All things Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV)

[Halifax Tar]

Say whatever you want but that's the reality. Approx 48 cents of every dollar in revenue the Gov't of Ont takes in goes to Health Care or Education spending. As for defence spending, it gets about 1.20$ for every 100$ in revenue at the Federal level. I for one would easily triple that amount if I could take it from another government revenue bucket and put it in defence.
And that teacher, he/she/they team up with another teacher and together they pay the salary of a rookie OPP officer with their 24.5k in tax deductions.
The only reason I came back to Canada from working in Boston (where we settled after working in Michigan and Europe) was because we decided to have kids and we wanted them to attend French Immersion schools. Otherwise if we didn't have kids we would have stayed in Boston and made alot more money and have alot more after tax salary as well.
If you have a well paying job and decide not to have kids, moving to the US will put you so much farther ahead financially than staying in Canada and not having kids. And picking a place like Boston, a 'blue' state that is progressive with a great transportation system and thinks/acts more like a Canadian city than pretty much any other in the US makes it that much easier to do.

So you came back to Canada/Ontario because you wanted to use our/the education system and then you bemoan that we pay our teachers a good wage. My friend perhaps you should have stayed in Boston.

Can you explain this 24.5K tax deduction teachers get ?

 

[The Bread Guy]

... If you have a well paying job and decide not to have kids ...

Those caveats alone affect a lot of people differently, so many Canadians' mileage can vary ...

 

[Czech_pivo]

So you came back to Canada/Ontario because you wanted to use our/the education system and then you bemoan that we pay our teachers a good wage. My friend perhaps you should have stayed in Boston.

Can you explain this 24.5K tax deduction teachers get ?

I never said once anything about bemoaning what we pay teachers, the good ones deserve every penny and some of them even more. Now, for those that don't cut the mustard, they all need to be let go. The teachers unions are too strong and protect the non-performers and all of them should be cut. Teachers who perform constantly above and beyond should be getting pay raises accordingly and in fact should be getting some sort of yearly bonus, and a significant one, not some measly 500$, something like a 5-10% of yearly salary. Those that don't, shouldn't get anything extra.

As for my 'using' our education, yup, I'm using it for all its worth, just like many many other Canadians do, my kids are learning a 2nd language (French) at zero extra cost and that will only benefit them in life going forward. Narrow-minded people call French Immersion 'elitist', I laugh at those people for they don't understand all the benefits that learning a 2nd language can give a person. If Russian or Mandarin or Spanish or Dutch was offered in the same manner, we'd have signed our kids up into one of those programmes just as quickly. Its all about adding another tool in the toolbox. And for those that say not all kids can learn a second language, don't be so sure about that. Try going to a place like Holland or Denmark and try and find a native Dutch/Danish person who can't speak English, its near impossible.

We've recently had discussions about did we make the right decision to fully fund our kids RESP's since the day they were born or instead have spent that money on a private education for them here, with the much smaller class sizes, consistently more movidated, more engaged teachers and consistently more engaged fellow classmates and have the kids pay their university costs completely on their own. Time will tell which was the better decision.

I look to use each and every tool in my toolbox that I've been given - every opportunity, every nuance, every angle to move forward, all the time keeping within the letter, intent of the law and within my own moral compass. Since I've lived outside of Canada for a number of years, I know how to think/act like an immigrate does in Canada - use every tool available to get ahead. I was the only boy in my graduating grade 8 class to successfully graduate from university and 1 of 4 boys from that same class who graduated from high school. Does any of that make me less of a Canadian?

I came from a one-income family where my father went to college in the evenings to get his education and worked all day to put food on the table. He moved from working on the line at Chrysler making cars, to an office job, leaving the union and becoming part of management, all because he knew that the opportunity was there, it was his if he was willing to take the chance.

As for staying in Boston, if the kids decide to go to university in Massachusetts where alot of my wife's family is located and then take jobs there, yup, we might just move back there because we can. Never be afraid to know what's beyond the next hillrise, too many people in this world are and we all suffer because of it.

I don't have any argument with you. I completely respect your opinions as I'm sure is based on life experiences and such. One side or the other is not necessarily 'right' or 'wrong' in a discussion. It's what works for you and you alone. I'm glad that we've had this back and forth, learning about other opinions, life experiences is what all of this should be about. I wish nothing but health, happiness and progress for you and your family. Peace.

 

[OldTanker]

I've been getting my hair cut at the same barber shop for the past 12 years, since we moved here. There are two barbers, G and S. G is the owner, S, I assume, rents his seat. I am not privy to their business arrangement. For no particular reason, S has been my usual barber since he started there six years ago. They give good haircuts at reasonable, for here, rates. Years ago G posted a sign on the front door of the shop saying "If you are sick, don't come in. I can't afford to get ill and be off work." A reasonable note and one that led me to believe the shop was cognizant of good health and generally a safe place to go. This is important to me as I am immunocompromised. During COVID they only take appointments, again to avoid crowding in the waiting room. I had an appointment last week with S. He emailed me and let me know due to the big snowfall he couldn't come in and I would have to re-book, which I did. I went in yesterday and only G was there. "Where is S", I asked? "At home sick" says G. "Not COVID" says I. "Yup" says G. I said that was too bad. G said "Well, he was unvaccinated, so it was inevitable". Think that through a bit. Here is a barber, who is not vaccinated, cheerfully working inches from customers faces for the past six months ago, since we could get vaccinated. Had there not been the snow storm, he would have been cutting my hair while full of COVID. G advised me S was an anti-vaxxer. I just about crapped myself. Talk about feeling betrayed. Here, what I thought was a sanctuary of safety turned out to be a den of stupidity. I had a good chat with G about his lack of judgement ("You should have told him to stay home until he gets his shots or at the very least do rapid tests each day he comes to work"). To say I was livid was an understatement. As I said to G, S put all of our health at risk because of his opinions. G was reluctant to take any action against S as he is a "good friend". I don't give a rat's ass what opinion a person holds, but when they threaten my health, I do care. Needless to say I won't be using this barber again. Overreaction? I'm sure some of you out there would think so, but I think as a customer I deserve to trust that I am in a safe environment.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I never said once anything about bemoaning what we pay teachers, the good ones deserve every penny and some of them even more. Now, for those that don't cut the mustard, they all need to be let go. The teachers unions are too strong and protect the non-performers and all of them should be cut. Teachers who perform constantly above and beyond should be getting pay raises accordingly and in fact should be getting some sort of yearly bonus, and a significant one, not some measly 500$, something like a 5-10% of yearly salary. Those that don't, shouldn't get anything extra.

I hear this argument a lot. And there is validity to it. But I will let you in a secret. 9 times out 10 the parents who complain about their kids teachers have shitty kids, because of their shitty parenting and wont take any responsibility. Just an observation not an accusation.

Now how about that 24.5K tax deduction teachers get ?

As for my 'using' our education, yup, I'm using it for all its worth, just like many many other Canadians do, my kids are learning a 2nd language (French) at zero extra cost and that will only benefit them in life going forward. Narrow-minded people call French Immersion 'elitist', I laugh at those people for they don't understand all the benefits that learning a 2nd language can give a person. If Russian or Mandarin or Spanish or Dutch was offered in the same manner, we'd have signed our kids up into one of those programmes just as quickly. Its all about adding another tool in the toolbox. And for those that say not all kids can learn a second language, don't be so sure about that. Try going to a place like Holland or Denmark and try and find a native Dutch/Danish person who can't speak English, its near impossible.

I am well traveled. I know how important languages are. In fact I am on year long French course right now, my daughter is in French immersion and my wife is bi-lingual.

We've recently had discussions about did we make the right decision to fully fund our kids RESP's since the day they were born or instead have spent that money on a private education for them here, with the much smaller class sizes, consistently more movidated, more engaged teachers and consistently more engaged fellow classmates and have the kids pay their university costs completely on their own. Time will tell which was the better decision.

I have a a few friends have opted out of the public systems. Full disclosure my wife is VP in public education and we have argued about where my daughter should go school. I firmly believe kids will get a better education in the private system. I don't blame the public school teachers though. I blame shitty parents who produced shitty kids who then cause disruption and interrupt learning, I blame special interests groups who have infested our education system and unfocused them from core education; and lastly I blame our Gov's for letting things get this way, which really means you and me as citizens.

I look to use each and every tool in my toolbox that I've been given - every opportunity, every nuance, every angle to move forward, all the time keeping within the letter, intent of the law and within my own moral compass. Since I've lived outside of Canada for a number of years, I know how to think/act like an immigrate does in Canada - use every tool available to get ahead. I was the only boy in my graduating grade 8 class to successfully graduate from university and 1 of 4 boys from that same class who graduated from high school. Does any of that make me less of a Canadian?

Are you fishing for a compliment ? Or an atta boy ?

I came from a one-income family where my father went to college in the evenings to get his education and worked all day to put food on the table. He moved from working on the line at Chrysler making cars, to an office job, leaving the union and becoming part of management, all because he knew that the opportunity was there, it was his if he was willing to take the chance.

Well done to your father ?

As for staying in Boston, if the kids decide to go to university in Massachusetts where alot of my wife's family is located and then take jobs there, yup, we might just move back there because we can. Never be afraid to know what's beyond the next hillrise, too many people in this world are and we all suffer because of it.

Ok.

I don't have any argument with you. I completely respect your opinions as I'm sure is based on life experiences and such. One side or the other is not necessarily 'right' or 'wrong' in a discussion. It's what works for you and you alone. I'm glad that we've had this back and forth, learning about other opinions, life experiences is what all of this should be about. I wish nothing but health, happiness and progress for you and your family. Peace.

My friend I am not my ideas and my ideas aren't me. Some FFT for your if you're going to post something on a discussion forum, expect it to be challenged or otherwise discussed.

 

[brihard]

I've been getting my hair cut at the same barber shop for the past 12 years, since we moved here. There are two barbers, G and S. G is the owner, S, I assume, rents his seat. I am not privy to their business arrangement. For no particular reason, S has been my usual barber since he started there six years ago. They give good haircuts at reasonable, for here, rates. Years ago G posted a sign on the front door of the shop saying "If you are sick, don't come in. I can't afford to get ill and be off work." A reasonable note and one that led me to believe the shop was cognizant of good health and generally a safe place to go. This is important to me as I am immunocompromised. During COVID they only take appointments, again to avoid crowding in the waiting room. I had an appointment last week with S. He emailed me and let me know due to the big snowfall he couldn't come in and I would have to re-book, which I did. I went in yesterday and only G was there. "Where is S", I asked? "At home sick" says G. "Not COVID" says I. "Yup" says G. I said that was too bad. G said "Well, he was unvaccinated, so it was inevitable". Think that through a bit. Here is a barber, who is not vaccinated, cheerfully working inches from customers faces for the past six months ago, since we could get vaccinated. Had there not been the snow storm, he would have been cutting my hair while full of COVID. G advised me S was an anti-vaxxer. I just about crapped myself. Talk about feeling betrayed. Here, what I thought was a sanctuary of safety turned out to be a den of stupidity. I had a good chat with G about his lack of judgement ("You should have told him to stay home until he gets his shots or at the very least do rapid tests each day he comes to work"). To say I was livid was an understatement. As I said to G, S put all of our health at risk because of his opinions. G was reluctant to take any action against S as he is a "good friend". I don't give a rat's ass what opinion a person holds, but when they threaten my health, I do care. Needless to say I won't be using this barber again. Overreaction? I'm sure some of you out there would think so, but I think as a customer I deserve to trust that I am in a safe environment.

You owe them nothing beyond paying them for services rendered, and as you say you’re immune compromised. Totally fair thing to be upset about and for you to make a stand on. That sucks.

 

[Czech_pivo]

I never said once anything about bemoaning what we pay teachers, the good ones deserve every penny and some of them even more. Now, for those that don't cut the mustard, they all need to be let go. The teachers unions are too strong and protect the non-performers and all of them should be cut. Teachers who perform constantly above and beyond should be getting pay raises accordingly and in fact should be getting some sort of yearly bonus, and a significant one, not some measly 500$, something like a 5-10% of yearly salary. Those that don't, shouldn't get anything extra.

I hear this argument a lot. And there is validity to it. But I will let you in a secret. 9 times out 10 the parents who complain about their teacher kids teachers have shitty kids, because of their shitty parenting and wont take any responsibility. Just an observation not an accusation.

Now how about that 24.5K tax deduction teachers get ?

'24.5 tax deduction' should have been '24.5 payroll tax deducted'
I too have many many friends who are teachers, VP's, Principals, SERTS, CYC's and SLP's in the public/catholic boards and yes, there are shitty parents/kids but there are many shitty teachers as well. What incentive is there for a teacher to consistently go above and beyond for 25yrs when they get the exact pay rises as the rest of the teachers? Pay the good ones what they deserve and you'll quickly see how many more 'average' teachers will be become great/good teachers.

As for my 'using' our education, yup, I'm using it for all its worth, just like many many other Canadians do, my kids are learning a 2nd language (French) at zero extra cost and that will only benefit them in life going forward. Narrow-minded people call French Immersion 'elitist', I laugh at those people for they don't understand all the benefits that learning a 2nd language can give a person. If Russian or Mandarin or Spanish or Dutch was offered in the same manner, we'd have signed our kids up into one of those programmes just as quickly. Its all about adding another tool in the toolbox. And for those that say not all kids can learn a second language, don't be so sure about that. Try going to a place like Holland or Denmark and try and find a native Dutch/Danish person who can't speak English, its near impossible.

I am well traveled. I know how important languages are. In fact I am on year long French course right now.

We've recently had discussions about did we make the right decision to fully fund our kids RESP's since the day they were born or instead have spent that money on a private education for them here, with the much smaller class sizes, consistently more movidated, more engaged teachers and consistently more engaged fellow classmates and have the kids pay their university costs completely on their own. Time will tell which was the better decision.

I have a a few friends have opted out of the public systems. Full disclosure my wife is VP in public education and we have argued about where my daughter should go school. I firmly believe kids will get a better education in the private system. I don't blame the public teachers though. I blame shitty parents who produced shitty kids, I blame special interests groups who have infested our education system and I blame our Gov's for letting things get this way.

Full disclosure my wife is a SLP in public education, having left working in adult rehab at a hospital for years. I blame the same as you except i add in the Unions as they are part of the problem, not the solution.

I look to use each and every tool in my toolbox that I've been given - every opportunity, every nuance, every angle to move forward, all the time keeping within the letter, intent of the law and within my own moral compass. Since I've lived outside of Canada for a number of years, I know how to think/act like an immigrate does in Canada - use every tool available to get ahead. I was the only boy in my graduating grade 8 class to successfully graduate from university and 1 of 4 boys from that same class who graduated from high school. Does any of that make me less of a Canadian?

Are you fishing for a compliment ? Or an atta boy ?

Nope, just letting you know where I come from, no silver spoon here.

I came from a one-income family where my father went to college in the evenings to get his education and worked all day to put food on the table. He moved from working on the line at Chrysler making cars, to an office job, leaving the union and becoming part of management, all because he knew that the opportunity was there, it was his if he was willing to take the chance.

Well done to your father ?

Yes.

As for staying in Boston, if the kids decide to go to university in Massachusetts where alot of my wife's family is located and then take jobs there, yup, we might just move back there because we can. Never be afraid to know what's beyond the next hillrise, too many people in this world are and we all suffer because of it.

Ok.

I don't have any argument with you. I completely respect your opinions as I'm sure is based on life experiences and such. One side or the other is not necessarily 'right' or 'wrong' in a discussion. It's what works for you and you alone. I'm glad that we've had this back and forth, learning about other opinions, life experiences is what all of this should be about. I wish nothing but health, happiness and progress for you and your family. Peace.

My friend I am not my ideas and my ideas aren't me. Some FFT for your if you're going to post something on a discussion forum, expect it to be challenged or otherwise discussed.

Great, glad to hear.

 

[Halifax Tar]

I never said once anything about bemoaning what we pay teachers, the good ones deserve every penny and some of them even more. Now, for those that don't cut the mustard, they all need to be let go. The teachers unions are too strong and protect the non-performers and all of them should be cut. Teachers who perform constantly above and beyond should be getting pay raises accordingly and in fact should be getting some sort of yearly bonus, and a significant one, not some measly 500$, something like a 5-10% of yearly salary. Those that don't, shouldn't get anything extra.

I hear this argument a lot. And there is validity to it. But I will let you in a secret. 9 times out 10 the parents who complain about their teacher kids teachers have shitty kids, because of their shitty parenting and wont take any responsibility. Just an observation not an accusation.

Now how about that 24.5K tax deduction teachers get ?

'24.5 tax deduction' should have been '24.5 payroll tax deducted'
I too have many many friends who are teachers, VP's, Principals, SERTS, CYC's and SLP's in the public/catholic boards and yes, there are shitty parents/kids but there are many shitty teachers as well. What incentive is there for a teacher to consistently go above and beyond for 25yrs when they get the exact pay rises as the rest of the teachers? Pay the good ones what they deserve and you'll quickly see how many more 'average' teachers will be become great/good teachers.

As for my 'using' our education, yup, I'm using it for all its worth, just like many many other Canadians do, my kids are learning a 2nd language (French) at zero extra cost and that will only benefit them in life going forward. Narrow-minded people call French Immersion 'elitist', I laugh at those people for they don't understand all the benefits that learning a 2nd language can give a person. If Russian or Mandarin or Spanish or Dutch was offered in the same manner, we'd have signed our kids up into one of those programmes just as quickly. Its all about adding another tool in the toolbox. And for those that say not all kids can learn a second language, don't be so sure about that. Try going to a place like Holland or Denmark and try and find a native Dutch/Danish person who can't speak English, its near impossible.

I am well traveled. I know how important languages are. In fact I am on year long French course right now.

We've recently had discussions about did we make the right decision to fully fund our kids RESP's since the day they were born or instead have spent that money on a private education for them here, with the much smaller class sizes, consistently more movidated, more engaged teachers and consistently more engaged fellow classmates and have the kids pay their university costs completely on their own. Time will tell which was the better decision.

I have a a few friends have opted out of the public systems. Full disclosure my wife is VP in public education and we have argued about where my daughter should go school. I firmly believe kids will get a better education in the private system. I don't blame the public teachers though. I blame shitty parents who produced shitty kids, I blame special interests groups who have infested our education system and I blame our Gov's for letting things get this way.

Full disclosure my wife is a SLP in public education, having left working in adult rehab at a hospital for years. I blame the same as you except i add in the Unions as they are part of the problem, not the solution.

I look to use each and every tool in my toolbox that I've been given - every opportunity, every nuance, every angle to move forward, all the time keeping within the letter, intent of the law and within my own moral compass. Since I've lived outside of Canada for a number of years, I know how to think/act like an immigrate does in Canada - use every tool available to get ahead. I was the only boy in my graduating grade 8 class to successfully graduate from university and 1 of 4 boys from that same class who graduated from high school. Does any of that make me less of a Canadian?

Are you fishing for a compliment ? Or an atta boy ?

Nope, just letting you know where I come from, no silver spoon here.

I came from a one-income family where my father went to college in the evenings to get his education and worked all day to put food on the table. He moved from working on the line at Chrysler making cars, to an office job, leaving the union and becoming part of management, all because he knew that the opportunity was there, it was his if he was willing to take the chance.

Well done to your father ?

Yes.

As for staying in Boston, if the kids decide to go to university in Massachusetts where alot of my wife's family is located and then take jobs there, yup, we might just move back there because we can. Never be afraid to know what's beyond the next hillrise, too many people in this world are and we all suffer because of it.

Ok.

I don't have any argument with you. I completely respect your opinions as I'm sure is based on life experiences and such. One side or the other is not necessarily 'right' or 'wrong' in a discussion. It's what works for you and you alone. I'm glad that we've had this back and forth, learning about other opinions, life experiences is what all of this should be about. I wish nothing but health, happiness and progress for you and your family. Peace.

My friend I am not my ideas and my ideas aren't me. Some FFT for your if you're going to post something on a discussion forum, expect it to be challenged or otherwise discussed.

Great, glad to hear.

Please don't use blue, that was very hard to read.

I think we've almost derailed this enough. But One last time:

Please explain '24.5 payroll tax deducted'

 

[Humphrey Bogart]

Say whatever you want but that's the reality. Approx 48 cents of every dollar in revenue the Gov't of Ont takes in goes to Health Care or Education spending. As for defence spending, it gets about 1.20$ for every 100$ in revenue at the Federal level. I for one would easily triple that amount if I could take it from another government revenue bucket and put it in defence.
And that teacher, he/she/they team up with another teacher and together they pay the salary of a rookie OPP officer with their 24.5k in tax deductions.
The only reason I came back to Canada from working in Boston (where we settled after working in Michigan and Europe) was because we decided to have kids and we wanted them to attend French Immersion schools. Otherwise if we didn't have kids we would have stayed in Boston and made alot more money and have alot more after tax salary as well.
If you have a well paying job and decide not to have kids, moving to the US will put you so much farther ahead financially than staying in Canada and not having kids. And picking a place like Boston, a 'blue' state that is progressive with a great transportation system and thinks/acts more like a Canadian city than pretty much any other in the US makes it that much easier to do.

It's funny you mention this. I have a number of high achieving friends I went to School with. All of the highest achievers I know have left Canada and moved to the good ole US of A. Brain drain is a real thing.

 

[Czech_pivo]

Please don't use blue, that was very hard to read.

I think we've almost derailed this enough. But One last time:

Please explain '24.5 payroll tax deducted'

A salary of 93k in Ontario will result in total deductions of 24.6k.

 

[winds_13]

I've been getting my hair cut at the same barber shop for the past 12 years, since we moved here. There are two barbers, G and S. G is the owner, S, I assume, rents his seat. I am not privy to their business arrangement. For no particular reason, S has been my usual barber since he started there six years ago. They give good haircuts at reasonable, for here, rates. Years ago G posted a sign on the front door of the shop saying "If you are sick, don't come in. I can't afford to get ill and be off work." A reasonable note and one that led me to believe the shop was cognizant of good health and generally a safe place to go. This is important to me as I am immunocompromised. During COVID they only take appointments, again to avoid crowding in the waiting room. I had an appointment last week with S. He emailed me and let me know due to the big snowfall he couldn't come in and I would have to re-book, which I did. I went in yesterday and only G was there. "Where is S", I asked? "At home sick" says G. "Not COVID" says I. "Yup" says G. I said that was too bad. G said "Well, he was unvaccinated, so it was inevitable". Think that through a bit. Here is a barber, who is not vaccinated, cheerfully working inches from customers faces for the past six months ago, since we could get vaccinated. Had there not been the snow storm, he would have been cutting my hair while full of COVID. G advised me S was an anti-vaxxer. I just about crapped myself. Talk about feeling betrayed. Here, what I thought was a sanctuary of safety turned out to be a den of stupidity. I had a good chat with G about his lack of judgement ("You should have told him to stay home until he gets his shots or at the very least do rapid tests each day he comes to work"). To say I was livid was an understatement. As I said to G, S put all of our health at risk because of his opinions. G was reluctant to take any action against S as he is a "good friend". I don't give a rat's ass what opinion a person holds, but when they threaten my health, I do care. Needless to say I won't be using this barber again. Overreaction? I'm sure some of you out there would think so, but I think as a customer I deserve to trust that I am in a safe environment.

Old Tanker, how exactly was this unvaccinated barber threatening your health? They restricted customers by taking appointments only and requested that people feeling ill not enter the premises. When he became sick, he did not come in to work.

Are you assuming that you have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 from an unvaccinated person than from a vaccinated one? If you live in Ontario, the current case rate is actually highest amongst fully vaccinated individuals. The difference in catching and spreading between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals was becoming negligible even before the appearance of the Omicron variant.

Dataset - Ontario Data Catalogue

covid-19.ontario.ca

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Old Tanker, how exactly was this unvaccinated barber threatening your health? They restricted customers by taking appointments only and requested that people feeling ill not enter the premises. When he became sick, he did not come in to work.

Are you assuming that you have a higher chance of catching COVID-19 from an unvaccinated person than from a vaccinated one? If you live in Ontario, the current case rate is actually highest amongst fully vaccinated individuals. The difference in catching and spreading between vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals was becoming negligible even before the appearance of the Omicron variant.

Dataset - Ontario Data Catalogue

covid-19.ontario.ca

According to the graph, a cursory view appears to show that the best place to be is in the partially (1-2 shots) vaccinated group. Or am I reading this wrong?

 

[QV]

The old narrative was this vaccine would make you immune and put an end to the pandemic.

We now know the best case scenario for the vaccines are they reduce the chance of a bad outcome for the old and immunocompromised individual. The barber not having his vax won't change how another vaccinated person reacts, both can spread it.

 

[OceanBonfire]

"We may see deaths from Omicron but I suspect that the deaths that we're seeing now are still from Delta," Walensky said, adding that it will take time to understand how Omicron l impacts coronavirus death totals.

U.S. COVID deaths rising but likely due to Delta, not Omicron, says CDC chief

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States have increased by about 33% and deaths are up by about 40% from a week earlier, the head of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

Omicron less severe than Delta but still poses danger for unvaccinated: WHO

The highly infectious Omicron coronavirus variant causes less severe disease than the Delta strain but it remains a "dangerous virus", particularly for those who are unvaccinated, the head of the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Wednesday.

www.reuters.com

 

[Quirky]

I don't give a rat's ass what opinion a person holds, but when they threaten my health, I do care.

So what's the solution then for everyone else, to have private businesses declare employee vaccination status for anyone at high risk?

 

[OldSolduer]

It's funny you mention this. I have a number of high achieving friends I went to School with. All of the highest achievers I know have left Canada and moved to the good ole US of A. Brain drain is a real thing.

It has been forever. After the Arrow was cancelled many of our big brains went south - see the intakes on the Arrow and the F 15. In my tiny non scientest pea brain I can see the similarity.

 

[daftandbarmy]

I've been getting my hair cut at the same barber shop for the past 12 years, since we moved here. There are two barbers, G and S. G is the owner, S, I assume, rents his seat. I am not privy to their business arrangement. For no particular reason, S has been my usual barber since he started there six years ago. They give good haircuts at reasonable, for here, rates. Years ago G posted a sign on the front door of the shop saying "If you are sick, don't come in. I can't afford to get ill and be off work." A reasonable note and one that led me to believe the shop was cognizant of good health and generally a safe place to go. This is important to me as I am immunocompromised. During COVID they only take appointments, again to avoid crowding in the waiting room. I had an appointment last week with S. He emailed me and let me know due to the big snowfall he couldn't come in and I would have to re-book, which I did. I went in yesterday and only G was there. "Where is S", I asked? "At home sick" says G. "Not COVID" says I. "Yup" says G. I said that was too bad. G said "Well, he was unvaccinated, so it was inevitable". Think that through a bit. Here is a barber, who is not vaccinated, cheerfully working inches from customers faces for the past six months ago, since we could get vaccinated. Had there not been the snow storm, he would have been cutting my hair while full of COVID. G advised me S was an anti-vaxxer. I just about crapped myself. Talk about feeling betrayed. Here, what I thought was a sanctuary of safety turned out to be a den of stupidity. I had a good chat with G about his lack of judgement ("You should have told him to stay home until he gets his shots or at the very least do rapid tests each day he comes to work"). To say I was livid was an understatement. As I said to G, S put all of our health at risk because of his opinions. G was reluctant to take any action against S as he is a "good friend". I don't give a rat's ass what opinion a person holds, but when they threaten my health, I do care. Needless to say I won't be using this barber again. Overreaction? I'm sure some of you out there would think so, but I think as a customer I deserve to trust that I am in a safe environment.

You can sue his ass if you pop up COVID positive:

Howard Levitt: Yes, you can sue someone for negligence if they pass COVID on to you​

You will need to prove they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness

I am receiving many client enquiries concerning the right to sue bosses, fellow workers and even health-care workers, if they contract COVID as a result of a person being unvaccinated.

The answer is that you can sue anyone for negligence who passes COVID on to you — if they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness and either knew or should have known they had or might have had the illness and had not taken appropriate precautions.

Howard Levitt: Yes, you can sue someone for negligence if they pass COVID on to you

You will need to prove they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness

financialpost.com

 

[Fishbone Jones]

You can sue his ass if you pop up COVID positive:

Howard Levitt: Yes, you can sue someone for negligence if they pass COVID on to you​

You will need to prove they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness

I am receiving many client enquiries concerning the right to sue bosses, fellow workers and even health-care workers, if they contract COVID as a result of a person being unvaccinated.

The answer is that you can sue anyone for negligence who passes COVID on to you — if they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness and either knew or should have known they had or might have had the illness and had not taken appropriate precautions.

Howard Levitt: Yes, you can sue someone for negligence if they pass COVID on to you

You will need to prove they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness

financialpost.com

One would think a person would have to prove the infection was a result of that contact and not from the gazillion of covid molecules floating around in the air? All the preventatives, so far, appear to have proven pretty useless.

 

[winds_13]

You can sue his ass if you pop up COVID positive:

Howard Levitt: Yes, you can sue someone for negligence if they pass COVID on to you​

You will need to prove they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness

I am receiving many client enquiries concerning the right to sue bosses, fellow workers and even health-care workers, if they contract COVID as a result of a person being unvaccinated.

The answer is that you can sue anyone for negligence who passes COVID on to you — if they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness and either knew or should have known they had or might have had the illness and had not taken appropriate precautions.

Howard Levitt: Yes, you can sue someone for negligence if they pass COVID on to you

You will need to prove they were reckless in not properly protecting others from the illness

financialpost.com

Can you provide any examples where a judge found someone to have been acting wreckless on the grounds that they were not vaccinated and someone near them caught COVID?

How would simply being unvaccinated be considered recklessly endangering others if it does not represent any meaningful difference to the rate of virus transmission?

In the scenario at question, the barber took appropriate precautions (stayed home from work) once they suspected that they may be infected. They also had restricted their business to appointmnets only, reducing the amount of persons in the eatablishment at a time, and assumedly wore a mask and dissenfexted surfaces.

I could argue that those who attended large holiday gatherings, after knowledge of the wildly out of control Omicron wave, were acting wrecklessly. The premier of Quebec said that it was okay for vaccinated persons to gather in groups of up to 20... now they are experiencing severe disruptions to their healthcare system.

 

[Altair]

More cancelled surgeries, on top of everything else, because unvaccinated pensioners who can't breath take priority.....

Omicron is filling up Canada’s hospitals. Your health issue might not qualify, doctors say - National | Globalnews.ca

There's a risk that if Omicron COVID-19 cases keep trending upwards, emergency care — everything from a sprained wrist to a heart attack — could be impacted, doctors warn.

globalnews.ca

The cure is worse than the disease. Good luck with any sort of cancer treatment in our free utopian system, unvaccinated old folk need help first.

Oh, its been made very clear that people care about those who cannot get their treatments done because the unvaccinated are clogging up the hospitals, but its also clear that they don't care enough to actually do anything about it.

Like when you see those people walking over someone in need of assistance while saying that's horrible, I wish there was something I could do about it.