the week before Christmas. Going to be chaotic with everyone since we normally have over a hundred people at our extended family Christmas party but it is better then nothing. I am actually working on a fun family trivia game where the winner gets enrolled in the jelly of the month club.

On a positive note, Johnson & Johnson just got approved for late stage trials. That means four vaccine candidates are now in late stage trials. As Dr. Fauci said it truly is a unprecedented feat.

 

Well they know they can make billions off a vaccine. That’s why there has been such a rush. If only we could find a vaccine against stuff like aids or what have you. Maybe one day

 

"Leap, peasants! Leap into the chasm!" I say while Zooming from home.

 

That 400,000 deaths by Christmas prediction is not going to be all that easy to achieve, but Indiana is doing its part.