Discussions

I go once every 8-10 days, during the week and about mid afternoon. I use the Co-op and have to say I am very impressed with both the customers and the staff. Limited people allowed in and approx. 9/10 people know how to use the arrows. Since I have had those experiences, I won't even think of going anywhere else unless something changes considerably.

I to, use the Co-op since it is the only store in this region, other then your small C-store attached to a Gas Station. I was there shopping on Friday, and everyone was following the rules. One thing I did notice is that there was lots of Paper Towels and Toilet Paper on the Shelves - however - the meat counter was very bear - only 3 packs of hamburger, 1 pork roast and a pack chicken legs. I hope this is not an indication of things to come. The entire store was cleaned out of Rice - a 15 foot section where the various types of rice use to be - completely empty - and the store had no idea when they would be re-stocked. I also want to make a special mention and thankyou to the Chicken Marketing Board who donated 3000 frozen chickens to various Food Banks and Soup Kitchens in the Province, and have committed to a further 1000 chickens a week till the end of summer. Dairy Producers Co-op will also donate excess milk. There is 10's of tons of potatoes in storage because their major purchaser is businesses that sell French fries that are now closed. The Potato marketing Board wants the Federal Government to purchase same so the spuds can be donated to Food Banks, Soup kitchens etc. If no purchase is made these potatoes will find there way to the land fill - my question - Is the Marketing Board so desperate for money that they can't make a donation to organizations that are in desperate need of help at this time.

Said it best . It’s pretty simple . Stay home now and have a better chance at recovering or open up to early and have to shut down again. They are also predicting a second wave in the fall/winter . If we can’t get this under control now then Canada will in fact be very close to a depression. This is really not something to play around with . We are very lucky to have low numbers here and that’s because everyone is doing their part now . As soon as they lax the restrictions I can see the numbers climbing again . But that my opinion. Stay healthy and safe everyone .

Yep I agree with you, it’s a tragic situation. People think we are going back to the ‘normal’ ways we lived pre covid 19 are wrong, it’s too dangerous. It will be a slow transition into the ‘new normal’ post covid 19 under Canada health guidelines.

I agree too. I would think there’d need to be a proven vaccine before we are anywhere close to a pre-COVID 19 normal.

It would be nice if the metric of confirmed cases of Covid could become considered irrelevant. Because it’s useless.  
 
That number means nothing. It’s merely a functon of how many positive tests there are within a particular sample. The stat is a function of how many tests are done, of who is being tested, of the robustness of the test, and of the talent of the testers. Mostly on how many tests and who is selected to be tested.  
 
The ultimate stat, to be seen, will be the number of deaths directly attributal to Covid. I hope that when that number is eventually determined, that it will be compared to the number extra deaths resulting from denial of medical services to such as cancer patients (no biopsis), heart patients ( no imaging) and so on and so forth and myriad other considerations – and I hope that that our leaders in the civil service (because that’s who really leads us) can hold their heads high and tell us that they did the right thing..  
 
The number of positive Covid tests means nothing until its done on a (very large) random sampling basis. It’s an old red herring  
 
Meanwhile, talking of numbers, there are seven covid patients now hospitalised in Manitoba, two are in ICU. There are apparently a lot of empty beds, a lot, and so a lot of idle medical staff - all getting well paid waiting for that flood of pandemic patients. It yet might come, and if it does they will certainly earn and deserve their reward and praise.  
 
In the meantime I have one a loved one that’s told he/she needs heart surgery at St. B.: sooner rather than later ( told this at the end of February) and another loved one that needs diagnostics to see juat howserius his/her serious is. Doc has more or less told loved one one that the only way to get in right now is through emergency. We’ve had experience in emergency and it wasn’t good.  
 
And some of you complain about too many non-essential workers shopping on Saturday ?  
 
I hope I don’t sound bitter. Actually I hope I do. Because I am.  
 
Edited by plane watcher, 2020-04-26 18:34:14

Diagnostics that are considered urgent ARE being done.  
I am a primary care provider, and have been doing biopsies, ordering blood work, ultrasounds, CTs, MRIs - and if they are urgent or emergent, they are being done. Sometimes it takes an extra phone call to the booking clerk or the radiologist, but if it is needed it can be done. If a particular primary care provider is saying these things can not be done, it is a problem with the provider not the system.  
Non-urgent surgeries are being postponed. It only makes sense. If all hospital beds are full and there is an outbreak within a facility, it won't be a good outcome.

I call BS.  
 
Are you suggesting that a qualified G.P. is jerking us around. Doesn't have a clue? Is misguided ? Doing it on purpose?  
 
Do you suggest that you are in a better position to evaluate the merits of my loved one's medical needs than is her doctor?

I can vouch that urgent imaging and procedures are being done because I've had imagining done at the beginning of April, and was supposed to have a procedure but I chose to defer.  
 
I don't think curlysister is suggesting that she's in a position to evaluate the merits of your loved one's medical needs, but pointing out that urgent stuff is being done. If your loved one is in fact urgent but isn't getting what they need, perhaps the doctor needs to be challenged or needs to advocate on the patient's behalf.

I had a doctors appointment last week, and by thursday was in for diagnostic imaging. So yes things that are classified as an emergency are still being done.  
 
Planewatcher never once said they were more qualified. They were simply stating facts and you’ve over reacted to their response.

When is MB releasing their plan to reopen? I thought it was today, but maybe it was later this week.

Its supposed to be announced early this week. I was hoping for today because we have to find new childcare and that's hard to do without a date, but I'm guessing tomorrow or Wednesday.

I think a few folks need to cut businesses some slack in some of these isolated cases. Staff in huge huge (huge) majority are doing their best in unusual times, adapting to new policies and procedures that are regularly changing. One person in one case shouldn’t turn into an assumption that something is commonplace. Thank you to those on the frontlines that are working to provide folks with necessities during such an unusual time.

Premier Brian Pallister to discuss COVID-19 (Coronavirus) measures today at 11:15am.

For sure, big time, many need to cut slack, even on them selves.  
We are doing the best we can with our know how, just as are parents did for us growing up, and just as we do raising our children, doing the best we can, As all businesses and all workers thro tuff times.  
And yes, so is J. Trudeau doing the best he can big time with his know how. Time to cut some slack.  
Take care  
Stay safe

At this morning's announce of the expansion of testing criteria to any Manitoba with symptoms Premier Pallister is saying that Manitoba's plan will be presented tomorrow as far as reducing restrictions and balancing with safety:  
https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/manitoba-reopening-plan-coming-wednesday-premier-1.4915394

Will be interesting to see the Province’s plan for rebooting the economy. Here is my plan. If you subscribe to the belief that our “economy” is essentially money exchanging hands then it will at least get us started. Mostly, my plan starts with us recently retired baby boomers. In general, we likely have more money stashed away than any other generation in history. Investments, RRSPs, etc., mostly stagnant money under many different names...for what? I know your investments may help pay somebody’s way through life...somewhere..but it’s needed here and now. And I’m not suggesting risking your own future, but I don’t think hoarding it or even leaving it to your children or grandchildren - or the courts, for that matter, is the best we can do with it. Maybe we should spend it now while we are still able to enjoy what we spend it on. And our children and grandchildren may well be better off to learn to work for themselves...like we did...perhaps at some point in the future being employed by the businesses we now support...and have healthy businesses to offer them employment and opportunities...than to inherit large amounts of money and think that life should be handed them on a silver platter...possibly by a bankrupt government. This may not be a perfect or complete plan but I’m pretty sure our economy is going to be reeling for some time, and it will not likely be the small businesses and those that are supporting families and those that have lost their jobs through this that will instill consumer confidence back into our economy. It will probably need to get started by those of us that already have some money.

Was there today. Self checkout is back open (YAY!!) . Was quiet close to 8pm.

You make an interesting point. There are many seniors that have money (and lots of it in many cases) invested in RRSP's, GIC's, PRIF's etc.- all of which are invested in the Stock market - which has taken a nose dive. Most seniors won't do much spending until the stock market gets back to normal, and monies lost have been regained. Your going to have to do a lot of convincing in order to get the seniors of today to loosen their purse strings. You have to remember we are from the generation that believed in saving, saving and saving - not buying anything unless we really needed it and were in a position to pay cash for same. The difference between today and yesterdays is that we seniors in our younger years did not live on credit - we did not have 5 and 6 credit cards, nor a TV in every room, and most of us still don't own a cell phone.

And right there you have identified a problem. In recent decades we have built the economy on people spending money that they don’t have on things that they don’t need that are largely disposable goods, which is now proving to be unsustainable. In the past a family could live well on a meagre income if they were careful. As we return the ‘new normal’ it would be prudent to encourage everyone to try and save a little and rely less on credit spending only in cash when we have a little put aside especially for larger or luxury items. This is not always an easy way to live but is more fulfilling and more sustainable.

Anyone know what precautions Maple Leaf is taking. There are some pretty big outbreaks in meat processing plants elsewhere.

I have one suggestion to solve the problem once the country returns to normal. Instead of individuals trying to juggle with making payments on several Credit Cards which are all close to being maxed out they should declare Bankruptcy and restart their life. If a large portion of the population declared Bankruptcy and got rid of their unsecured Debt - It would teach the Major Banks (who own the Credit Card Companies) a major lesson in regards to responsible lending, thereby not encouraging people to live beyond their means. There is no need for a family to own several T.V.'s, 2or 3 vehicles, holiday trailer, and all the other toys such as ATV's, Boats etc. all bought on Credit. I'm sorry to say, but when the dust finally settles, there could be many businesses which will not open, and many individuals who will be permanently out of a job. This will make us one step closer to being a welfare state, hopefully this pandemic will encourage people to put a little money aside each month so their family could survive for a least 6 months without assistance should a similar situation present itself. People need to learn not to live beyond their means.

Manitoba has announced its plans to start reopening places  
 
https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/?archive=&item=47664  
 
I wonder what this means for people on CERB? Or for people who are just going to be applying for CERB? I have a few friends who all used their sick/vacation time up, and then their employer let them go late last week. I wonder if they can still apply for CERB or not as things are opening up?

While I agree that the major banks could learn a lesson or two, this will not happen as they will get bailed out under the premise they are too big to fail. They will be fine and their executives will continue to get outrageous bonuses.  
 
I am concerned about the mindset that having massive bankruptcies is a good way to teach a lesson to the lender anyway. At what point do the irresponsible borrowers get taught a lesson. That is the lesson I would dearly love to see many learn.

Phase 1 starting May 4 … SOME (not all) businesses will open again but social distance is still required. Travel restrictions still in place. Restaurants are patio/take-out and hair salons will be open. No tattoos, nails, etc. Phase 2 … will start June 1 for more businesses to open and restaurants are dine-in. We don't have a phase 3 or 4

If they're offered their job back, they cant get cerb. If they don't have a job to go back to/ no daycare or childcare then they'll still be off work due to covid and eligible.

I was talking to my cousin in the UK today . She told me about a pair of local twins in their early 30’s in otherwise good health that both recently died of covid 19.  
I know that case numbers are relatively low here and I know that people and businesses are hurting badly but I believe that current plans to reopen parts of the economy are premature and dangerous. I think that we are risking lives and risking overloading healthcare and further putting the economy at risk of future shutdowns. We should wait at least until we understand the impact of a second wave of infection if it occurs.

With the annoucement of those businesses opening up starting Monday. I seriuosly hope business owners follows the rules and not break them.  
 
If they are caught breaking or bending the rules there should be a no warning, hefty fine!

what amount of time do you think is reasonable to keep everything shut down? My feeling is that our country is going to be dealing with covid for a long time and we just have to take precautions with every day life. I won't be going for medical procedures unless absolutely necessary, like dental and eye exams and hope other people do the same.