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Yeah, it's truly pathetic what the government in Ontario is doing. After the new measures were announced last week, the science director of the Ontario's COVID-19 advisory table was interviewed on radio and he said, "the new restrictions show that more than a year into the pandemic the province doesn't understand how the virus spreads." Can't be more blunt than that. The province has scientists and doctors giving them recommendations on what needs to be done, and I guess they are just ignoring them. The government still doesn't have a clue, or a plan to make things better. Ugh. Just listen to the experts, guys.

The government decided to walk back the new police measures, and reopen parks/playgrounds. I guess there was a lot of pushback! I was mad about it but I'm far too apathetic to actually do anything I figured I could just drink more everyday and things would somehow be OK eventually. I'm thankful for all the angry and proactive people out there who actually complained, made phone calls, etc. to get this stuff reverted.

The 'vid situation is really getting out of control now in Ontario. They announced a bunch of new restrictions today: Checkpoints will be setup at the interprovincial borders with Quebec and Manitoba to limit access Stay-at-home order is being extended to May 20, residents must remain at home at all times unless going out for groceries, health care services, or essential work Anybody who can work from home must work from home Stricter limitations on outdoor social gatherings All outdoor recreational amenities such as golf courses, basketball courts and playgrounds, will be closed -- this truly sucks for us, we live in a 7th floor apartment with a 10 year old and a 2 year old... we will probably still go to the playground near our building anyways, the kids don't have anywhere else to play Retail capacity at essential stores is going to be cut For the first time in Ontario since the pandemic started, starting Saturday, police officers will have the authority to require people to provide their home address and purpose for not being at their residence. Police can also have the authority to stop a vehicle to inquire about an individual’s reason for leaving their residence (!!!) There are other things but these are the ones that can / will affect us the most. I don't mind working from home, but my kids will drive me nuts eventually. Closing playgrounds is bullshit. The new police measures are bullshit. It's gonna get ugly at hospitals over the next few weeks...

It seems like the pace is going to start picking up now. We'll see if vaccine shipments keep coming regularly, as that seems to be the big question mark still. The EU can withhold vaccine shipments to other countries if they deem it necessary to do so, but apparently Canada has been assured that we will still get our vaccines. I choose to remain hopeful! Because the situation here is getting ugly again. I think another stay-at-home order will soon be announced. Looking back, the first wave from last Spring seems so small compared to what we have been dealing with more recently. And we really seemed to get the situation under control by the summer (August)... that didn't last for long!

In Canada we're not doing too great, but I think it is mostly due to simply not having enough vaccine to go around yet. Only 1.76% of the population has received two doses of a vaccine (11.91% of the population has received at least one dose). But the percentages are much higher specifically for people in priority groups (health care workers and seniors in group home settings). The rest of us just have to wait our turn. I understand why they're vaccinating the old folks first, because they're more likely to die if they contract the virus... but they're not necessarily the people most likely to come into contact with the virus if we do a better job of protecting long-term care homes, not allowing the virus in, etc. I think they may pivot soon to targeting more essential workers, not just front-line healthcare workers, to stop the spread in workplaces, factories, warehouses, etc. But who knows what the dummies who run the province of Ontario might do next...

Yikes, that sounds rough. Do you know if he tested positive for one of the variants? I keep hearing that the "variants of concern" can make people more sick. Kinda scary.

They're calling this the third wave. You'd think we would have learned more by now. I guess the plane needs a new pilot! That's no surprise to me though. I don't have a very high opinion of Doug Ford (Premier of Ontario).

The province of Ontario is getting pretty COVID-y again The seven-day average of new daily cases climbed to 2,316, its highest point since January 26. We apparently also hit a new record for number of people in intensive care. Ontario was doing better late Feb. / early March, but that didn't last very long... now the Premier of Ontario is telling people not to make plans for Easter (I wasn't anyways, so who cares) and that there will be an announcement tomorrow. Probably another lockdown of some sort. Work has been a major headache lately. I know lockdowns are supposed to be bad for business, but I really wouldn't mind if some of my customers had to shutdown for a few weeks, sales numbers be damned... A little tidbit from a CBC News article: Lovely.

I probably won't have the opportunity to get a shot until the summer. We're progressing much slower in Canada. I'm currently going through another bout of pandemic fatigue though, so I don't particularly care right now Give it a few weeks and I'll be paranoid again and wanting to get a shot at the first opportunity, but for now I'm good.

OK so instead of sending Anelle to beat you up, maybe we'll just send a prank pizza delivery to your place. Get your credit card ready, it's going to be a lot of (expensive) pizza.

Are your spidey senses tingling?

Fatigue can apparently be a lingering aftereffect of COVID-19. Hopefully that doesn't stick around with you for too long after you get better.

That sucks. Being sick in any capacity is no fun, but it at least sounds like you're not experiencing really bad respiratory problems..? No high fevers either? Get well soon!

Take good care of yourself and don't lift anything!

Wow I get that the anti-vaccine people don't want vaccines for themselves but why try to stop other people from getting them..? I noticed when I moved back to Canada after several years in Asia, we Westerners spend far too much time getting upset over things other people do that aren't really our business. Why can't people just do their thing and let other people do theirs...

That doesn't sound too bad then. I used to hate getting shots, but now I'm two years into allergy immunotherapy (for terrible summertime grass allergies) so I get shots at least monthly, sometimes weekly. Needles don't bug me as much anymore. When I started AIT my arm would swell up pretty big for a few days (it looked ridiculous) and would be so itchy. Now I just get a small lump and mild itchiness for a day or two. The annual flu shot, when I remember to get it, doesn't usually give me side effects.

That's cool news! How's it feel a day later?

We've had a couple "oh no do we have covid!?" scares now and, yeah, that shit is so tiring and stressful At least your test came back negative. Get well soon!

The explanation was just renovations and building improvements. I didn't bother asking for specifics. Rent is quite a bit higher in Canada, at least in Southern Ontario. I can only dream of rent as low as the numbers you and Mera'din mentioned

Found out today that my rent is going up by approx. $25 / month on May 1st. Every year like clockwork I get a notice in January that rent will be going up in May. It's never been a major amount, usually an extra $20-30 / month. I thought this year would be an exception because rents are supposed to be frozen in the province of Ontario right now... but there is a loophole that allows landlords to still increase rent to cover costs of building renovations and improvements. $25 / month ain't going to break the bank so there's no sense in arguing it with the management company, but it's kind of a shitty thing to do to people right now.

Here's hoping she doesn't turn into a crocodile or grow a beard Seriously though, that's cool. I don't think I know anybody up here who's had the vaccine. I don't really have any friends or relatives that are at the front of the line for it.

I heard on the radio a few days ago that a hospital in London, ON. (about 90 minutes drive west of where I live) is now temporarily storing bodies in a refrigerated truck outside because the morgue is at full capacity. Apparently the capacity is not very high in that morgue, so maybe it sounds a bit more shocking than perhaps it truly is... but still, that ain't something they normally have to do. Quite a few people have died from COVID-19 recently

Today: Ontario reports record 4,249 new COVID-19 cases ICU admissions hit new record high Premier Doug Ford is promising further restrictions coming for Ontario, as the province reported a record 4,249 new cases of COVID-19 on Friday. "We're in a desperate situation, and when you see the modelling, you'll fall out of your chair," Ford said. "There will be further measures, because this is getting out of control." Dr. Barbara Yaffe, Ontario's associate chief medical officer of health, agreed with that assessment. "I think we do need to consider more serious measures, perhaps similar to what happened in the spring," she said. "Today's numbers, to be frank, are scary." ... I could keep going, but that's enough for now. I'm glad I have booze waiting for me at home tonight

Another record setting day in Ontario...

I'm putting it off to January 2022 it's called dry January after all. Wouldn't be right to do it in February.