Concerned Citizen
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Concerned Citizen
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Question 1: What are your feelings about wearing masks? Do you feel that masks should be mandated by government officials? Why or why not? Are these measures effective against the spread of COVID-19?
Blanket mandates ignore people's individual health needs and impacts hundreds of thousands of lives. They encourage distrust and suspicion between once friendly neighbours, and they invoke division between people. The government has absolutely no business mandating anyone to do anything besides make their own choices for their own health. Why the hell haven't we mandated masks in every other flu season if they're so fantastic for everyone? Why are they our only saving grace now? It does not make sense to me, or many, many others.
Blanket mandates ignore people's individual health needs and impacts hundreds of thousands of lives. They encourage distrust and suspicion between once friendly neighbours, and they invoke division between people. The government has absolutely no business mandating anyone to do anything besides make their own choices for their own health. Why the hell haven't we mandated masks in every other flu season if they're so fantastic for everyone? Why are they our only saving grace now? It does not make sense to me, or many, many others.
Question 2: The Canadian - U.S. border continues to be closed to non-essential travel. Is this a good or bad decision for Canada? When should the border be reopened fully?
This, I don't mind. It will give Canadians a chance to explore their own country, and keep their tourism dollars within Canada to support Canadian businesses and destinations.
This, I don't mind. It will give Canadians a chance to explore their own country, and keep their tourism dollars within Canada to support Canadian businesses and destinations.
Question 3: Niagara has seen a large number of visitors from other regions of Ontario on weekends and holidays. This has helped businesses and tourism. But it has also led to crowded venues and the potential spread of COVID-19. What can be done to balance safety and economics?
Let them visit. People must be responsibile for their OWN health; it is unfair to place that burden on everyone else! If you are sick, stay home and limit contact. Healthy people should not be barred from visiting places or interacting with other healthy people.
Let them visit. People must be responsibile for their OWN health; it is unfair to place that burden on everyone else! If you are sick, stay home and limit contact. Healthy people should not be barred from visiting places or interacting with other healthy people.
Question 4: Schools from kindergarten through university/college have reopened. How has the Ontario government handled the return to school? Are schools safe for students, teachers and staff? Is online learning a good alternative?
The data has shown time and time again that children are not the vectors of disease that we think they are in regards to COVID-19. Leave them be to play, explore, and develop their immune systems. The restrictions do much more psychological harm than we can imagine. Allow parents to make their own choices when it comes to their children; they know them better than a faceless School Board ever will.
The data has shown time and time again that children are not the vectors of disease that we think they are in regards to COVID-19. Leave them be to play, explore, and develop their immune systems. The restrictions do much more psychological harm than we can imagine. Allow parents to make their own choices when it comes to their children; they know them better than a faceless School Board ever will.
Question 5: Do you think that there will be a significant second wave in Canada? Why?
No, I don't. Why? Because our deaths and hospitalizations have completely tapered off since May. We have already seen cases of countries reaching herd immunity at a much lower rate than previously though, about 10-20% (such as the case in Sweden.) By this point many of us already have the dead or inactive virus in our bodies, and what the tests are picking up cannot be relied upon to base life-changing restrictions on.
No, I don't. Why? Because our deaths and hospitalizations have completely tapered off since May. We have already seen cases of countries reaching herd immunity at a much lower rate than previously though, about 10-20% (such as the case in Sweden.) By this point many of us already have the dead or inactive virus in our bodies, and what the tests are picking up cannot be relied upon to base life-changing restrictions on.
Question 6: Most people had to cancel plans for a special event, vacation, or activity due to the COVID-19 pandemic. What did you miss out on? Would you be comfortable returning to these within the next year?
I'm already comfortable returning to them.
I'm already comfortable returning to them.
Question 7: Where do you get your news and information about the pandemic? What sources do you find trustworthy?
Most of the news I get, I get from walking around my neighborhood and talking with my community. We don't see people getting sick, we don't see our hospitals overflowing, we don't see people falling over dead like we did in Wuhan in March, but we do see closed shops and businesses, an increase in mental health issues and unemployment -- the list goes on. THAT is my news, and I believe what's going on in my community a lot more than the crap they call Canadian broadcasting these days. If a news station accepts cash from a political party or organization, they are no longer an uninterested third party -- they're lobbyists. I'll think for myself instead.
Most of the news I get, I get from walking around my neighborhood and talking with my community. We don't see people getting sick, we don't see our hospitals overflowing, we don't see people falling over dead like we did in Wuhan in March, but we do see closed shops and businesses, an increase in mental health issues and unemployment -- the list goes on. THAT is my news, and I believe what's going on in my community a lot more than the crap they call Canadian broadcasting these days. If a news station accepts cash from a political party or organization, they are no longer an uninterested third party -- they're lobbyists. I'll think for myself instead.
Question 8: When do you think the pandemic will subside and we can return to some kind of normal life?
It has already subsided if you look at a simple graph showing new "cases" vs. new deaths and ICU hospitalizations. I've already returned to normal life, because I have every right and every power to reclaim that title. Have you done the same?
It has already subsided if you look at a simple graph showing new "cases" vs. new deaths and ICU hospitalizations. I've already returned to normal life, because I have every right and every power to reclaim that title. Have you done the same?
Spatial Coverage
St. Catharines
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This item was submitted on September 28, 2020 by [anonymous user] using the form “Questions and Answers 3” on the site “Documenting COVID-19 in Niagara”: https://exhibits.library.brocku.ca/s/COVID-Niagara
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