Wednesday, December 02, 2020

The Pandemic These Days

Ah COVID! What an unrelenting beast thou art.

Provincially, like just about everywhere else, Ontario's numbers are alarming. Daily new cases have been in the 1700-1800 range lately, and that is high compared to the early days. After that we then got down into the 100 range before the second wave hit. And has it ever hit!

However, our very local numbers are less discouraging. Our part of the 3 county health unit has only 3 active cases. While that is 3 too many, relatively speaking, it's not bad.

It is all relative too, isn't it? For as disappointing as Ontario's numbers might be, it could be a lot worse as this map shows..


Ontario (the big province north of the Great Lakes for those who aren't geographically inclined) is almost all in the lighter shades of green. But look at the adjacent American regions, especially westward toward Wisconsin, Minnesota and the Dakotas and then down into Nebraska. They are mostly blue and dark blue at that.

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A cause for guarded optimism is Canada's vaccine portfolio looks promising. The country has invested in many vaccines.


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Don't quote me on the following statistics which contain numbers that I think that I have read in passing but didn't stop to document at the time. 

I have read that we are also in good shape for early-ish delivery. For example: Canada will apparently have 20 million doses coming from Moderna, and they are coming soon-ish. Moderna has said that because Canada ordered early in the developmental process, we will get it early in the distribution phase. If I understand correctly, we should receive at least some of our 20 million doses by March.

I have also come across projections that by the end of September the percentage of those inoculated will be quite high although still not complete.

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Canada, along with many countries, has offered much support to people and business. We haven't done as well as a number of European countries in particular




17 comments:

  1. Where I live in New Hampshire is a light green area too. But the risk is still there so we still take all the precautions.

    Just read in The NY Times that vaccinations likely to be complete by spring.

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  2. It is shameful that we are not subsidizing the wages of, well, anybody, here in the US. And the stock market reaches new highs every day. Something is really wrong here.

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  3. CBS News last night said some vaccines will be delivered in 2 weeks for health care workers and nursing home residents. This is the vaccine which requires refrigeration below zero, as well as a second shot. I'm not eager for that. So I can wait till the one you mentioned is available. Thanks for your comments on my blog.

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  4. Im inrerested in the chart by country can you tell me where you found t?

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  5. Jean. I am not sure where I found it, but if I see it again, I will try to make a note. But there is a source cited on the chart if that is any help.

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  6. thank you such a great graph

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  7. Like many places, we are perhaps on the start of the downhill slide for the second wave but really, it hasn't been too bad. Out here in rural America, the hospitals aren't crowded with Covid patients and there aren't massive lines for testing or food as shown repeatedly on the news.

    As for the wage subsidies statistics, like most things in that form, it should be taken with a grain of salt. Every single one of the countries listed that are paying more wage subsidies to businesses also collect way more in tax revenue as a result of their GDP. If you did a follow-up question and asked people in the U.S. if they wanted to double their tax load in order to support businesses in times of need, I'm positive the answer would be no. It is the classic "you can't have your cake and eat it too" scenario.

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  8. Over here in Hawaii, we have a low case count and deaths. The positivity rate is below 3%.

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  9. I am sure, though cannot support with stats, that the exiting Pres. brought so much of this during his maskless rallies of thousands of people. Also the middle states held a motorcycle rally that was a big spreader. People are really stupid.

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  10. 0%? That seems shameful. I think we could have done much better. Much of our handling of the virus has been embarrassing and dangerous. Back in March I thought we'd pull together. Our leadership(?) had a lot to do with not making that happen. I don't know what color WA is but things aren't good here. It's not like the Dakotas and we still have hospital space. (I think) I'm hoping for a vaccine soon although I may be too young to qualify for the first couple rounds of inoculations.

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  11. I'm still in favour of keeping the border closed until this is done.

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  12. With the subsidies come the high debt load for the country. Opposition parties are focussing on that and how the money is being spent. The vaccine can’t come fast enough but I figure we’ll worry about the debt when this is over.

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  13. There is some hope here but it may be too rosy. I am normally a very optimistic person but This one hasn't got me feeling much better.

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  14. The eastern half of the US used to be that blue. Governors stepped in and citizens complied. Now the west is blue and proud of it.

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  15. We need to be helping our citizens! Yes!
    Hopefully things will start to change soon. All depends on whether Mitch will remain in charge of the senate.

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  16. It seems that whether we have lockdown or do not have lockdown cases go up and down. I hope the vaccines will be safe with no dangerous side effects. In the USA people get unemployment pay for a while, so I don't know why that says zero.

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