Covid-19 situation

[SnowFlakey]

It was kinda strange this morning. I drove to the bank and there were hardly any cars on the road. Seemed bare. I passed the local IGA and the parking lots was only a quarter full, not like usual on a thursday.

Yesterday, Premiere Legault issued an ALERT, like an AMBER ALERT, but this was a Health Alert. It said that the Covid situation in Quebec was getting out of hand in the REd Zones and the hospitals were over capacity in Red Zone areas. He also said that if the population doesnt follow the guidelines and limits going about, then he would shut everything down starting Dec 17th until the first week of Jan. If people dont comply, hefty fines will be issued, up to $6,000 per person. Gatherings of any kind over Christmas was prohibited and more Police will be checking! So far everyone in my family is ok, hubby has a bit of a cold but no fever, no nothing.

We were talking (us, daughter and son) and definitely no celebrations this year except our own households. Son was also asking how to cook a turkey since this will be his first time. lol. We plan to do a drive-by and drop off the gifts outside, with masks on, and then go home and thats it. So definitely no celebrations, no nothing but at least we will see each other for a bit.

Stay safe everyone!

[Shwa Girl]

It was kinda strange this morning. I drove to the bank and there were hardly any cars on the road. Seemed bare. I passed the local IGA and the parking lots was only a quarter full, not like usual on a thursday.

Yesterday, Premiere Legault issued an ALERT, like an AMBER ALERT, but this was a Health Alert. It said that the Covid situation in Quebec was getting out of hand in the REd Zones and the hospitals were over capacity in Red Zone areas. He also said that if the population doesnt follow the guidelines and limits going about, then he would shut everything down starting Dec 17th until the first week of Jan. If people dont comply, hefty fines will be issued, up to $6,000 per person. Gatherings of any kind over Christmas was prohibited and more Police will be checking! So far everyone in my family is ok, hubby has a bit of a cold but no fever, no nothing.

We were talking (us, daughter and son) and definitely no celebrations this year except our own households. Son was also asking how to cook a turkey since this will be his first time. lol. We plan to do a drive-by and drop off the gifts outside, with masks on, and then go home and thats it. So definitely no celebrations, no nothing but at least we will see each other for a bit.

Stay safe everyone!

Quebec gets 4000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine next week
Quebec set to get its first 4,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine next week: authorities | CTV News

[Thatdone]

Looks like York region is going into lock down now

[Arjon]

Looks like York region is going into lock down now

Sadly, the case counts in Toronto and Peel have continued to rise despite those regions being in lockdown. Are there good reasons to think York will be any different? I doubt it, largely because the term lockdown is an exaggeration that sounds stricter than the actual rules are. It's an extreme example, but if I were crazy enough to want to, I could still spend up to 17 hours a day, from 7am to midnight every day, in my local grocery and/or drug stores... without breaking the lockdown rules.

[SnowFlakey]

Quebec gets 4000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine next week
Quebec set to get its first 4,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine next week: authorities | CTV News

The first doses of Covid vaccine are going to the LTC's (long term care centers) the principal one being in Montreal and then spread to some other areas in the red zone. Its a drop in a bucket. Immunizations set to begin Saturday night.

[Thatdone]

Sadly, the case counts in Toronto and Peel have continued to rise despite those regions being in lockdown. Are there good reasons to think York will be any different? I doubt it, largely because the term lockdown is an exaggeration that sounds stricter than the actual rules are. It's an extreme example, but if I were crazy enough to want to, I could still spend up to 17 hours a day, from 7am to midnight every day, in my local grocery and/or drug stores... without breaking the lockdown rules.

I know it is not really going to make a difference but to let people know we are going into lock down so that they might want to prepare for it in advance for things like grocery store visits in case the stores start to line up again like last time

[Arjon]

The first doses of Covid vaccine are going to the LTC's (long term care centers) the principal one being in Montreal and then spread to some other areas in the red zone. Its a drop in a bucket. Immunizations set to begin Saturday night.

Unfortunately, it seems as if a lot of people aren't aware that it will be months before there's enough vaccine for everyone, possibly into the second half of 2021 for people who are in the lower-priority areas and/or population segments.

[crafter]

After sending out cards to friends, family and some aquaintances, it's been eye opening at how tough this year has been for some. Not just to do with COVID but COVID has made their situation even worse.
A friend had a smoke damage in their home and has been displaced for over a month with her dog
Another recently lost her husband due to cancer
Another had a major split with their partner
Another on disability...
Reaching out has seemed to help a bit..albeit phone calls, emails or video chats.
Reach out if you can, it means a lot to many

p.s. Rexall has stamps on sale this week for 10% off

[Thatdone]

Unfortunately, it seems as if a lot of people aren't aware that it will be months before there's enough vaccine for everyone, possibly into the second half of 2021 for people who are in the lower-priority areas and/or population segments.

Maybe you should try looking at the positive instead of always looking at the negative. It is Christmas and people are looking to have some positivity in a time when it is strongly needed. I hope that you and your family can enjoy the holiday Season.

[Arjon]

Maybe you should try looking at the positive instead of always looking at the negative. It is Christmas and people are looking to have some positivity in a time when it is strongly needed. I hope that you and your family can enjoy the holiday Season.

The most important positive BY FAR is that my family and I are healthy. It saddens me greatly that our best chance of continuing to be includes, among other things, not being able to enjoy the holidays as much as usual. While I understand other people feel differently, for me anyway, it's basically a no-brainer to accept this instead of trying to come up with ways I can self-justify being more active and having more contacts in the next while, at a time when the case rate is both higher than ever and still rising. I can only speak for myself, but my definition of positivity doesn't include doing more than I have been recently when doing so will increase the risk to myself and those I care about most.

[SnowFlakey]

I hate that we cant get together as a family at Christmas or any other time right now. BUT, eventually we will be able to just like last season when restrictions eased a bit. I am an optomist by nature and while i dont like whats going on, there is nothing i can do to change it. So therefore there is no use in crying about it or trying to find ways to circumvent this situation. We make do the best way we can. As long as everyone in my family is healthy that is all i worry about. And we will have a mechant belle party apres la Covid-19!!!

[princessjen]

Sadly, the case counts in Toronto and Peel have continued to rise despite those regions being in lockdown. Are there good reasons to think York will be any different? I doubt it, largely because the term lockdown is an exaggeration that sounds stricter than the actual rules are. It's an extreme example, but if I were crazy enough to want to, I could still spend up to 17 hours a day, from 7am to midnight every day, in my local grocery and/or drug stores... without breaking the lockdown rules.

I wish we had a strict lockdown back in Sept/Oct. Like the one in Australia had, super strict. Then chances are, we wouldn't be in this mess right now.

[Shwa Girl]

I hate that we cant get together as a family at Christmas or any other time right now. BUT, eventually we will be able to just like last season when restrictions eased a bit. I am an optomist by nature and while i dont like whats going on, there is nothing i can do to change it. So therefore there is no use in crying about it or trying to find ways to circumvent this situation. We make do the best way we can. As long as everyone in my family is healthy that is all i worry about. And we will have a mechant belle party apres la Covid-19!!!

Alberta has a YouTube VIDEO that echoed your sentiment when they created their COVID loves a party video

[SnowFlakey]

The latest Covid restrictions are in place as of the 17th in Quebec in the RED ZONES. Yellow Zones will be upgraded to Orange zones and orange zones will be upgraded to red zones. All schools will be closed until Jan 11th. Office workers that can work from home are obligated by law to do so. All manufacturing is closed as of Dec 17th (construction, clothing, etc.). Starting Dec 25th all stores will be on lock down until Jan 11th with several exceptions (grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores providing essential home repair supplies). Big box stores like Costco and Walmart can only sell food, nothing else. Policing will be in force everywhere. Imagine that: NO BOXING DAY!!!!

No family gatherings allowed in homes or in back yards. Certain outdoor activities will be allowed with a maximum of 8 people. I wonder if we meet in a parking lot of a grocery store on the 25th to exchange gifts if that is allowed.

Anyway, it is what it is. My daughter got a $500 Covid-19 bonus from work, son-in-law got $300 worth of food GC's and my granddaughter got a $1,000 US bonus. And this is over and above their regular Christmas Bonuses. Dont know what my son will get.

[princessjen]

The latest Covid restrictions are in place as of the 17th in Quebec in the RED ZONES. Yellow Zones will be upgraded to Orange zones and orange zones will be upgraded to red zones. All schools will be closed until Jan 11th. Office workers that can work from home are obligated by law to do so. All manufacturing is closed as of Dec 17th (construction, clothing, etc.). Starting Dec 25th all stores will be on lock down until Jan 11th with several exceptions (grocery stores, pharmacies, hardware stores providing essential home repair supplies). Big box stores like Costco and Walmart can only sell food, nothing else. Policing will be in force everywhere. Imagine that: NO BOXING DAY!!!!

No family gatherings allowed in homes or in back yards. Certain outdoor activities will be allowed with a maximum of 8 people. I wonder if we meet in a parking lot of a grocery store on the 25th to exchange gifts if that is allowed.

Anyway, it is what it is. My daughter got a $500 Covid-19 bonus from work, son-in-law got $300 worth of food GC's and my granddaughter got a $1,000 US bonus. And this is over and above their regular Christmas Bonuses. Dont know what my son will get.

Thats great your family is getting a bonus from work! I still dont know yet if my work is giving us our usual $125 Christmas bonus yet.

Here in the Durham Region (in Ontario) you are allowed a max of 5 people in your house, so unfortunately my SIL has invited herself to spend Christmas eve dinner at my house, then spend the night here and then do Christmas morning at my house!!! I am so mad. I have said my peace about not wanting her in the house (especially since she works at a school) but everyone is too scared to say no to her. Its so frustrating. I dont want her at my house during a good day, let alone during COVID!!