SirBillybob

He was of the Mertz family in Podunk?

Interesting article. One factual error, though, or ambiguous wording: the USA pandemic mortality rate by incidence of infection (6%) is about the same as globally (5%), not 6 times greater as that would be a whopping 30% when it is only 1% difference. The author likely meant to convey the USA death toll by total population is greater than globally; it is: by 5.3 times, but latency in developing nations will likely shift that comparison. He also highlights BC (his home) as an example of Canada doing relatively better but neglects to point out that Quebec’s death toll is 20% greater than USA overall. Only 9 states’ death tolls exceed Quebec’s. Ontario and Quebec combined are comparable to USA overall.

Canadian poll: 50% would take vaccine as soon as approval granted, 32% would hold off and assess, 14% intend to not be vaccinated. If the latter group contained any people that already had the virus it would alter the percentage by a negligible amount.

Got so caught up in this I forgot that component. Some trials will administer another ‘potentially better than nothing shot’ for control, such as meningitis vaccine, I think as well to attempt to mimic side effects of vaccine arm and maintain ‘double-blind’ rigour, but who needs it? Bless the hearts of volunteers, though, seriously.

I think resistance is two-pronged: fear based on pseudoscience, and skepticism about whether vaccination makes enough difference even if reliable science is not discounted. I have taken influenza vaccine every year since late 1970s and I cannot remember the last time I had influenza; it is certainly decades. Yet influenza vaccination likely lowers the risk of probability of death from influenza infection by 30-40%. I am assuming that is due to less than 100% effectiveness of vaccination. The risk fatality reduction is pretty good from my point of view but I think many people would not be impressed. Having been very ill with HBV at a point in history between the availability of blood-derived vaccine and eventual recombinant vaccine, I kicked myself for not knowing more about gay men’s health in the context of being recently out. My GP was gay but did not cover the hepatitis topic, perhaps because it was contemporaneous with early AIDS and HIV prevention that sucked up all the focus. [i am not excusing him; lesson learned] If CoV vaccination is not effective for everybody while not attenuating disease severity for those who are vaccinated yet acquire infection, I think it stands to reason that mortality rates among that subgroup will approximate those of the non-vaccinated. In that case, maybe my thinking is distorted on this, but the ‘hard sell’ will be convincing people to take a partially effective vaccine (that is, not viable for all recipients), packaging in a convincing way the benefits of protecting others and reaching sufficient population immunity to mitigate incidence and reduce the numbers of people with sustained morbidity.

I am pretty sure I watched every TV episode for years as a child. Paul Drake was played by a dreamy actor, only son of columnist Hedda Hopper. Really enjoying the HBO version.

No, I want to hold out as long as possible because better vaccine candidates than the early ones out of the gate may evolve, but I can remain confined without financial consequence. My confinement stance also makes me a poor study subject because I would continue to take all measures to avoid virus exposure. I don’t have expertise in Virology/Immunology, but what if a shitty vaccine on board in your system compromises the effectiveness of a better later vaccine option?

I’ll have what she’s having ... due to the pandemic.

It’s also the beginning of Pride Week in Montreal, though obviously modified.

Are there now signs actually on aircraft indicating a mask is obligatory? That could be a way of doubling down. For example, regarding aircraft seatbelts it can be an offence (FAA?) ... I’m not American (not the airline) ... to disregard the fasten sign but I believe refusing crew verbal instructions is a different offence. For a mask sign I suppose a new piece of transport legislation would need to be passed unless a public health law exists to cover the bases.

But ya are, Blanche ... due to the pandemic.

C. Soprano: More is lost by indecision than wrong decision ... due to the pandemic.

Jennifer Melfi: Toodle-fucking-oo ... due to the pandemic.

Jake Gittes: I said I want the truth, due to the pandemic! Evelyn Mulwray: She’s my sister AND my daughter, due to the pandemic! Dorothy Gale: Aunty Em, there’s no place like home, due to the pandemic. (She can say that again.)

Correct, that’s what I meant. One test feedback error’s ripple effect could have worse consequences down the line than, say, a surgeon designating the wrong side with a marker preparatory to an inguinal hernia repair.

Oddly the news shows a temperature-taker at Toronto main airport wearing just a shield when a mask should be added. Words are exchanged every few seconds over a very short distance.

At least one positive is now walking around spreading it.

Closing at midnight enables them to abide by the newly imposed “nightclub” restriction. Admission by appointment maintains the allowable numbers of people according to floor plan. They are essentially in the restaurant-type category during the current measures. They may also have a requirement to cleanse the facility between shifts under a hygiene obligation.

There is a ‘little’ hint and it concerns issue. I am guessing it is an illegitimate love child situation and the OP was asked for support but it puts him in a compromised position.

Just finished The Testaments. I was born a few miles from Cobalt, Ontario where Atwood’s fictional symposium moderator is situated as a university professor. Season 4 of THT had to close up shop early in production (Toronto?). There had been tentative plans to develop The Testaments.

Found a version of the article ... https://news.paxeditions.com/news/other/two-canadian-insurers-are-now-offering-out-country-coverage-covid-19

Toronto’s Globe and Mail had a piece a week ago indicating Canadian Blue Cross and Medipac in Canada have coverage options now. But I cannot access the article.

Mine occasionally gets put into storage, but rarely in the past had it been more than the several months up to now. I would prefer it to be arrested and thrown into the hole.

Globe and Mail posted an article on it 6 days ago. I do not get free access. But from the first sentence it appears CDN Blue Cross and Medipac are opening up to coverage. I once used Medipac because my Allianz coverage is only valid for 30-day trips.