So after the quarantine….will the producers of My 600 Pound Life just find me or do I find them?

Classified ad; single man with toilet paper seeks woman with hand sanitizer for good clean fun. So far this blog has not mentioned enough about the benefits of physical exercise during this time.Obviously the burning of calories can help to prevent the 600 pound problem.But recent studies have also shown that physical exercise can stall or even halt the deterioration of immunity as one ages.People with compromised immune systems are more likely to catch the virus and less likely to survive its ravages.So, continue to do your yoga, aerobic exercises, walking, cycling and even jogging – all at a safe distance from others, of course.The new normal -phase oneThe initial opening from quarantine and isolation should not resemble a herd of horses being let out of their barn in the spring. More likely it will resemble the first skate on a newly frozen pond or lake.Society will have to proceed cautiously from the edge. Probably it will be an extension of measures now in place for essential industries such as food outlets,drug stores and the LCBO. Such locations as gyms,public parks, outdoor recreation areas, shopping areas and construction sites, will probably be opened where proper physical distancing can be maintained. Also, re

staurants and places of worship will each present unique challenges as they open in this first phase. In order to avoid nonessential travel, telework will be encouraged. Meanwhile, schools and youth activities will remain closed. All vulnerable individuals should shelter in place and special precautions will still be needed for those in long term care facilities.For the foreseeable future,the elephants in the room will remain widespread testing and suitable masks to enable workers and customers to operate in a safe environment. This week, two planes, sent to China to pick up loads of masks, returned to Canada empty and one million masks sent from China were found to be defective.best wishes to all,Joe

Constitutionally, the provinces and federal government share health powers. Accordingly, the results of the outbreak have been uneven across the country. Kudos go to Alberta as the only jurisdiction which was proactive in identifying and preparing for the outbreak.

When they heard of the new strain of “pneumonia” in China, they sent a team of health experts to check it. When they returned to Alberta with information of the virus, the government immediately began purchasing large amount of protective medical equipment. At that time, an N95 mask could be purchased on the open market for approximately fifty cents each. Today, that same mask, if you can get it, will cost about ten dollars. Last week, the Alberta government made a donation of excess protective equipment to other provinces.

B.C. deserves great credit for their reaction to initial outbreaks in nursing homes. Strict guidelines have greatly curtailed the overall spread of the virus. Dr. Bonnie Henry, the health minister, has been so influencial that a clothing design company in Vancouver has named a new line of apparel after her

Quebec was besieged by a large number of people returning from winter break and also long turn vacationers from Florida. Recent events have illustrated a lack of proper oversight of nursing homes. Medical supplies have been very short.

It’s hard to imagine that just prior to the March break, Premier Doug Ford, in Ontario, was expressing best wishes as families departed on their various trips. In the next week or ten days, the reality of an imminent threat became more obvious. In first gatherings with media, the health minister assured Ontarians that everything was under control. The minister in charge of long term care, was rather vague as to how many nursing and retirement homes had already been touched by Covid-19. However in the next media scrum, the premier sombrely relayed that the situation was serious and from then on, the answers from his government would be clear and transparent. He admitted a serious shortage of all protective, medical equipment. He called on donations from many sources and encouraged domestic production of such items as shields respirators, medical gowns and masks. After much fanfare about these domestic creations, there have been few updates.

In Ottawa, health officials were quick to urge people to distance from each other, to self- quarantine, and to wash hands frequently with soap and water. Trudeau quickly opened up funds to lesson the financial pain in the nation. But the issue of the benefits of wearing a mask has a sorry legacy. Dr. Tam originally dismissed the general usage of the mask in public as a kind of placebo. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Trudeau suggested it might possibly be of some usage. The merits of the N95 mask were discussed in an earlier blog.

Much news has broken recently. On Wednesday, dozens of frontline TTC employees refused to go out on shift after seventeen of their members had test positive for the virus. The TTC management had initially recommended that their drivers not wear masks. This job action was primarily about allowing drivers to wear masks on the job.

In Ontario, the lack of supply of N95 masks has been devastating. Almost inevitably, where firestorms have broken out, workers have complained that they did not have appropriate masks. Even essential workers, such as TTC employees, taxi drivers, truck drivers, and grocery workers, should be properly equipped. As of Monday, TTC management was sitting on a stock pile of three hundred and forty three thousand surgical masks and thirty one thousand N95 masks. After checking with hospitals about their supply, management relented and distributed masks to their employees.

As of last night, Transport Canada has mandated that all flights originating in Canada will require passengers to wear masks

In a major story in the Toronto Star today, it is reported that the Ontario Nurses’s Association, has asked a superior court judge to order certain nursing homes to stop breaching safety directives from Ontario’s chief medical officer. The ONA sites a number of shocking instances of negligence and misdirection. At Hawthorne Pl., in North York, it is alleged that nurses and other staff were initially directed by a manager not to wear even a surgical mask as it would scare the residents. N95 masks were kept under lock and key and staff working late shifts could not access even basic masks, the ONA alleges.

Keep well and wear your mask,

Joe

Question: Do you know if crevices, regardless of the material, prolong the virus’s viability (i.e. rough vs smooth metal)?

You have asked a simple but profound question. The answer seems to be “no”. But sometimes the rough and cracked, infected surface will need more disinfecting. A further implication of the crevice aspect regards fingernails, as you try to keep your hands as clean as possible. It helps to cut your fingernails quite short during this time.

I have a few random thoughts on our times, today. A feral cat living in New York City these times would enjoy unique opportunities. This would include plenty of food, distancing from humans and little threat from vehicular traffic. However, cats can catch the virus and therefore, domestic cats should be kept indoors. Dogs are not nearly as likely to be infected but do not pat someone else’s dog as there is a slight chance of their carrying the virus in their fur. Interestingly, the animal most susceptible to this virus is the ferret which belongs to the weasel family

During the the great pandemic of 1918, it was the 20 – 40 years age group which was most severely affected. Tragically, it was not uncommon during that period, to approach a remote village and find all the adults dead. There were also many children famished from hunger, but still healthy otherwise.

The present situation threatens seniors more than any other age group. Unfortunately, nursing and retirement homes have proven to be deadly for too many, It has been estimated recently that the cohort of seniors in these locations has 10 to 20 times more likelihood of becoming ill with this virus than those living elsewhere. A highly contagious disease has too many advantages in a situation where personal health is compromised to begin with. Cramped quarters, social gatherings, shortage of protective equipment, and itinerant workers are just a few of the accelerants which have fuelled the firestorm.

Keep well everyone and thanks for reading this. The next blog will concentrate on trying to see the future.

“What is like a shepherd’s pie, wrapped in fat with protein in the middle?”

The new Coronavirus virus typically spreads via droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes. The droplets carry viral particles and can land on someone else’s nose, eyes, or mouth or get inhaled. But a person could potentially get the Coronavirus if they touch a surface or object that has viral particles on it, and then touch their mouth, nose, or eyes,. The lifespan of the virus on a given surface depends on many factors including the surrounding temperature, humidity, and type of surface.

A study published April 2 in the journal “The Lancet Microbe” revealed how long the Covid-19 virus lasts on various common surfaces. The authors found that the virus lasted longest -seven days- on the outer layer of surgical masks. A finding that reinforces the protocol that if you are wearing a N95 mask in public, it should be disinfected after each usage. Directions were given in the second blog

The researchers behind this new study tested the virus’s lifespan in a 71 degree F room at 65% relative humidity. After 3 hours, the virus had disappeared from printing and tissue paper. It took 2 days for it to leave wood and cloth fabric. After 4 days, it was longer detectable on glass or paper money. It lasted the longest, seven days, on stainless steel and plastic. Striking, the authors wrote, the Coronavirus was still present on the outward side of a surgical mask on day 7 of the investigation. That is the longest duration of all the materials they tested.

Many implications to this study are highly significant. For instance, one aspect is the need to keep counter tops and sinks as sanitized as possible. Implications about bringing groceries into your home can be a real concern. Consider leaving items that won’t deteriorate in the trunk of your vehicle for a suitable length of time. Packaged perishables can be lightly washed with soap and water , disinfecting wipes. Leafy vegetables should be washed thoroughly and consider cooking them.

The answer to the shepherd’s pie question is at the top of the page.

Stay safe, Joe

Have you been keeping a safe distance from your refrigerator?

The main questions from yesterday’s blog seem to revolve around disinfecting the masks. For the health care communities of Ontario and Quebec, their governments, anxious over supply, have inquired of cleaning companies who would use either hydrogen peroxide or UV technology. If you have a cotton or similar mask, it could be washed with soap and water as this virus is easily destroyed by soap. For your own N95 mask, pat it with a single Lysol disinfecting wipe after each usage.

To walk outside or not, that is the question?

No doubt you have less chance of contracting or spreading the virus if you stay sheltered. Researchers in China found that approximately 80% of their cases were spread by people who displayed no symptoms.

But for many of us who have no symptoms, the benefits of a socially distanced walk are considerable. Spiritually and as a relief from stress, the opportunity to listen to robins, cardinals, redwing black birds and to see the early flowers of spring, reassure us that the world of nature is just as enchanting as ever. And the physical exercise reaps added value in helping to keep heart disease and diabetes in check. However, there are many unknowns outside. The virus is heavier than air and will sink but nobody yet knows, exactly how it reacts to a gust of wind or whether it will dissipate in the air. Wear a mask so you don’ inadvertently affect someone else. As earlier stated, an N95 mask works in both ways.

Finally, when you arrive home, place your boots or shoes outside and disinfect them, especially the soles. Upon entering your house or apartment, place your pants and socks in the washing machine. There is good reason why videos from infected cities such as Venice, Tokyo, and Paris, show authorities spraying the roads and sidewalks with disinfectant.

If you want the answer to the question about your refrigerator, take off your pyjamas and try putting on your jeans.

It’s said that you only get one opportunity to make a first impression and this is, unfortunately, often true of the corona virus. Much better to avoid it if you can. Many times in our building, I have seen newspapers sitting outside apartment doors as tenants wait until they feel comfortable to read them. The most recent study seems to indicate that the virus can last three to four hours on paper or cardboard but other studies seem to indicate a longer time frame is possible. Searching for a solution to shorten the safe time before reading the paper, the solution seems to be to microwave the newspaper for 25 to 30 seconds. The same can be done for mail in order to disinfect it.

Recent official comments about masks have left significant gaps in communication, especially concerning the N 95 mask. Until this crisis emerged, these masks were not only used in the health care industry, but were widely available and used in construction for the reason that they are structurally strong and the filter holes in the fabric are especially small. This is essential because the covid virus is so tiny that it reguires a high-powered microscope on order to be visible. This explains why health-care workers are so anxious to be able to use these masks. For them, it offers a level of protection to them as well as their patients. Proceeding further on this topic, there must be hundreds if no thousands of trades people in Ontario who have these masks in their basements or tool boxes. Wherever fine dust was created, for instance, by painters, concrete workers, or drywallers, these masks were important. Packaged new ones should be donated to the heroic health care workers, but I am sure that many handy people used one or two, then kept them for future usage. I can’t stress too much that these masks offer a level of two-way protection, far beyond a rudimentary cotton mask. It is my fervent hope that when all the frontline health workers and emergency workers have supplied with N 95 masks, they will be available to the general population so that TTC riders, grocery cashiers, and many others can be safer.

More advice and comments will follow tomorrow. And don’ forget that “it is much better to six feet apart than six feet under”. Joe

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton