We’re answering your questions about the pandemic. Send yours to COVID@cbc.ca, and we’ll answer as many as we can. We publish a selection of answers online and also put some questions to the experts during The National and on CBC News Network. So far, we’ve received more than 57,000 emails from all corners of the country.
In light of recent COVID-19 spikes throughout Canada, the trickiest part of the holidays might just be the planning. Reconciling your COVID-19 risk comfort level with your families could prove difficult.
We’ve been hearing from Canadians who are concerned about what the holidays might look like, so we asked experts how best to negotiate gatherings this season.
Should we be cancelling our Christmas plans?
Kirsten Z. asked if she should cancel her holiday plans altogether.
First, it’s important to remember that officials and medical experts have been emphasizing that the large, extended family gatherings with family members from all over are not a good idea right now.
“Obviously the holidays will be different this year,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a news conference earlier this week. How different, he said, depends on where you live.
“Maybe the Atlantic bubble can be spared, depending on how well they’re able to maintain things and what their policy is,” said Dr. Susy Hota, medical director for infection prevention and control at University Health Network in Toronto.
Get-togethers are being discouraged in most places across the country. In Manitoba and some regions of Ontario, they’re not allowed at all.
WATCH | How to navigate the holiday season as the pandemic continues:
An infectious disease expert and epidemiologist answer questions about navigating the holiday season during the COVID-19 pandemic, including what lessons may have been learned from Thanksgiving. 5:51
“This won’t be a popular answer, but sadly I don’t think [family gatherings] will be a safe thing for us to do in most areas of Canada,” Hota said.
Infectious disease specialist Dr. Zain Chagla agreed.
“It’s not looking hopeful that traditional things like Christmas dinner is happening,” said Chagla, who is an associate professor at McMaster University and consultant physician at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ont.
“We’ve seen outbreaks associated with family dinners and sleepovers, and it’s just too much of a risk to the community to have another amplifying event.”
What if we isolate ourselves beforehand?
Quebecers have been offered the option to quarantine themselves for a week before and a week after Christmas in exchange for the lifting of a ban on gatherings.
A number of you have written in asking if isolating before the holidays would make it OK to get together.
“I think it’s a pragmatic approach, informed in part by Canada’s experience over Thanksgiving.” said Dr. Matthew Oughton, an attending physician in the infectious diseases division at the Jewish General Hospital in Montreal, referring to Canadians who gathered despite warnings from public health officials.
But he worries that due to the incubation period of COVID-19, which is sometimes longer than the seven days Quebec is advising, some may develop symptoms even after the second week of isolation and then spread the virus further.
WATCH | Quebec’s holiday gathering rules
For four days, the rules that have kept Quebecers apart for months will be eased. But it’s not without risk. 4:39
Other experts worry that the idea is good in theory, but see flaws in its practicality.
“I think there are too many holes in that strategy,” said Chagla. He pointed out there are just too many possibilities for someone to slip up and expose everyone to risk because isolation would require:
Adults working from home.
Keeping kids home from school.
Not going out in public at all, not even for groceries.
The notion also raises equity issues, noted Chagla, as many families simply don’t have the ability to isolate for 14 days due to work or other factors.
Hota agreed and said isolation would be unrealistic for most people.
“The problem is it’s very difficult to exclude contact from all people,” she said.
You’d also have to trust that everyone was being diligent.
“People start making their own judgments and decisions saying, ‘I got 11 out of 14 days and that’s good enough,'” said Hota. “That worries me about that strategy.”
But if we get negative test results, we’ll be okay, right?
Not necessarily.
Hota warned that a negative test could give you a false sense of security.
A nurse demonstrates testing at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing centre at the National Arts Centre garage on Nov. 18 in Ottawa, the day before it opened. Hota suggested negative COVID-19 test results could create a false sense of security during the holidays. (Adrian Wyld/The Canadian Press)
Testing isn’t always accurate, and whether results are accurate depend heavily on the timing.
“Testing really just tells you what your status is at the time you got tested,” Hota said. “It doesn’t tell you if you’re going to be developing the infections a couple of days from then, when you actually show up at your parents’ house.”
Is it safe to give and receive presents, cards or cookies?
Both Chagla and Hota agreed that gift giving and dropping off baked goods is safe, provided that you take the necessary precautions like distancing and hand hygiene.
“Once you wrap and give or receive your gift, just make sure to wash your hands,” said Hota.
If it’s a washable item, such as clothes, Hota suggested you launder them, which you should be doing with new clothing anyway.
However, she said it’s not necessary to wipe everything down with disinfectants the way we were early in the pandemic.
“We’re learning, over time, that the virus doesn’t really last on surfaces for that long, particularly on clothing,” she said in an earlier article.
A box wrapped in Christmas wrapping paper waits to be loaded after being sorted. Infectious disease specialist Dr. Zain Chagla said one way to be extra safe when exchanging gifts is to deliver them, let them sit overnight and open them together the next day — virtually. (Brett Purdy/CBC)
As for the exchange itself, Chagla said doing it while physically distanced, with masks and outdoors would be “a great option” if your local public health agency allows it. But in Toronto, for example, even outdoor socializing is being discouraged.
And if you wanted to take an extra precaution, Chagla suggested leaving the presents under the tree overnight before opening them together the next morning — virtually.
How do I tell Mom we’re not coming for Christmas?
We’ve heard from Canadians who have made the decision to stay home, but still want to know: What’s the best way to tell their family that they’re not coming over?
“Frame your message in terms of family-related considerations,” said Igor Grossmann, associate professor of psychology at the University of Waterloo.
He suggests telling your loved ones that you aren’t coming “not because you are trying to be selfish, but in fact, because you care about them and you care about your elderly parents.”
But what if they get mad or think you are overreacting?
One thing that’s important to keep in mind is you need to be compassionate and remain calm, according to Grossmann.
“Don’t make any accusations, and don’t make them feel bad,” he said.
People can be quick to assume others are just being selfish and that’s the reason they are not following the rules and recommendations from public health officials, Grossman added.
“I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. It may be the case for some people, but often it’s a lack of proper information.”
WATCH | Why a January COVID-19 could be particularly problematic:
There is a lot going on in Quebec hospitals in January – more injuries, respiratory illnesses and cardiac episodes. And as infectious disease specialist Dr. Cécile Tremblay explains, that is also when COVID cases from Christmas will start to pop up, another source of stress on the health-care system. 0:53
Instead, Grossmann suggests asking them where they are getting their information and asking them to offer their perspective. Then explain to them why you think the way you think and where your sources come from.
“The best strategy is to engage in a dialogue where you don’t discount their opinion but instead elaborate on their sources,” he said. “This type of dialogue may often help people realize that their beliefs are based on misinformed opinions.”
How do I talk to family/friends that don’t take the pandemic seriously or think it’s just the flu?
“The worst thing that you can do in this type of situation is tell them that they are stupid and they are wrong, because as research has shown, that will right away lead to them shutting off and not listening,” said Grossmann.
Even if you may not have much common ground to stand on, it’s still important to open up the dialogue and have a conversation, rather than an argument.
What happens if we go and they’re not taking precautions?
So you’ve talked about it and decided to visit with a small family bubble, but you get to Grandma’s house and nobody is following the rules you laid out. What next?
Don’t panic or overreact to anything, Grossmann said. You can still control things like wearing a mask and the amount of distance you put between yourself and others.
“You can always take a step back,” he said. “If someone gets too close to you, you can communicate to them: ‘Is it okay if I take a step back?'”
Above all else, Grossmann underscored the idea that if you don’t feel comfortable or if it goes against common sense you probably shouldn’t do it.
TORONTO – Will Taylor Swift bring chaos or do we all need to calm down?
It’s a question many Torontonians are asking this week as the city braces for the arrival of Swifties, the massive fan base of one of the world’s biggest pop stars.
Hundreds of thousands are expected to descend on the downtown core for the singer’s six concerts which kick off Thursday at the Rogers Centre and run until Nov. 23.
And while their arrival will be a boon to tourism dollars — the city estimates more than $282 million in economic impact — some worry it could worsen Toronto’s gridlock by clogging streets that already come to a standstill during rush hour.
Swift’s shows are set to collide with sports events at the nearby Scotiabank Arena, including a Raptors game on Friday and a Leafs game on Saturday.
Some residents and local businesses have already adjusted their plans to avoid the area and its planned road closures.
Aahil Dayani says he and some friends intended to throw a birthday bash for one of their pals until they realized it would overlap with the concerts.
“Something as simple as getting together and having dinner is now thrown out the window,” he said.
Dayani says the group rescheduled the gathering for after Swift leaves town. In the meantime, he plans to hunker down at his Toronto residence.
“Her coming into town has kind of changed up my social life,” he added.
“We’re pretty much just not doing anything.”
Max Sinclair, chief executive and founder of A.I. technology firm Ecomtent, suggested his employees avoid the company’s downtown offices on concert days, saying he doesn’t see the point in forcing people to endure potential traffic jams.
“It’s going to be less productive for us, and it’s going to be just a pain for everyone, so it’s easier to avoid it,” Sinclair said.
“We’re a hybrid company, so we can be flexible. It just makes sense.”
Swift’s concerts are the latest pop culture moment to draw attention to Toronto’s notoriously disastrous daily commute.
In June, One Direction singer Niall Horan uploaded a social media video of himself walking through traffic to reach the venue for his concert.
“Traffic’s too bad in Toronto, so we’re walking to the venue,” he wrote in the post.
Toronto Transit Commission spokesperson Stuart Green says the public agency has been working for more than a year on plans to ease the pressure of so many Swifties in one confined area.
“We are preparing for something that would be akin to maybe the Beatles coming in the ‘60s,” he said.
Dozens of buses and streetcars have been added to transit routes around the stadium, and the TTC has consulted the city on potential emergency scenarios.
Green will be part of a command centre operated by the City of Toronto and staffed by Toronto police leaders, emergency services and others who have handled massive gatherings including the Raptors’ NBA championship parade in 2019.
“There may be some who will say we’re over-preparing, and that’s fair,” Green said.
“But we know based on what’s happened in other places, better to be over-prepared than under-prepared.”
Metrolinx, the agency for Ontario’s GO Transit system, has also added extra trips and extended hours in some regions to accommodate fans looking to travel home.
A day before Swift’s first performance, the city began clearing out tents belonging to homeless people near the venue. The city said two people were offered space in a shelter.
“As the area around Rogers Centre is expected to receive a high volume of foot traffic in the coming days, this area has been prioritized for outreach work to ensure the safety of individuals in encampments, other residents, businesses and visitors — as is standard for large-scale events,” city spokesperson Russell Baker said in a statement.
Homeless advocate Diana Chan McNally questioned whether money and optics were behind the measure.
“People (in the area) are already in close proximity to concerts, sports games, and other events that generate massive amounts of traffic — that’s nothing new,” she said in a statement.
“If people were offered and willingly accepted a shelter space, free of coercion, I support that fully — that’s how it should happen.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Hundreds of Taylor Swift fans lined up outside the gates of Toronto’s Rogers Centre Wednesday, with hopes of snagging some of the pop star’s merchandise on the eve of the first of her six sold-out shows in the city.
Swift is slated to perform at the venue from Thursday to Saturday, and the following week from Nov. 21 to Nov. 23, with concert merchandise available for sale on some non-show days.
Swifties were all smiles as they left the merch shop, their arms full of sweaters and posters bearing pictures of the star and her Eras Tour logo.
Among them was Zoe Haronitis, 22, who said she waited in line for about two hours to get $300 worth of merchandise, including some apparel for her friends.
Haronitis endured the autumn cold and the hefty price tag even though she hasn’t secured a concert ticket. She said she’s hunting down a resale ticket and plans to spend up to $600.
“I haven’t really budgeted anything,” Haronitis said. “I don’t care how much money I spent. That was kind of my mindset.”
The megastar’s merchandise costs up to $115 for a sweater, and $30 for tote bags and other accessories.
Rachel Renwick, 28, also waited a couple of hours in line for merchandise, but only spent about $70 after learning that a coveted blue sweater and a crewneck had been snatched up by other eager fans before she got to the shop. She had been prepared to spend much more, she said.
“The two prized items sold out. I think a lot more damage would have been done,” Renwick said, adding she’s still determined to buy a sweater at a later date.
Renwick estimated she’s spent about $500 in total on “all-things Eras Tour,” including her concert outfit and merchandise.
The long queue for Swift merch is just a snapshot of what the city will see in the coming days. It’s estimated that up to 500,000 visitors from outside Toronto will be in town during the concert period.
Tens of thousands more are also expected to attend Taylgate’24, an unofficial Swiftie fan event scheduled to be held at the nearby Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Meanwhile, Destination Toronto has said it anticipates the economic impact of the Eras Tour could grow to $282 million as the money continues to circulate.
But for fans like Haronitis, the experience in Toronto comes down to the Swiftie community. Knowing that Swift is going to be in the city for six shows and seeing hundreds gather just for merchandise is “awesome,” she said.
Even though Haronitis hasn’t officially bought her ticket yet, she said she’s excited to see the megastar.
“It’s literally incredible.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Via Rail is asking for a judicial review on the reasons why Canadian National Railway Co. has imposed speed restrictions on its new passenger trains.
The Crown corporation says it is seeking the review from the Federal Court after many attempts at dialogue with the company did not yield valid reasoning for the change.
It says the restrictions imposed last month are causing daily delays on Via Rail’s Québec City-Windsor corridor, affecting thousands of passengers and damaging Via Rail’s reputation with travellers.
CN says in a statement that it imposed the restrictions at rail crossings given the industry’s experience and known risks associated with similar trains.
The company says Via has asked the courts to weigh in even though Via has agreed to buy the equipment needed to permanently fix the issues.
Via said in October that no incidents at level crossings have been reported in the two years since it put 16 Siemens Venture trains into operation.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 13, 2024.
