Quote:
Originally Posted by J.OT13
Governments have jumped the gun far too many times with "Covid is over". There will be another variant and another wave, hospitals will be overcapacity again, and we will have to re-instate a whole bunch of restrictions again.
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I'm also frustrated with World Governments who are not doing enough to vaccinate the entire planet. Taking care of #1 is not the way to do things in these types of world crises.
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This may not be a popular post, but I would like to share the experience I've had living in Phoenix since shortly before Covid started (wife and I moved here for work in 2019). All the time I've been in constant contact with friends and family all over Canada.
Watching the Covid train-wreck unfold for the past 2 years, I can't begin to say how much happier we both are to be stuck here rather than in Canada.
Arizona is a "purple" state (50% Rep, 50% Dem by population), however there is a staunch Republican Gov at this time. (note - I am about as far from a Republican as one can get).
The first 2 months of Covid were a zombie apocalypse like everywhere else. Then shortly after that, the metric was simply, "If the Health Care system can keep up, then keep restrictions to a minimum". And for the record, the Health Care system was *never* overloaded here. A website was updated daily with metrics for all local hospitals in terms of regular capacity, ICU capacity and Covid cases.
For probably 6-8 months after that, there were 50% capacity restrictions on restaurants (indoors and out), gyms, etc. Once vaccinations started in earnest, all restrictions were dropped (including on schools), and remain so to this day (about a year now). There were pockets of minor restrictions when there were bumps (i.e. Omicron), but they never lasted long.
For the past year, Masks have been "optional" (except airports and medical facilities), however in stores especially, I would estimate mask wearing around 40-50%... all voluntary. Other than masks, a visitor would hardly know there was a pandemic on. I've never once been asked anywhere for proof of vaccination.
The air border was *never* shut. For most of the past 2 years Canadians have been able to fly here with no restrictions at all (no vax card, no negative test, etc). Only in the past 3 months has the negative test requirement been added. I'm actually very concerned to fly back to Canada given the mixed bag of testing, quarantining rules, etc. I really don't want to pay for a trip and then get stuck in some hotel room for 10 days or something.
I know.. "US has 3 times the death rate as Canada".. isn't that worth the effort of restrictions?
Well, Vax reluctance is much higher here, and that certainly has an impact on who precisely was dying. Also there are large pockets of poverty where people have no access to health care, which is actually a separate, sad problem in itself.
Probably 1/2 the people I know (Canada and here) have had some form of Covid now, so being triple vaxed I'm really not worried at all.
Again, health system was never overwhelmed, which (say what you want about US Healthcare) is something that maybe Canada needs to look at. Not suggesting a US Style system (having compared the 2 firsthand, I'd for the most part prefer the Canada system), but maybe Canada could take some lessons in physician ratios and Hospital/ICU capacities.
Not trying to stir any pot, but I'm just trying to demonstrate that the endless (and confusing) restrictions and sets of rules may not be as helpful as envisioned. Talking to people in Canada, they are so fed up with the endless lockdowns and restrictions.... whereas here, life is pretty much normal for the past year. Having been in the unique position to compare 2 very different approaches to the pandemic, and I know which I prefer ..