Plante declares state of emergency
Mayor Plante declared a local state of emergency Friday afternoon, but the city is not yet cordoned off from the rest of Quebec. Plante is specifically concerned about how to manage the people with no homes to go to – how can you ask them to stay home if you don’t provide means for them to do so?
JP 21:03 on 2020-03-27 Permalink
I saw a pretty enthusiastic soccer game happening at a local park as well as a full basketball court on my daily 6pm walk…looked like a bunch of young guys. I didn’t get too close. Normally, I think this is great. I understand the need for exercise and being outdoors, but it grates me that people still don’t get it!! Stay home or go for a walk/bike ride/jog!!!
walkerp 22:58 on 2020-03-27 Permalink
You saw a full basketball court? Outside? In Montreal? I haven’t seen this pre-corona. Where, pray tell?
Kate 23:26 on 2020-03-27 Permalink
Cops should be breaking up scenes like that, JP.
JP 00:26 on 2020-03-28 Permalink
I’m questioning my definition of a full basketball court now…but I’d say there were about 10 or so kids (teens?) there. It’s a court on Acadie across from the La Dauversiere high school.
I agree that the cops should break up scenes like that.
walkerp 07:52 on 2020-03-28 Permalink
Thanks, JP. Not good that they are doing it now, but if this all gets fixed, I may take a look over there to see if there actually is a place in Montreal outside with pickup games.
Tim S. 09:39 on 2020-03-28 Permalink
So, question for everyone: We (me, wife, kids) have been in pretty much full isolation for 12-14 days now, and are healthy. We were planning to go visit my 70+ father, who’s been by himself for most of the past two weeks, but others in my family think this could be considered an illegal gathering and neighbours might call the cops on us. Should we go?
Kate 09:42 on 2020-03-28 Permalink
Tim S., there are variables, but on the whole I don’t think it’s a good idea. If you really did isolate and he lives on his own nearby, just maybe, but if you have to drive any distance, or if he lives in a residence, you can see how many ways it could slip up. If you have to stop on the way for food or bathrooms or to buy groceries, or if one of the kids forgets to wash their hands, etc. etc., no, not now. I don’t know about illegal, but I think the phone will have to do for now, or Skype or Facetime if he can do that.
John B 09:50 on 2020-03-28 Permalink
@Tim S: From the definition that Quebec provided, it would be an illegal gathering. I also saw something recently, (maybe on CBC’s nightly “ask the doctors” segment), where someone asked the question “If I’ve been in isolation and am symptom free, can I go visit someone else in isolation who is symptom free?” and the response was that it’s a bad idea.
I doubt that anyone will call the cops, but it does go against the social contract to stay isolated & stop the spread of the disease.
Also, schools only closed 15 days ago. How sure can you be that nobody in your home is carrying the disease? Has anybody coughed even once in those 15 days? If so maybe they have the virus but almost no symptoms, and maybe they passed it to someone else in the family who isn’t showing symptoms yet. If you’ve been out to buy food, especially near the beginning, there’s a chance you picked it up and don’t know it yet. Is it worth the risk of maybe bringing it to your father?
Alison Cummins 10:42 on 2020-03-28 Permalink
Tim S.,
Kids can carry the virus without showing any symptoms. People your father’s age are much more likely to become very sick and die. (Alone, not surrounded by family, because family are not allowed in.)
Even if the risk is low — which we can’t know, it might be high — the consequences could be devastating.
If you choose to visit your father, respect the fact that he is particularly vulnerable. Go alone, don’t touch him (keep a distance of a dining table between you at all times), wear a mask and wash your hands before and after touching anything in his home or any part of your face.
Does he have the ability to video chat? I call my father every day to video chat with him and tell him to stay the fuck home,
dwgs 08:56 on 2020-03-29 Permalink
Off topic @ walkerp…Not sure what neighbourhood you live in but in Georges St. Pierre park in lower NDG (aka Oxford Park) there is a full size outdoor b-ball court where there is often a pick up game in progress during normal times. It’s at the corner of Upper Lachine and Oxford. You can go have a sub at Momesso’s afterwards.
walkerp 09:59 on 2020-03-29 Permalink
Thank you, dwgs! I did not know about that. Added to the list to check out post-corona.
Tim S. 15:44 on 2020-03-30 Permalink
Thanks for the thoughtful comments everyone. Lots to think about.