UPDATE: There’s growing push-back against message that public should not wear masks

OsoyoosPersists.ca Editor Richard McGuire ties a bandana over his nose and mouth when it’s necessary to enter a store. This provides limited protection to himself and others and should only be done in conjunction with physical distancing and hand washing. Perhaps more effective, it warns people not to enter his personal space. (© Richard McGuire Photo)

There’s a growing international movement advocating the use of homemade face masks in the fight against the spread of Covid-19.

As pointed out in a story last week about masks on OsoyoosPersists.ca, the official line from such respected organizations as the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) is that the general public should not wear masks unless they are infected or are caring for someone with the virus.

But a report yesterday (March 31) in the Washington Post suggests the CDC may be reconsidering this advice. Other countries, such as the Czech Republic, have rapidly switched from almost no public wearing of masks to generalized public use. Continue reading “UPDATE: There’s growing push-back against message that public should not wear masks”

Teachers back, but classrooms going virtual

The message on the notice board in this 2016 file photo of Osoyoos Secondary School could apply today. (Photo: Richard McGuire for the Osoyoos Times)

Teachers in B.C. are returning to work after spring break, but it won’t be business as usual at schools in Osoyoos and across the province.

The provincial government announced some new measures on Friday, March 27 and further announcements are expected this week. Continue reading “Teachers back, but classrooms going virtual”

Life Goes On: Osoyoos Photography Club exhibition Focus 2020 is first show for Virtual Gallery

This photograph by local photographer Lori Jantz, titled “Grizz” is one in a mini exhibition in the lead up to a Virtual Gallery showing of the Osoyoos Photography Club’s exhibition Focus 2020. That show was originally to run in April at The Art Gallery Osoyoos. (Lori Jantz Photo)

The Osoyoos Photography Club (OPC) had been planning an exhibition, Focus 2020, to be held at The Art Gallery Osoyoos in April.

With the gallery closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the club is going ahead with a “virtual” exhibition in the Virtual Gallery on OsoyoosPersists.ca.

From now and through April, we’ll be featuring the work of OPC members. We plan to open the Virtual Gallery to other Osoyoos and area artists in the near future. Continue reading “Life Goes On: Osoyoos Photography Club exhibition Focus 2020 is first show for Virtual Gallery”

Social distancing is helping, but we need to continue

Health Minister Adrian Dix and Chief Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry provide an update on COVID-19 on March 27, 2020 (Photo: Government of British Columbia)

There’s evidence that efforts by British Columbians to social distance are helping to slow the rate of growth of the coronavirus, but new cases are still growing and efforts need to continue.

That’s the message in a joint statement issued Friday, March 27 by Adrian Dix, Minister of Health, and Dr. Bonnie Henry, B.C.’s provincial health officer. Continue reading “Social distancing is helping, but we need to continue”

How are you managing with social distancing? Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert makes a difference

For introverts, who know the pleasure of reading, isolation isn’t so bad. For extroverts, it’s a struggle. (Photo: ESB Professional licensed from Shutterstock)

Most of us are worried about ourselves or a loved one getting sick with Covid-19. But are you paying as much attention to your mental health?

We worry about illness, losing wage income, and for some people, losing small businesses they’ve spent years building.

But for some people isolation can be the biggest cause of stress. We’re used to being around people and some of us don’t know how to deal with being alone.

It can make a big difference if you are an extrovert or introvert. Extroverts are energized being around other people. Introverts often enjoy people, especially one-to-one, but they need time alone, especially to recover from intense social situations. Continue reading “How are you managing with social distancing? Whether you’re an extrovert or an introvert makes a difference”

Spread by people without symptoms is much worse than first thought

This scanning electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2 (orange)—also known as 2019-nCoV, the virus that causes COVID-19—isolated from a patient in the U.S., emerging from the surface of cells (green) cultured in the lab. Credit: NIAID-RML

When the history of this coronavirus pandemic is written, the initial failure by health authorities to understand the danger of transmission by people not showing symptoms will be seen as a major factor in its spread.

The information about “asymptomatic” carriers — those spreading the virus without showing symptoms — remains a work in progress and estimates of numbers are all over the map.

Enough is now known to underscore the message that strict social distancing is still very necessary, even when people aren’t showing symptoms.

China has been warning about asymptomatic transmission since January, but there was initial resistance to this idea by Western health authorities. Continue reading “Spread by people without symptoms is much worse than first thought”

Province using extraordinary emergency powers to tackle crisis

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, and Premier John Horgan announce extraordinary powers under a state of provincial emergency to keep British Columbians safe, maintain essential goods and services, and support the Province’s ongoing response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). (Province of British Columbia)

The following is a Government of B.C. news release (March 26, 2020):

Mike Farnworth, Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General, is using extraordinary powers under a state of provincial emergency to keep British Columbians safe, maintain essential goods and services, and support the Province’s ongoing response to novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Continue reading “Province using extraordinary emergency powers to tackle crisis”

Federal parties come together to pass emergency response bill

Canada’s federal political parties came together this week to pass emergency legislation to help Canadians cope with the Covid-19 pandemic. (File photo: © Richard McGuire Photo)

Federal parliamentarians of all parties came together yesterday (March 25) to pass a wide-ranging Emergency Response Act to assist Canadians who need financial help during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Bill C-13 passed through the House of Commons and Senate and received Royal Assent all on Tuesday and Wednesday March 24 and 25 — just two days — a process that normally takes months. By agreement, only a few dozen parliamentarians were in Ottawa to pass the bill.

The bill provides economic assistance in a number of areas including temporarily boosting Canada Child Benefit payments and providing a taxable Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) of $2,000 a month for up to four months to support workers who lose their income as of result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Continue reading “Federal parties come together to pass emergency response bill”

Brock Jackson interviews Frances Sologuk of Osoyoos Home Hardware

Osoyoos radio personality Brock Jackson (EZ Rock) interviewed Frances Sologuk, owner of Osoyoos Home Hardware, this morning about how she and her staff are dealing with the crisis and how it’s affecting the community.

She’s suggested a great big street dance when this is all over.

Check out the audio link to Brock’s interview below and follow his broadcasts.

 

Feds invoking Quarantine Act for those entering Canada

Snowbirds and others returning to Canada were requested to self-isolate for 14 days. With many failing to comply, the federal government is now invoking the Quaranine Act, giving it more enforcement powers. (Richard McGuire Photo)

We’ve all heard anecdotal stories about snowbirds returning to Osoyoos from wintering in the U.S. and refusing to self-isolate for the requested 14 days.

Sometimes they’re seen stopping off at local grocery stores to shop after crossing the border and before going home. We hear stories of some of them socializing with friends and laughing about self-isolation.

Today (March 25) the federal government announced it is invoking the Quarantine Act to legally require people entering the country to self-isolate for 14 days.

“Earlier this month, we asked all travellers to self-isolate when they returned to Canada,” said Federal Health Minister Patty Hajdu in a tweet this morning. “Today, we are making this isolation mandatory under the Quarantine Act to better protect our most vulnerable.” Continue reading “Feds invoking Quarantine Act for those entering Canada”