Mayor thinks it‘s time to reopen business
The mayor thinks the city is ready to reopen businesses.
Quebec now says people can gather outdoors in groups of ten from three households while retaining the two-meter rule, as of this Friday.
There is no date for the reopening of Verdun beach.
Ian 16:41 on 2020-05-20 Permalink
They can say what they want but unless it is being enforced this kind of pronouncement means nothing. The parks have already been packed for weeks and hardly anyone is being serious about physical distancing, let alone wearing masks.
GC 17:19 on 2020-05-20 Permalink
It looked to me like these were the rules they were basically already enforcing this past weekend–at least in Parc Laurier. I saw cops wandering around the sea of people sitting in groups. For people who were closer than two metres to each other they verified that they actually lived together.
What exactly is being relaxed here? Were they previously more strict about gatherings in parks? Has Montreal been less strict than other areas of Quebec?
Blork 17:52 on 2020-05-20 Permalink
I for one see this as a signal to double-down on my personal precautions. Whereas a week ago I felt like most people were taking measures and therefore things were relatively safe, next week I’m going to see Montreal as a teaming pool of Coronazombies.
Faiz imam 20:48 on 2020-05-20 Permalink
Im taking these announcements seriously.
I’ve stayed away from my extended family almost completely. Other than once time driving to someones house and talking to them from the sidewalk.
Due to this annoucement, two other family groups and me have planned a backyard bbq this weekend. I would not have done that if the recommendations hadn’t changed.
Alison Cummins 22:38 on 2020-05-20 Permalink
I don’t get it.
What is the point of reopening without a plan for contact tracing?
What was the point of closing down in the first place if there was never going to be a meaningful plan for reopening?
Chris 23:34 on 2020-05-20 Permalink
>What was the point of closing down in the first place
To prevent the health care system from being overwhelmed, and to give time to learn better ways to diagnose and treat patients. It wasn’t to stop everyone from eventually getting infected. Most likely scenario was, and still is, that the virus will work its way through most of humanity, but the damage is minimized by spreading that out, instead of having it all at once.
GC 07:48 on 2020-05-21 Permalink
I hear you, Faiz. I’ve also not had any gatherings–even ones in the park with distancing–since March. My point was just that this seems to be the way a lot of people were already behaving, with implicit police endorsement. Maybe it’s just making it official, at this point.
Meezly 09:38 on 2020-05-21 Permalink
I’m with Alison. A plan for contact tracing should have been given as much weight as flattening the curve during the initial shutdown. The premier is only starting to mull over a contact tracing system NOW! It’s inevitable that a second wave will occur with a reopening, and with the summer weather Montrealers will be desperate to get out of the city and vectoring all over the province and beyond, so why not implement measures that can help prevent new outbreaks from spreading?
Maxim Baru 17:17 on 2020-05-21 Permalink
“What was the point of closing down in the first place if there was never going to be a meaningful plan for reopening?”
This is precisely the kind of question a lot of skeptical people who are otherwise deeply involved in social movements have been posing since the start. It was clear as day at the start that, surveying the landscape of actors on the chess board, quebec civil society has been completely cucked. By which I mean the housing committees, citizens groups, unions, etc. And the only organized, effective player was the business community. And that they did and have gotten their way in this situation. while i think we straight up lost this round, if anyone wants to have a seat at the table next time around (which we all know will come) dedicate a significant portion of your life, time, and money into authentic civil society orgs that will allow enable you to be organized enough to exert pressure on the situation. do it today. join the local housing committee and give 30% of your week to them. join a union. do anything that will turn you into a constituency worth being a part of.
Kate 20:03 on 2020-05-21 Permalink
Fine and dandy, Maxim Baru, but spare us tough-guy expressions like “cucked” OK?
Blork 21:02 on 2020-05-21 Permalink
Yeah, I stopped reading at “cucked.”
david1202 21:13 on 2020-05-21 Permalink
Seems like people at this point have been sufficiently informed so as to make their own decisions on best/safest practices. That’s all we can ask – can’t be locked up forever.
Michael Black 22:25 on 2020-05-21 Permalink
It was never about an individual getting sick, it’s about the spread and whether the resources are there to handle the surge.
I don’t care if I die tonight in my sleep, though the Virus is more likely an agonizing route to that point. But if I get it, I’m likely going to be a burden. Too many like that and the doctors and nurses wear out, and supplies run down, and more minor cases may become more serious.
I don’t know where the solution is, but it isn’t just about individual responsibility because it was never just about whether an individual takes a risk.