Updates from March, 2020 Toggle Comment Threads | Keyboard Shortcuts

  • Kate 21:24 on 2020-03-23 Permalink | Reply  

    Here are some lists of what kinds of business will be open or closed as of Tuesday night until April 13, Easter Monday, following the decree of François Legault Monday afternoon. The official Quebec page is clear.

    Some are worried about people with alcohol dependency and where they will be able to go to isolate and yet not face withdrawal.

    Two SPVM officers have tested positive for COVID-19. They had been on vacation and have been in self-isolation since returning.

    It’s disturbing to read that nurses at the Montreal General who were exposed to a patient with the virus were sent an email telling them to keep quiet about it and keep working. Right now we need to trust the health services and this kind of shifty behaviour is exactly what we don’t need.

     
    • Alison Cummins 23:36 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      How many of the threats to homeless and substance-dependent individuals in that metro article are real problems?

      They worry that deps will close (they won’t).

      They worry that supervised injection sites will close — and as I read the list, yes, they will.

      They worry that care at the Royal Vic for homeless people who are COVID-19+ won’t take dependence into account. If that’s realistic, I’m horrified. I know that doctors *can* prescribe alcohol for their hospitalized alcohol-dependent patients. Are they saying that it’s common practice here not to?

    • Alison Cummins 23:50 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      But what I want to know is.,, will my fridge be delivered tomorrow?

      (Used, nice brand, delivered, $600 tax included, they’ll take the old fridge and fix it and resell it if they can… unless the delivery is not an essential service, in which case I am out both a fridge and $600 for another month.)

    • Kate 00:37 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

    • david100 06:24 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      Stone cold boozehounds and druggies can be dosed on lorazepam and barbiturates to deal with the withdrawal symptoms, and they’ll come off better.

    • J 07:04 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      The dep in my corner shut down, so I think that it might be up to the owners to decide whether to open or close. Pretty sure that the decree allows essential businesses to open, but doesn’t prevent them from closing.

    • Uatu 07:38 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      Re: the nurses at the Gen- this is typical of some managers at the muhc and these “keep quiet” edict types of decisions resulted in the Elbaz brothers/Porter’s fraud and only reinforces the need for a unionized workforce

    • dwgs 07:39 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      If you go to the gov’t link and click on ‘Commerces Prioritaires’ you’ll see that the SAQ, SQDC, deps, etc, are all considered essential. https://www.quebec.ca/sante/problemes-de-sante/a-z/coronavirus-2019/fermeture-endroits-publics-commerces-services-covid19/#c48424

    • Alison Cummins 07:48 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      Kate, it’s not that clear. (List below from Quebec website. Numbers added by me for ease of reference.)

      Les services prioritaires de transport et logistique suivants :

      1. Transports en commun et transport des personnes
      2. Ports et aéroports
      3. Services d’entretien de locomotives, d’aéronefs et opérations aéronautiques essentielles (transport aérien)
      4. Approvisionnement et distribution des biens alimentaires, épiceries et dépanneurs
      5. Transport, entreposage et distribution de marchandises essentielles
      6. Déneigement et maintien des liens routiers fonctionnel
      7. Stations-services et réparation mécanique de véhicules automobiles, camions et équipements spécialisés pour les industries considérées essentielles et assistance routière
      8. Taxis et services de transport adapté
      9. Services postaux, messageries et livraisons de colis

      Reasonable people could disagree on whether my fridge is an essential good that may be delivered (item 5).

      Pro: I think it’s essential (though if necessary I can learn otherwise).

      Con: The store I bought it from is not on the list of essential stores that can remain open. It’s possible I would need to order my fridge from Home Depot (which can remain open as per item D below, so presumably everything in it is an essential good).

      (Letters added by me for ease of reference.)

      Les commerces prioritaires, incluant :
      A. Épiceries et autres commerces d’alimentation
      B. Pharmacies
      C. Dépanneurs
      D. Grandes surfaces hors centre commercial (offrant des services d’épicerie, pharmacie ou de quincaillerie)
      E. Produits pour exploitations agricoles (mécanique, engrais, etc.)
      F. Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) et Société québécoise du cannabis (SQDC)
      G. Salons funéraires, crémation et cimetières
      F. Restaurants (comptoirs pour emporter ou livraison seulement)
      G. Hôtels
      H. Nettoyeurs et buanderie
      I. Commerces d’articles médicaux et orthopédiques
      J. Commerces d’aliments et fournitures pour les animaux de compagnie
      K. Déménageurs
      L. Équipements de travail (sécurité et protection)

    • Alison Cummins 07:58 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      david100,

      Sure. But the folks quoted in Metro seem to think that substance-dependent people may be left untreated for withdrawal. Is that fear founded? Would COVID-19+ individuals not be under medical care of some level while distancing at the Vic? Do the substance-dependent find that when they are hospitalized their dependence is untreated? (Not just not treated the way they would like, but not treated at all — the people quoted emphasized the life-or-death nature of the problem.)

    • Kate 08:58 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      Alison, all you can do about the fridge is ask the people you bought it from. As J noted, because some kinds of business are permitted to stay open, it doesn’t mean they have to.

    • Alison Cummins 09:25 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      Kate, yes, I called. “All deliveries scheduled for Tuesday will go ahead as planned.” Which suggests that future deliveries may not???

      So I’m fine, but there may be more kinks to work out.

    • JP 10:04 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      I can tell you right now, lots of companies that aren’t essential are trying to stay open….putting their employees at risk (my parents companies are staying open….the employees have been told they have “government permission”). The owners get to stay at home, while the workers have to go in and put their lives at risk.

      If Dollarama is staying open, I sure hope they’re limiting the number of people going in and creating safe conditions for their employees. I used to work at one during cegep, minimum wage is not worth the pressure and toxic work environment that I knew Dollarama to be.

    • Alison Cummins 11:15 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      The fridge-deliverers say this is their last day. Then no more deliveries for a month. They won’t be paid, will need to apply for EI and do whatever they need to do.

    • Dhomas 07:38 on 2020-03-25 Permalink

      @Allison did they tell you that as they delivered your fridge yesterday (this is my hope), or on the phone as they let you know you wouldn’t be getting yours?

    • Alison Cummins 08:02 on 2020-03-25 Permalink

      @Dhomas,

      Yep, got my fridge! On the last possible day. If your fridge breaks you can probably get a new one from a stand-alone big box hardware store.

    • dhomas 16:27 on 2020-03-25 Permalink

      Glad to hear you got it! 🙂

  • Kate 14:35 on 2020-03-23 Permalink | Reply  

    You might notice that cases of COVID-19 in Quebec jumped to 628 on Monday, but I’m seeing explanations that this is because of a sudden rush in test results. No need to panic.

     
    • dwgs 14:46 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      It’s the 5.3% positive test rating that’s scary, that’s twice any other province.

    • Matt 14:56 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      During Legault’s press conference today, he (or Horacio Arruda? I forget) explained that the percentage of positive results will be higher in Quebec because of who the province decided to test at first. At first they would only test people who traveled in the last 14 days AND exhibited COVID-19 symptoms. People with just one or the other of those conditions were not tested. Had they tested anyone with a cough or fever or anyone who traveled, then we’d have a much lower percentage of positive tests. Now anyone can get tested, so in the coming days we should see the numbers shift and give a clearer picture.

    • vasi 14:58 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Apparently the reason is we’re now counting “probable” cases as as confirmed. Steve Faguy has a graph of the actual rate of increase, which is still pretty scary: https://twitter.com/fagstein/status/1242142973284044803

    • JaneyB 17:31 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Apparently, some of the provinces have been including probable cases along with certain cases in their totals. (One positive test vs two positive tests). BC, AB, ON, QC, NS, PEI have *not* included probable cases. As of today, QC is joining SK, MB, NB, NFLD in adding probable with certain cases. Prepare to be alarmed as BC, AB and ON follow suit soon. The sooner people isolate, the sooner the infection will end. It will end.

    • Meezly 17:42 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Thanks JaneyB. So this explains why QC has surged ahead of other provinces with the highest number of cases?

    • MtlWeb 18:21 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Well said Matt. To add, even with testing the cases more likely to be positive (5.3%), the percentage that required hospitalization and/or intensive care has been reassuring compared to data in Europe/China. Our hospitals are ramping up # of beds that can be allocated for mild-moderate-severe Covid patients. May see mild positives (incl. non-hospitalized) sent to be quarantined in our hotels to minimize transmission at home (unless living alone with support for essentials).

    • Raymond Lutz 22:27 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Tooting my own horn here… but speaking of rate of increase, I now include in my plots the doubling period for each province, (ie the number of days it takes to observe an increase of cases by a factor 2) and the plots are semi-log which is more effective in comparing various grow rates. See https://twitter.com/lutzray

    • Alison Cummins 22:42 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      I plotted cases per million for each province and territory and for Canada, setting 0 to the day the number reached 5.

      Québec’s curve is above Canada’s but BC’s is below. Not what I expected so maybe my plot isn’t valid.

    • Alison Cummins 23:38 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      ^ When I say “the number” reached 5, I meant cases per M reached 5.

    • Alison Cummins 12:21 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      Silver lining to COVID-19 for me is I get to count lots of things!

      Rate of increase by province, starting from the first reported case.
      YT 100%
      NT 100%
      ON 111% (does not include probable cases)
      BC 112% (does not include probable cases)
      PE 113%
      Total Canada 114%
      MB 119%
      NB 127%
      QC 129%
      AB 137% (does not include probable cases)
      NS 139%
      NL 142%
      SK 146%

      So Saskatchewan is increasing almost 50% daily whereas the Yukon has been holding steady at two cases for the last two days.

      Ontario averages 11% more cases every day than the day before whereas Quebec averages 29% more cases every day.

      Note that when provinces switch to reporting probables, it will increase the total number of cases but could theoretically *lower* the daily increase rates if it significantly backdates the first case.

    • Alison Cummins 14:18 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      In case your reader doesn’t support soft returns:

      Rate of increase by province, starting from the first reported case.
      YT 100%
      NT 100%
      ON 111% (does not include probable cases)
      BC 112% (does not include probable cases)
      PE 113%
      Total Canada 114%
      MB 119%
      NB 127%
      QC 129%
      AB 137% (does not include probable cases)
      NS 139%
      NL 142%
      SK 146%

    • Raymond Lutz 20:51 on 2020-03-24 Permalink

      I’ve updated the script generating my two covid-19 plots… not as nice as Matthew’s ones, but they’ll please old people like me who are disoriented by big screens and slick mouseovers, nice work Matthew! 😎

      @Allison, I got 27% daily increase for Canada (not 14%). I average for the last 7 days to smooth out any slack in lab processing/reporting during weekends. From day to day I’ll flip between daily growth and doubling period (as both are used). I’m updating the plots daily around 20h00 DST when Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering pushes their stats.

      https://twitter.com/lutzray

  • Kate 10:59 on 2020-03-23 Permalink | Reply  

    Police can now break up gatherings and fine people refusing to comply.

    Street parking changes that usually come into force on April 1 will be delayed till May 1 and parking stickers will not expire for now.

    Donald Trump wants to reduce the social restrictions advised by public health authorities. I wonder how bad it’s going to get down there.

     
    • jeather 11:35 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Parking meters still need to be paid. I’d go to donate blood but I’d still have to pay for parking or take the metro, and neither seems ideal at the moment. But I figure even that will end soon (meters, not the need for blood).

    • dwgs 13:41 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      I was going to give blood last week until I saw that the nearest clinic was at the Eaton Centre. Public transit and then a mall? No thanks.

    • Michael Black 13:52 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      But that’s why they are asking people to give blood.

      It’s not that there is an increased demand, it”s that they don’t want reserves to go low when people are less likely to donate. Maybe someone who lives nearby or doesn’t feel a hardship will donate for the first time.

      They tend to set up a collection point for a few days and then move elsewhere (along with permanent collection points), but maybe those won’t be happening now.

      I’ve never given blood, didn’t like the idea of a needle in my arm, but I’ve had so many blood tests in the past year it no longer matters. Except I suspect they don’t want my blood now.

  • Kate 08:53 on 2020-03-23 Permalink | Reply  

    Realized this morning I probably won’t be charging my Opus card for April. Feels wrong, but then so do most things at the moment.

    Also realized that there hasn’t been a pedestrian killed in traffic in almost two weeks.

     
    • Meezly 09:04 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Let’s hope domestic murder-suicides don’t increase during this time of quarantine and self-isolation!

    • Ephraim 09:48 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      I doubt that they will. People seem to mellow somehow during these periods. Look at those on the cruise ships, some of them were locked in very tiny quarters with no natural light and survived without a murder/suicide.

      For me, I would think the hard part is stopping my planning. I have a list in my head of things that I like to stock up on before the season, so I don’t have to run and get them when I’m at my busiest. Things that most people don’t even think of, like bandages, make-up removal wipes, garbage bags, towels, laundry soap, hand soap, etc. Things that I use in abundant quantities all summer long. On the other side, it means that I’m well stocked, three refills of hand soap. The washing soap that I use comes in a container of 1100 loads for $80… so plenty! I look for specials to fill in those supplies, so that I stock at the lowest price. And I have a freezer and pantry. Okay, I may be eating oatmeal for meals for a few months…

    • denpanosekai 10:58 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      Been with Opus a l’annee for longer than I can remember… I doubt they’ll refund anything out of the goodness of their heart, but I wouldn’t say no to a rebate of any kind. Even if it’s for 2021.

  • Kate 08:38 on 2020-03-23 Permalink | Reply  

    The COVID-19 test clinic has opened on the Place des Festivals and will operate every day from 8 till 8. People are already lining up.

    CTV headlines a piece Montreal closes parks, but as I understand it, while playgrounds are off limits now, because you can’t risk kids playing together, larger parks are still accessible to people wanting to walk or run. CBC’s Kristy Snell tweeted a couple of shots from a Radio‑Canada photographer showing playground equipment covered with danger tape. There are many pocket parks that are basically only small playgrounds, which I suppose are off-limits now generally – but those have pretty much been out of use anyway, because of winter.

     
    • Alison Cummins 12:24 on 2020-03-23 Permalink

      From the video:
      If you don’t drive and are unable to walk down and stand in the cold for whatever reason, you are invited to call the 1-877 number. Nobody who meets the criteria will be denied testing.

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