Canadian COVID-19 News

[CruisingCouple]

Originally Posted by NaClyDog

Exactly, so why do you keep posting things of that nature here?

Because it likely affects the testing on your side of the border as well. All indications are, it is not accurate without the DNA sequencing. Which requires 10 hours of instrument time in the lab for each test.

It just so happens that the US has by far the largest database on it.

It would appear the nucleic acid technology tests used in Canada are:
Healgen Scientific Limited Liability Company (United States)
Nanjing Vazyme Medical Technology Co. Ltd (China)
Seegene Inc. (South Korea)
Hologic Inc.(United States)
Hyris Ltd. (United Kingdom)
Esenso Biotech Inc. (Canada - Under Review)
Guangzhou Deaou Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China)
RTA Laboratories (Turkey)
General Biologicals Corporation (Taiwan)
Applied Biological Materials Inc. (Canada)
Ionebio Co., Ltd. (South Korea)
M Monitor Inc. (South Korea)
Shanghai ZJ Bio-Tech Co., Ltd (China)
Intron Biotechnology (South Korea)
Co-Diagnostics Inc. (United States)
Genematrix Inc. (South Korea)
Sansure Biotech Inc. (China)
Shanghai Fosun Long March Medical Science Co., Ltd (China)
Ahram Biosystems Inc. (South Korea)
Paxgenbio Co., Ltd (South Korea)
R-Biopharm AG (Germany)
Ningbo Health Gene Technologies Co., Ltd (China)
Inbios International Inc. (United States)
Precision Biomonitoring Inc. (Canada)
Seasun Biomaterials Inc. (South Korea)

So pretty much the same portfolio as what the US has been using.

However, there was a new one released a couple weeks ago from the US called SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Assay which is supposed to improve the accuracy and also test for A and B strains of influenza viruses simultaneously. Canada doesn't have that one in their list.

According to CDC:
Multiplex Assay was designed using data about SARS-CoV-2 genomes that were not available when the earlier tests were designed, which is likely to improve performance of the test.

[jimbunyard]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

Sure.

First, it's not an article, it's a piece of opinion. As such, it's chock-full of flags and signals (eg "muzzle", absurd attacks on a caricature of mainstream media, a desultory swipe at Bill Gates), making it pretty clear how far out of reality the author stands.

Re masks - at no time does the author even mention WHY simple cloth or surgical masks are now being recommended (reduction of virus from the unknowingly infected when they're out in public), and why masks were initially not recommended for general use (shortage of N95 masks that would actually protect the wearer, lower protection from untrained use, no substitute for social distancing or isolation).

And of course the failure to accept that COVID-19 IS a serious problem that needs to be managed. Sneering at testing, and a probably deliberate misunderstanding of the point of testing:etc

So, basically, this op-ed sums up the defiant attitude of COVID-19 deniers, and hasn't offered any new insights.

Worse, it is a blatant effort to capitialize on the very thing that got us here in the first place, ignorance. The comments section is full of comments such as this (which is only an exerpt from the full hysterical statement), complete with links to a youtube psuedo-'documentary', produced by a company with the same profit-rather-than-information based motives.


"Diseases are generally not transmitted at all; they are caused by exposure to toxins, or by a toxic state being induced in the body by something, like microwave radiation. You don’t get a disease by breathing in some germ that floated along on the breeze — the Germ Theory of disease is a fallacy. Bacteria and fungi can produce toxins depending on the conditions they are inhabiting, but when found in the body they are generally doing the exact opposite — consuming toxins."


Leaving out the video in the next comment down about how the destruction of the 'biophoton' (a particle as-yet-unrecognized by 'mainstream science') led to the "downfall of mankind".


The only think interesting or pertinent about these opinions is sociological. As we are witnessing, this sociological effect can be quite damaging and serious, that is if one likes to be healthy and alive...or, for many, employed...

[laird]

Originally Posted by Montanan

Encouraging results for a therapeutic. One of the reasons to slow the rate of transmission is to provide time for the development of improved therapeutic protocols and products so as to reduce the degree of severe illness and death.

Synairgen's SNG001 shows strong promise in COVID-19 trial - PharmaTimes

Southampton, UK-based Synairgen has announced positive results from a clinical trial of SNG001, its wholly-owned inhaled formulation of interferon beta, in hospitalised COVID-19 patients.

The risk of developing severe disease (requiring ventilation or resulting in death) during the treatment period (day one to day 16) was significantly cut by 79% for patients receiving SNG001 compared to patients who received placebo.

There was an announcement in our UK Parlament tonight that they have pre purchased 60million units of vaccine number one , 30 million units of vaccine number two and 100 million units of vaccine number three

The third vaccine has been engineered by a joint team from Oxford University and Pfizer , our Heath minister went on to state that we will be using the vaccine to help the Worlds peoples and not be using it as a profit making excercise , he was quite strong on that statement , i wonder if the reason that we have not joined a joint EU vaccine program is that the EU wants to turn the vaccines into a money spinner

[Macblaze]

Originally Posted by CruisingCouple

Because it likely affects the testing on your side of the border as well. All indications are, it is not accurate without the DNA sequencing. Which requires 10 hours of instrument time in the lab for each test.

It just so happens that the US has by far the largest database on it.

I could be wrong but it feels like the focus on testing is not a Canadian thing. At least it isn't really here in Edmonton. Testing is available to everyone now and most people head off for a test if they feel its warranted. Actually I have no idea what kind of test it was that I took.

People feel more focussed on the curve than the numbers. If we have been using the same test, regardless of its specific accuracy all along then the curve will be reasonably indicative of how we are doing. Getting a more accurate test just screws with the numbers (as a lot of Americans are rightly complaining about).

Then again, what do I know. Just that most of the people i know couldn't give a hoot what test it is and (horror!) trust the gov't—or at least the medical arm of the gov't—to get it right.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by CruisingCouple

Because it likely affects the testing on your side of the border as well. All indications are, it is not accurate without the DNA sequencing. Which requires 10 hours of instrument time in the lab for each test.

It just so happens that the US has by far the largest database on it.

It would appear the nucleic acid technology tests used in Canada are:
Healgen Scientific Limited Liability Company (United States)
Nanjing Vazyme Medical Technology Co. Ltd (China)
Seegene Inc. (South Korea)
Hologic Inc.(United States)
Hyris Ltd. (United Kingdom)
Esenso Biotech Inc. (Canada - Under Review)
Guangzhou Deaou Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (China)
RTA Laboratories (Turkey)
General Biologicals Corporation (Taiwan)
Applied Biological Materials Inc. (Canada)
Ionebio Co., Ltd. (South Korea)
M Monitor Inc. (South Korea)
Shanghai ZJ Bio-Tech Co., Ltd (China)
Intron Biotechnology (South Korea)
Co-Diagnostics Inc. (United States)
Genematrix Inc. (South Korea)
Sansure Biotech Inc. (China)
Shanghai Fosun Long March Medical Science Co., Ltd (China)
Ahram Biosystems Inc. (South Korea)
Paxgenbio Co., Ltd (South Korea)
R-Biopharm AG (Germany)
Ningbo Health Gene Technologies Co., Ltd (China)
Inbios International Inc. (United States)
Precision Biomonitoring Inc. (Canada)
Seasun Biomaterials Inc. (South Korea)

So pretty much the same portfolio as what the US has been using.

However, there was a new one released a couple weeks ago from the US called SARS-CoV-2 Multiplex Assay which is supposed to improve the accuracy and also test for A and B strains of influenza viruses simultaneously. Canada doesn't have that one in their list.

According to CDC:
Multiplex Assay was designed using data about SARS-CoV-2 genomes that were not available when the earlier tests were designed, which is likely to improve performance of the test.

A negative Covid 19 test result doen't prove anything. You may still be carrying the virus & be infectious. / Len
https://www.cbc.ca/news/health/coron...12O-hCPSrU--aE

[jimbunyard]

Wonder how many MP's hold shares in Synairgen?

[CruisingCouple]

Originally Posted by deblen

A negative Covid 19 test result doen't prove anything. You may still be carrying the virus & be infectious.

Several EU countries are using the negative PCR test result to travel across borders. Same in many Caribbean countries. There was a partial list a couple weeks ago, but it is too extensive to post here now for travel destinations in the Caribbean.

Other areas such as the Bahamas are open to private yachts with a negative test result, but not air travel. And it must be pre-arranged before departure from your current anchorage.

Several US states, including Alaska, have implemented the same thing. But there is no indications Canada has even considered it other than for air travel such as on Air Canada, who announced they were looking at using rapid testing in cooperation with Spartan. It doesn't appear Canada has any plan for ground or sea travel at all, other than quarantine.

[Mike OReilly]

Speaker of testing and traveling -- as everyone predicted:

Bahamas closes borders to U.S. tourists after coronavirus cases spike; others welcome

Less than three weeks after reopening its borders to international visitors, the Bahamas on Sunday announced that it is closing all of its airports and seaports to tourists from the United States, effective Wednesday. ...
Visitors from Canada, the United Kingdom and the European Union will still be permitted to visit as long as they can show proof of a negative RT PCR test for coronavirus infection from an accredited laboratory taken within 10 days of their arrival.

[deblen]

Originally Posted by CruisingCouple

Several EU countries are using the negative PCR test result to travel across borders. Same in many Caribbean countries. There was a partial list a couple weeks ago, but it is too extensive to post here now for travel destinations in the Caribbean.

Other areas such as the Bahamas are open to private yachts with a negative test result, but not air travel. And it must be pre-arranged before departure from your current anchorage.

Several US states, including Alaska, have implemented the same thing. But there is no indications Canada has even considered it other than for air travel such as on Air Canada, who announced they were looking at using rapid testing in cooperation with Spartan. It doesn't appear Canada has any plan for ground or sea travel at all, other than quarantine.

The large majority of Canadians have been willing to suffer a bit now & have a "country" to enjoy sooner in the near future-I guess./ Cheers/Len


https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consum...testing-basics

[CruisingCouple]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Speaker of testing and traveling -- as everyone predicted:

We were in contact with Customs and Immigration there today. As we are considering meeting our cruising friends there, plus an extended stay when we get out of here in October. We'll be on an anchorage, not in a slip.

Does not apply to private yachts. We got all the information on how to get a Health Visa, have to upload the negative PCR test result to their online portal, and that can't be older than 10 days. No quarantine required when we get there. Just fly the yellow quarantine flag when we arrive in port. If we have "green" status on our Health Visa the captain can go ashore with the paperwork. Otherwise, Customs and Immigration will come to our boat to complete the paperwork and visa for extended stay.

If we go into town to provision, or any other purpose, then they require face mask. On the boat no masks required, even to have our friends over for dinner. Can dive and snorkel all we want. Costs $300 for 3 months for our boat for entry fee. That fee pays for our cruising permit, fishing permit and departure tax.

So it is not a problem for a US citizen sailing a private yacht.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by CruisingCouple

...So it is not a problem for a US citizen sailing a private yacht.

I'm betting this will change as well, but I hope I'm wrong. If I were you, I'd have a Plan B in the works.

[CruisingCouple]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

I'm betting this will change as well, but I hope I'm wrong. If I were you, I'd have a Plan B in the works.

Quarantine on the boat if they change it. We are provisioned to spend a month at a time without going ashore, as long as we are on an anchorage and not running around burning fuel. We don't even need to run the generators for the most part - installed an off-grid power system in the boat with 1,160ah battery bank and 2.7kW of solar.

[Mike OReilly]

Originally Posted by CruisingCouple

Quarantine on the boat if they change it. We are provisioned to spend a month at a time without going ashore, as long as we are on an anchorage and not running around burning fuel. We don't even need to run the generators for the most part - installed an off-grid power system in the boat with 1,160ah battery bank and 2.7kW of solar.

Sounds like a great set up. It's freeing to be so self-sufficient. Let's just hope the restriction don't increase.

[CruisingCouple]

Originally Posted by Mike OReilly

Sounds like a great set up. It's freeing to be so self-sufficient. Let's just hope the restriction don't increase.

Our cruising friends are in the US Virgin Islands at the present and they have been keeping track of the situations for us for destinations south. They said the initial nightmare in the Virgin Islands has let up some since big groups of cruisers left.

So we've been getting weekly updates. The Bahamas is looking like the best destination for a meetup vs Mexico. Mexico is unstable, the Bahamians have gone with common sense procedures for cruisers. It is not cruisers with two people on the boat that is the problem. The main problem is airplanes and big cruise ships with people packed in like sardines in a can. And they recognize that.

[Westcliffe01]

Some peoples attitude towards cruisers in these covid 19 times is going to get innocent people killed.


It has been reported today on FB that a Canadian couple "Jason & Cloee Cruising" had been cruising in the vicinity of Prince Edward Island and picked up a crab pot on the shaft of one of their engines. They made for a nearby harbor (not named) where they were kicked out at night, with the engine still disabled, by harbor security. Prior to docking no - one could be reached by radio and since it was late the couple assumed they could deal with the rope the following morning.


The interaction with harbor security was recorded on video and threats were made that RCMP would be summoned if they did not leave immediately, regardless of mechanical problems.


They then had a harrowing time entering the only other nearby harbor in the dark with opposing current and large waves on 1 good engine with constant danger of broaching.


If it had been me I would have declared an emergency and the hell with harbor security. Things could have gone very badly for them if there had been 1 more weak link in the chain....