I wonder if we've reached the point where the spread rate is so high that a "recreational" type of lockdown is virtually ineffective. Or even a more restrictive lockdown for that matter. Is it worth it? Can we even slow this down? The vast majority of us are double vaccinated and will be tripled in a few weeks. Many of those healthy, young and older. Is it time to just let people make their own choices? We are at a crossroads here as a society.
It comes down to how bad Omicron spread affects ICU's, and if we have treatments as well that mitigate bad outcomes (Monoclonal Antibodies, Antiviral Pills) and keep ICU beds from filling beyond capacity. If we can't keep up, other provinces will be in the same boat, and we won't be able to export patients.
Any kind of lockdown to deal with that will be a week late, obviously. A "circuit breaker" total lockdown will work, the question will be, will we do it fast and deep enough.
Returning to retail store limits, one person shopping, essentials only, essential travel only, no dine in, no entertainment venues at any level. Make it a finite timeframe (one week should suffice with total compliance), with big fines and reward on completion, and keep border/travel lockdown in place for non-essentials for a month after...
Australia, NZ, even China have been very aggressive at lockdowns, with great results. We have given our provincial PC's grief about how they have done both too much and too little. I agree they haven't done the best job, but they have been doing a job. And the opposition hasn't been really holding their feet to the fire, except after the fact.
I think there are pathways through this, but I don't think any of them will work. Because we cannot get full buy in from all sides. As much as one side will lockdown, the other will hold rallies, eat at their restaurants, and have church services. Which will frustrate those following the guidelines.
Using testing alone to get out is not going to work, the world is killing for rapid tests, and infrastructure isn't there for increasing PCR 10fold, which would be the minimum to try and address the current situation.
Spread is happening before symptoms, so isolating symptomatics without contact tracing is closing the gate after horses are gone.
There is no 100% way out, and like many situations in society, the best answer is going to be people making sacrifices voluntarily, and hoping we have enough good people to weather the storm.
Mask up, with good masks.
Limit shopping and trips.
Get the shots.
Isolate. Especially if symptomatic. And the symptoms are no longer loss of taste/smell (which would mean all Riders fans
)
Overall, the symptoms for COVID reported by the CDC include:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
