FROLITICKS

Satirical commentary on Canadian and American current political issues

Mar 4

There May Be Light At The End Of The Tunnel, But How Long Is The COVID Tunnel?

by bcurry

Today one hears a lot of spokespersons stating that we can now see a light at the end of the COVID tunnel.  However, I would ask just how long the tunnel is?  Yes, we fortunately have seen the incredible introduction of several effective vaccines in the U.S., Canada, Europe and elsewhere.  However, although the inoculation of people against the coronavirus, especially those who are vulnerable, is great, the slow speed with which the vaccinations are taking place is worrisome.  Then there are those who believe that it is alright to now remove the pandemic control measures, such as wearing masks in public, restricted business openings and social distancing.  Recently, the governors of Texas and Mississippi lifted state-wide mask requirements and have allowed all businesses to operate at full capacity.  In the case of Texas, this was done even though the state considerably trails the national average for vaccinations.  Texas recently recorded more than 7,000 new cases daily and, in recent weeks, ominous variants of the virus have appeared in the state.  Indeed, Houston became the first American city to record five of the COVID-19 variants circulating worldwide, including a number from Brazil.

When it comes to dealing with COVID variances, one can learn a lot from the current Brazilian experience.  No other nation that experienced such a major pandemic outbreak is still grappling with record-setting death tolls and has a health care system on the brink of collapse.  Much of this is due to the emergence of a variant that swept through the certain Brazilian cities.  The variant is not only more contagious, but also appears able to infect some people who have already recovered from other versions of the coronavirus.  Throughout the pandemic, researchers have said that COVID re-infections appear to be extremely rare, allowing people who recover to presume they have immunity, at least for a while.  However, in the case of this new Brazilian variant, it has been reported that some who recovered from COVID-19 months ago had fallen ill again and tested positive.  This suggests that researchers in the coming weeks and months will have to constantly be modifying the vaccines to deal with such variants, including that from Brazil.

What this developing situation implies is that, while taking tentative steps toward a semblance of so-called normalcy, countries will have to be very careful about lifting restrictions too soon.  In both the U.S. and Canada, health officials continue to plead for everyone to maintain social distancing and mask-wearing.  Simply by too quickly lifting official sanctions related to transmission precautions, governments are sending out the wrong messages that this pandemic is soon coming to an end.  There is little doubt that after over a year of lockdowns, economic costs and public restrictions, there is a degree of “pandemic fatigue”.  While vaccines offer hope, until a sufficient percentage of the population is fully vaccinated the danger of the re-emergence of the virus in new and more lethal forms is always there.  One only has to look at Brazil and the fact that Texas is seeing an increase in new COVID cases and emerging variants of the virus.  Yes, optimistically there is perhaps light at the end of tunnel, but the tunnel appears to be a long one!

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Mar 2

When It Comes To COVID-19, Journalists Need To Have More Analytic Skills

by bcurry

How the media analyzes statistics coming out of data bases in countries has in itself created confusion as to what they signify in terms of effectiveness in dealing with the pandemic.  Right now, the coverage of course is concentrated on the rollout of vaccinations among countries, particularly those in the industrialized groupings.  This is understandable given that countries are largely depending on vaccines to help them get through the pandemic economically and politically.  The problem is that when all is said and done, a broader assessment of the efficacy of each countries’ approach to tackling COVID-19 will be needed.  In some instances, a country will have better dealt with controlling the initial outbreaks more successfully than others.  Take for example, the U.S. and Britain.  With over a half-a-million COVID-related deaths, the U.S. ranks seventh in deaths worldwide per one million population as of March 2, 2021 (as per Statista.com).  With over 123,000 deaths, the U.K. ranks fourth in deaths worldwide per one million population.  The U.S. has had close to 29 million confirmed cases and the U.K. over 4 million cases to date — incredibly high numbers.  However, one has to recognize that big differences show up between countries when combining the number of deaths against confirmed COVID-19 cases and COVID-19 test rates can vary per country.  Eventually, epidemiologists and statisticians will have to investigate such anomalies.

Nevertheless, despite the obvious fortunate distribution of vaccines in the U.S. and U.K providing hope for an eventual end to the pandemic, the costs associated with recorded deaths has been far too high each country.  In particular, the coronavirus has disproportionately affected visible minorities, especially people of colour, and those in lower income neighbourhoods despite their numbers being less than half of the total population.  What has made matters worst is the fact that the large number of past and present cases led to the growth in COVID variances in both countries.  As we know, these variances are more easily and quickly spread from person-to-person.  This led to more cases of COVID-19 which in turn has put more strain on health care resources, leading to more hospitalizations, and to potentially more deaths.  Rapidly emerging variants became the biggest problem in the U.K. and states like California, something which perhaps could have been avoided had more stringent measures been put in place at the pandemic’s outset.

In Canada, lockdowns and other restrictions were implemented back in the early spring and resulted in the number of COVID-related cases and deaths levelling off during the summer.  Canada, although with a smaller population than the U.S. and U.K., ranked fiftieth in terms of deaths worldwide per one million population as of March 2, 2021.  Of the 22,000 recorded deaths, the majority unfortunately were disproportionately among seniors in long-term residences in two of the most populated provinces, Ontario and Quebec.  This unfortunate situation is why both provinces have targeted vulnerable seniors in both provinces as the country’s initial vaccinations begin to roll out.  However, with around 900,000 cases, analysts may conclude that Canada’s overall approach to the pandemic has been successful in limiting the number of related deaths and hospitalizations. 

Taking all the data into account down the road, I am certain that some countries’ approach to tackling the pandemic will have proven to be more effective than others.  In the meantime, many of the restrictions imposed by health authorities will have to be maintained in the coming months to avoid the emergence of a third and possibly more deadly wave of the virus.  This is despite the current rate of vaccination in all countries with which the media appears to be currently infatuated.  Given the evident concerns about the impact on economic growth in all countries, this proposition will not be an easy one politically to accept, especially now that more pandemic fatigue has set in. 

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Feb 24

When It Comes to COVID-19, the Cure Could Be Worse Than the Disease?

by bcurry

I just heard a radio interview with a so-called expert on infectious diseases who proclaimed that he viewed government prevention actions are worse than COVID-19 itself.  He suggests that health authorities are being overly cautious and that the extent of lockdowns and restrictions on openings are overkill.  His views are especially disconcerting, particularly as they are presented just as the U.S. has surpassed half a million COVID-related deaths.  He seemed to imply that the worst is over, even though numerous other experts have expressed serious concerns about a possible third wave due to the disease and its variants.  Indeed, it has just been disclosed that a coronavirus variant emerged in California and has surged to become the dominant strain.  This California variant not only spreads more readily than its predecessors but also apparently evades antibodies generated by COVID-19 vaccines or prior infection.  Not good news!

Yes, there is little doubt that lockdowns of businesses, events and schools hurt a lot of people.  However, what is the alternative?  How many deaths are we willing to accept as a consequence of remaining open and removing our masks?  If one takes the Swedish example where schools and businesses remained open for a substantial period of time following the pandemic’s emergence, there have been many times the number of deaths compared to other Scandinavian countries where more restrictions were quickly introduced.  We now know that the Swedish economy did not do any better than other economies who implemented lockdown practices.  Swedes became increasingly fearful of going outside and eating in restaurants in light of the high death totals.  In addition, there has been no herd immunity until now and Sweden will have to rely on vaccines and continuing precautions to contain the coronavirus, including the variants. Just like the rest of us!

As mass inoculations occur globally, it will take several more months before one can safely say that the pandemic is truly under control.  In the meantime, ethically we need to avoid and limit the potential of future COVID-related deaths as much as humanly possible.  This may mean that certain societal restrictions, including those on travel, will need to be maintained in the coming months.  Yes, vaccines will help.  However, the reality is that it will take the remainder of the year to inoculate enough of the global population to eventually create some form of so-called ‘herd immunity’.  The science is always trying to catch up to the mutations associated with COVID.  Remember as Dr. Anthony Fauci notes: “If viruses don’t replicate, they don’t mutate.”  The greater transmissibility of the virus could cause hospitals to become so overwhelmed and healthcare resources to be stretched so thin that more deaths are the result.  This is why we need to stop the further spread of variants by getting vaccinated, wearing masks, physically distancing, avoiding travel and limiting exposure to others.  It’s a difficult cure, but it is a lot better than the consequences of having more significant outbreaks of the disease in our communities.

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Feb 9

Why Hasn’t COVID Rapid Testing Been Done in Canada?

by bcurry

We are in a veritable war to contain the spread of COVID-19.  One would think that we would employ all the weapons at our disposal to combat spread of this virus.  However, this has not been the case when it comes to the use of rapid testing in numerous provinces in Canada.  Yet, a priority recommendation last month by the Canadian government’s COVID-19 Testing and Screening Expert Advisory Panel was to increase the use of rapid testing.  It has been reported that a million rapid tests procured by the federal government sit unused in warehouses where they’ll soon expire if not used.

Nobody who advocates rapid testing thinks it’s a replacement for lab-based polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing which is currently the gold standard for COVID testing.   However, most would agree that rapid tests can be effectively used as an initial screeningmechanism in certain high risk situations.  Moreover, a positive rapid test means the person can be immediately isolated until the case is confirmed with a PCR test.  Quick regular screening could be done in such high risk situations as testing long-term care staff and residents, school teachers and students, warehouse and meat packing employees, hospital staff and ER patients, air travellers, etc., etc.  The most widely available rapid test in Canada is the Abbott Panbio test.  Compared to PCR testing, it is very simple to use and can be employed on site almost anywhere.  Even trained volunteers without medical backgrounds can run the Panbio test.

I was surprised to find out that as of the beginning of February, provinces such as British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec had been reluctant to employ rapid testing to any significant degree.  All three provinces have high levels of confirmed COVID cases and have implemented several lockdowns to date.  On the other hand, public health officials in Nova Scotia successfully embraced rapid testing the earliest, helping to keep the number of COVID cases at a reasonably low level relative to its population.  One study by Simon Fraser University concluded that screening long-term care staff every three days with a Panbio rapid test would reduce outbreaks by 45 to 55 percent compared to no regular screening.  The study also concluded that doing such testing once a week would reduce outbreaks by 25 to 40 percent.

Many health experts find it mind boggling that we are not using all the tools in our toolkit.  The good news is that finally provinces such as Ontario recently announced that thousands of rapid tests are being supplied to key business sectors such as manufacturing and food processing.  In addition, large workplaces are at last starting to roll out rapid test screening, with Air Canada, Loblaws, Suncor and other major corporations announcing programs.  It’s about time!  Waiting for everyone to be vaccinated against the virus just won’t do.  Despite some public health officials’ reluctance in the past to employ rapid testing tools, the time has come to get over any concerns and proceed more quickly with a rapid testing campaign.  We owe it to Canadians who have largely done a good job of following the COVID-19 guidelines to the best of their ability. Canadians need all the available help they can get to end this horrific pandemic.

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Feb 5

COVID-19 Vaccination Rates: Why Comparison of Canada to Israel is a Problem

by bcurry

Lately, certain Canadian media sources are comparing the high Israel vaccination rates for COVID-19, which rank number one in the world per 100,000 persons vaccinated.  The comparisons are being used to blame the Canadian authorities for the current low vaccination rates: Canada currently ranking 29th place in the world.  However, the comparisons may not be very fair given a number of critical factors and major differences between both countries.

For one thing, Israel was fortunate on January 7, 2020 to have struck an agreement with Pfizer to exchange citizens’ data in exchange for 10 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine, including a promise of shipments of 400,000-700,000 doses every week.  Ten million doses are a drop in the ocean for Pfizer, which has pledged to produce 1.3 billion vaccine doses in 2021 — and is likely to produce more.  What was particularly interesting to Pfizer was that Israel was already capable of mass immunization and will provide details to Pfizer (as well as and the World Health Organization) about the age, gender and medical history of those receiving the jab as well as its side effects and efficacy.  Canada was not in the same situation given a number of other factors, including its more decentralized health care delivery system involving the provinces.

Out of necessity, Israel developed a “militarization” capability over the years and its infrastructure is designed to quickly implement prompt responses to large-scale national emergencies, including attacks by any of its Arab state neighbours.  When it comes to population, Israel’s population stands at about 9.2 million, compared to Canada’s at around 38 million people, four times that of Israel.  More importantly, the State of Israel is contained in 27,869 square kilometers or 10,760 square miles, just barely bigger than New Jersey.  Canada’s Vancouver Island alone is 1.38 times as big as New Jersey.  Canada is approximately 9,984,670 sq km and stretches from the Pacific to Atlantic Oceans and to the Artic Ocean in the north.  The simple geographic size of Canada is in itself a major concern with respect to transportation, isolated communities and weather patterns.  However, like Israel, Canada is primarily an urban society with 81.5 percent of the total population living in cities compared to Israel where over 92 percent of Israelis live in urban areas.

Even with an adequate supply of vaccines to immunize Canada’s population, the vaccination campaign will likely be unprecedented in scale, especially to more remote communities in the north and to the indigenous population.  Israel has a centralized system of government, a national health-system and a well-developed infrastructure for implementing prompt responses to large-scale national emergencies.  On the other hand, Canada has a more decentralized health care network with the ten provinces being responsible for the actual vaccinations.  This has raised the question as to whether the provinces will be ready to efficiently administer millions more doses when they finally arrive.  Moreover, there will be millions of doses to deal with since Canada has contracts with Novavax, AstraZeneca, Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson, and other vaccine manufacturers.  Despite delays with the arrival of first vaccines, Canada is expected to begin to receive millions of doses by the spring of 2021.

There is little doubt that some high-income countries like Canada and the U.S. are lacking several of Israel’s facilitating factors, apparently contributing to the current slower pace of the rollout in our countries.  However, the fortunate thing is that both countries will soon enter into a mass vaccination campaign likely to be unprecedented in scale and requiring all of the available resources needed to provide access to people wherever they are situated.  While some elements of Israel’s successful and timely vaccination campaign may be useful to duplicate, the vast differences between Canada and Israel reinforce the notion that “no one size fits all”.  As in Israel, Canada’s campaign will require well-tailored outreach efforts to encourage Canadians to sign up for vaccinations and then show up to get vaccinated.  This is the only way that any mass campaign can be successful in such a large and diverse country as Canada.

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Jan 24

Churches vs. the State on Pandemic-Related Restrictions for Gatherings

by bcurry

It has come to my attention that a number of churches, in this case located in British Columbia (B.C.) Canada, are challenging public health measures in the courts claiming that they unfairly target religious gatherings.  According to legal experts and theologians, the legal arguments, largely based on interpretations of the Bible and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, can cut it both ways.  Firstly, by way of background, the province of B.C. was among the first to introduce a number of restrictions back in the spring of 2020.  Public health orders put in place at the recommendation of Dr. Bonnie Henry’s (B.C.’s provincial health officer) appeared to have successfully contained the first outbreak of COVID-19 in the province.  With the current second wave, public health measures have been reintroduced to deal with recent outbreaks, particularly in the Vancouver area.  To date, COVID-19 has killed more than 1,000 people in B.C. and infected more than 60,000 people in the province of a little over 5 million.  There is little doubt that public health authorities are worried that the second wave could increase hospitalizations of COVID-19 cases and overload the health care system — a concern also arising in other larger provinces.  According to federal statistics, about 7.6 percent of COVID-19 patients have been hospitalized.

What I found particularly alarming was a statement by one clergy member that this is not the bubonic plague and fifty thousand people have not died in B.C., thereby arguing that they are not in that health emergency place.  One must then ask, just how many deaths would it take to justify putting into place health emergency measures?  Ten thousand, twenty thousand or thirty thousand?  The clergy then goes on to argue that there is no authority except that which God has established.  As a result, there are those who believe that the dissenting churches are being influenced by U.S.-based evangelicals who see COVID-19 restrictions as an affront to their freedoms.  Indeed, certain church groups appear to be taking their claims from a kind of American version of religious freedom, which isn’t a Canadian one.

Once again, the current extraordinary situation contains familiar arguments surrounding religion vs. science.  I would happily leave such a debate to the theologians and philosophers.  From a holistic and realistic point of view, governments are obviously within their rights to use their powers to limit the potential for future COVID-related deaths and sickness, including declaring a state of emergency.  In light of the alarming increase in COVID-19 cases, greater transmission rates and the arrival of more contagious variants, many forms of indoor and outdoor gatherings have been restricted in numbers.  Until enough persons are vaccinated, we have little option but to continue such public health measures.  Most legal experts in Canada believe that religious institutions which deliberately and flagrantly violate basic public health requirements during the pandemic will probably receive very little sympathy from the courts.  And rightly so!

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Dec 26

Will Vulnerable Countries Have Adequate Access to COVID Vaccines?

by bcurry

Many are celebrating the fact that the end of 2020 has seen the arrival of COVID vaccines from pharmaceutical manufacturers, and rightly so.  Indeed, the U.S. has already secured claims on as many as 1.5 billion doses of approved and potential vaccines, while the European Union has locked up nearly two billion doses — enough to vaccinate all of their citizens and then some. Canada is in line to receive millions of vaccine doses early in the new year.  However, reports indicate that many poor countries could be left waiting until 2024 to fully vaccinate their populations, if they’re lucky.  In addition, access to vaccines is not based on need.  It’s based on the ability to pay and the need for pharmaceutical companies (primarily located in the advanced economies) to waive traditional protections on intellectual property, thereby allowing poor countries to make affordable versions of the vaccines.  Unfortunately, the work of the World Trade Organization (W.T.O.) and the International Monetary Fund (I.M.F.) to provide needed aid to poor countries has been blocked by the Trump administration.  On top of which, the Trump administration has also withdrawn financial and moral support for the vital work of the World Health Organization (W.H.O.).

This has left the masses of people in poor countries with no short-term access to vaccines, in economic chaos and with rising public debt.  This global pandemic will result in existing economic inequalities between the have and have-not countries becoming even greater.  Some will even argue that the ravages of the pandemic in poor countries, largely unchecked by vaccines, could limit economic fortunes globally.  Governments in the wealthy countries must at some point shore up the assistance necessary to support health care systems and vulnerable populations in poor countries.  The Canadian government recently announced that it is part of a global movement to ensure that available surplus COVID vaccines will be offered to vulnerable countries as soon as possible.  When and by how much are two questions that immediately come to mind!

One can only hope that the incoming Biden administration will quickly proceed to address this important issue and lend the full support of the American nation to such organizations as the W.T.O., I.M.F. and W.H.O. in combating this global pandemic.  Without the full American participation, the ability to ensure that sufficient COVID vaccines are available to vulnerable countries becomes a mute issue.  Just as the pandemic created a health crisis in wealthy countries, it has created an even bigger one in the poorer countries.  Unless the current situation changes, it is predicted that many poor countries will no doubt be left waiting until 2024 to fully vaccinate their populations.  If true, this could become the worst international tragedy of this century.

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Dec 9

Like Several U.S. States, Alberta Took Too Long to Introduce COVID-19 Measures

by bcurry

Canada has its regional equivalent to Georgia, Iowa, South Dakota and Florida.  It’s the Western province of Alberta.  Just this week, Alberta’s Premier Jason Kenney imposed a province-wide lockdown, calling it a “last resort”.  Back in November, Alberta had declared a state of public health emergency.  The measures will last at least four weeks — meaning family gatherings will be prohibited over the Christmas season.  It will involve an immediate mandatory province-wide mask law, a shutdown of restaurants and bars and a ban on social gatherings of any kind.  Kenney’s recent elected United Conservative government had been reticent to implement restrictions, citing the balance between the consequences of a prolonged economic closure and the harms of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Alberta was the sole province in the country without a province-wide mandatory mask law, although many municipalities had enacted bylaws.  Even in areas without such laws, many retail outlets require them.

Alberta, with a third the population of Ontario, was having the same number of confirmed COVID-19 cases as that province, with a weekly high positive-test rate of over 8 percent.  In late November, Alberta had more than 13,000 active cases, the most in the entire country, despite having fewer people than Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.  Deaths had climbed close to 500, and more than 300 people were in hospital, with more than 60 of them in intensive care units (ICUs).  So far in December, Alberta is shattering records, with over 1,800 new cases daily and a positive-test rate of 9.5 percent.  Straining the capacity of the health-care system in the province, the Alberta government has asked the federal government and the Red Cross to supply four field hospitals to care for COVID-19 patients.

Like the Upper Midwest and Plains states in the U.S., Albertans tend to reflect a mid-West attitude in their opinions of government and any perceived impact on their liberties.  If any province were similar in outlooks to Americans, Alberta could be the equivalent of a 51st state.  They have primarily voted for conservative governments for over the last half century and often express their objections to federal government intrusions into their affairs, especially when it comes to the oil and gas and cattle industries.  When all taxes are taken into consideration, Albertans across all income ranges generally pay lower overall taxes compared to other provinces.  Alberta continues to be the only province in Canada without a provincial sales tax.  For years, the province relied heavily on receiving royalties from its oil and gas industry to supplement its revenues.  However, with the pandemic and the recent downturn in oil and gas demand, Alberta’s economy and its people have greatly suffered.  Now, they have to cope with increasing COVID-19 outbreaks and the resulting strain on their health-care system.

The Alberta government’s current lockdown is receiving criticism from doctors and others, who argue that while the measures might have succeeded had they been implemented weeks ago, they now are coming too late.  For months, Albertans continued to flock to bars and restaurants and to congregate for funerals, weddings and church services.  Like many in the states, scores of Albertans protested any form of restrictions despite the clear evidence that not taking precautions would lead to more people becoming sick and dying.  Interestingly, recent surveys show that Jason Kenney’s administration is considered by Albertans to be among the worst in Canada when it comes to dealing with the pandemic at the provincial level.  Reminds you of anyone?

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Nov 29

Who Among Us Is Ready To Be Vaccinated For COVID-19?

by bcurry

Now that anti-coronavirus vaccines are on the horizon, possibly as early as next month in the U.S., who among us is ready to be vaccinated?  Bioethicists are now jumping into the fray in order to suggest some alternative approaches for early vaccination selection.  According to the Canadian National Advisory Committee on Immunization, it is recommending four initial key groups: those at risk of severe illness and death (such as the elderly or those with pre-existing conditions), essential workers most likely to transmit the disease (such as health-care workers), those at risk who live in communities that could suffer disproportionate consequences (such as isolated Indigenous communities), and other workers providing services that contribute to “the functioning of society.

Up to now, the Canadian federal government, which is responsible for the eventual national distribution of vaccines to the regions, has given little indication as to which groups will receive the first inoculations.  Since the coronavirus has especially been deadly for seniors and particularly those in long-term care residences, it would not be a surprise that their residents and staffs would be at the front of the line.  After that, officials will most probably target health care workers and first responders who are needed to treat persons sick with COVID-19.  Given the current increasing numbers of cases in the U.S. and Canada, there is little doubt that more hospitalizations will occur.  Unfortunately, the arrival of vaccines will not curtail the impending massive increases over the winter period in related death tolls.  Others who are young and for the most part healthy will likely have to wait to be vaccinated.

Then there are those who will not want to be vaccinated for whatever reasons.  It’s impossible for anyone to be forced to take the COVID-19 vaccine once it’s available.  Opinion polls have shown that over one in four Americans are very likely going to not get vaccinated, some of whom are anti-vaccinationists to begin with.  Others will simply take a wait and see approach, not trusting the claims by public health officials that the vaccines are safe with no serious side effects.  Another consideration is that while at least 19 countries already have programs in place that compensate individuals injured by vaccines, Canada does not except for Quebec.  The U.S. has the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program which is a no-fault alternative to the traditional legal system for resolving vaccine injury petitions.  However, individuals must file a petition for compensation with the U.S. Court of Federal Claims if they believe they were injured by a covered vaccine.  Resolving such claims is no doubt a lengthy process with no guarantee of compensation in the end.

Failure to get vaccinated may come with specific consequences.  For example, one can certainly imagine that the authorities and businesses may want proof of vaccination before someone can return to work or go to school.  Furthermore, one’s freedom to travel by air or public transportation may be restricted without proof of immunization.  Until much of the population is adequately vaccinated and so-called “herd immunity” sets in, people are being urgently warned to continue to avoid crowds, wear masks and practice good hygiene in the meantime.  It will be many months until we will have this terrible virus under control, hopefully as a result of the effective implementation of national and regional vaccination programs.  This includes the buy-in of the majority of the population.  As they say, hope rests eternal!

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Nov 15

Why Has Tracking of Coronavirus Cases Become Such an Issue?

by bcurry

As the numbers of confirmed COVID-19 cases increase in Canada and in the U.S., there has been a greater interest in tracing where the cases originate.  Such data is then used in some cases by governments to introduce accessibility restrictions or simply impose a complete lockdown of businesses and government services.  For months, places like gyms and restaurants have been linked to outbreaks of COVID-19.  One recent study compiled using location data collected by SafeGraph in the U.S. linked more than 80 percent of infections to locations such as full-service restaurants, gyms, hotels, cafés, religious organizations and limited-service restaurants.  What all these locations have in common is of course the fact that they have people congregating in significant numbers, often in close quarters.

However, I have difficulty as to why the emphasis is being placed on tracking which really represents outcomes after cases have been confirmed.  Instead, we may be better off looking at realistic ways of dealing with such gatherings as a preventive measure.  After all, a once of prevention is worth a pound of cure.  Furthermore, there are a lot of assumptions about the use of such tracing methodologies.  Indeed, in Ontario (Canada) authorities admit that where 60 percent of infections occurred is simply unknown.  Unlike some American states, provinces here have instituted a variety of restrictions on locations and gatherings, including lockdowns, since the pandemic became an concern back in the spring.

It doesn’t take an epidemiologist to figure out how people become more vulnerable to COVID-19.  After all, the virus takes the form an aerosol spread by an infected individual(s), asymptomatic or not, in an enclosed area where people can breath in the virus.  Most dangerous locations involve spaces where people cannot adequately physically distance, are not wearing masks or applicable personal protective equipment (PPE) and there is poor ventilation.  At the outset, this was why outbreaks occurred particularly in long term care and retirement homes.  Sufficient precautions, such as PPE, were not taken by long term care residences to protect their staff and their most vulnerable residents from exposure to the virus.

Limiting exposure to potential sources of infection and taking the appropriate precautions just makes common sense.  Unfortunately, there are still people who insist on frequenting such locations without adhering to preventive measures.  The fact that confirmed cases are now rising can be largely contributed to such complacent attitudes.  Maybe when hospitalization numbers overwhelm the health care system and the number of deaths continues to astronomically increase, people will come to realize the consequences of risky attitudes and actions.  Governments will continue to use tracking numbers in order to politically justify restrictions on businesses and services.  However, such measures may be too late for many people.  It appears that the only way to really convince people to act in a safe and healthy manner may be to crack down and issue hefty fines in the case of large private or public gatherings.  Everyone needs to understand that various forms of individual sacrifice are required for the good of their families, communities and society at large.  If one lives in an area where restrictions are slim to nonexistent, I would definitely urge caution about visiting potential COVID-19 hot spots — no matter where the location is.

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