Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

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Gilles Hudicourt
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Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Gilles Hudicourt »

I am just re-posting this Air Canada letter........

https://www.aircanada.com/ca/en/aco/hom ... ative.html

The Honourable Marc Garneau, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Transport
Transport Canada
330 Sparks Street
Ottawa Ontario K1A 0N5

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Health
70 Colombine Driveway
Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9

Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions
Dear Ministers:

I refer to our prior communications with the Government of Canada regarding the easing of the blanket travel restrictions and quarantines with a view to replacing them with more proportionate, evidence-based measures that can achieve public health objectives, while causing less detriment to other public interests and allowing for a measured restart of aviation, similar to what is occurring in other countries.

Without repeating everything stated previously, suffice it to say that the situation is becoming increasingly urgent. Canada has made virtually no change to its quarantine restrictions since mid-March, despite continuing improvements containing the spread of the virus both in our country and in many others. This is severely impacting Air Canada, our customers and employees as well as an overall recovery. Moreover, there are many other interests affected by the quarantine restrictions - not only jobs and pensions, but also the social and economic wellbeing of individuals and communities that rely on air travel, as well as basic freedoms of mobility. Business and labour leaders alike have implored the Government to act on easing these restrictions in order to strike a better balance, without adversely impacting public health.

The Government of Canada is relying on the Quarantine Act to exercise its extraordinary power to prohibit or restrict movement within Canada. In doing so, under the Quarantine Act, the Government must act reasonably and determine that “no reasonable alternatives to prevent the introduction or spread of the disease are available.”

Other G20 countries (such as Germany, France, Italy, UK, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, amongst others) have shown that evidence-based, reasonable alternatives do in fact exist. Therefore, we are hereby proposing, for your consideration, that the blanket 14-day quarantine be replaced as soon as feasible with the science-based alternative set out in Appendix A, which has been guided by IATA with the assistance of medical professionals worldwide. See, for example:

https://www.iata.org/contentassets/f116 ... dfExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines.; https://www.iata.org/contentassets/5c87 ... dfExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines.

The proposed alternative is largely derived from the model adopted in the European Union and United Kingdom (https://ec.europa.eu/info/live-work-tra ... enExternal site which may not meet accessibility guidelines.). To be clear, given the current challenges in the United States in controlling the virus, we are not proposing relaxing the U.S. border restrictions at this time. Given the importance of this matter, we urgently require a response.

Sincerely,


Dr Jim Chung
Chief Medical Officer

CC:

Hon. Chrystia Freeland - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs
Hon. Bill Morneau, Minister of Finance
Paul Rochon, Deputy Minister of Finance
Hon. David Lametti, Minister of Justice
Me Nathalie G. Drouin Ad. E., Deputy Minister of Justice and Deputy Attorney General of Canada,
Hon. François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs
Marta Morgan, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs
Hon. Bill Blair, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
Rob Stewart, Deputy Minister of Public Safety
Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Science, Innovation and Industry
Simon Kennedy, Deputy Minister ISED
Michael Keenan, Deputy Minister Transport
Dr. Stephen Lucas, Deputy Minister Health
Ian Shugart, Clerk of the Privy Council
Dr. Mona Nemer, Chief Science Advisor,
Todd Doherty, Conservative Party Transport Critic
Pierre Poilievre, Conservative Party Finance Critic
Calin Rovinescu, President & CEO, Air Canada

Appendix A - Science-based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Minimizing the Risk of Exposure to COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease in Canada - Proposed Amendment to Orders-in-Council

1) The various Orders-in-Council regarding entry into Canada from any country by any person, including Canadians, would be further modified.
2) The Minister of Health, in consultation with the Minister of Transport, would establish a categorization of exempt countries that would be considered to present a lower risk from a public health perspective for passengers to enter Canada without a requirement for 14 days’ self-isolation (“Exempt Countries”), on the basis that these countries would pose no greater risk to Canadians than inter-provincial travel.
3) The categorization of Exempt Countries would be informed by many factors including the prevalence of coronavirus within the country, the numbers of new cases and the potential trajectory over the coming weeks of COVID-19 in the country.
4) The methodology and criteria for a country to be designated as an Exempt Country would be the following:
4.1) It would have to have close to or below the Canadian average, as of July 15 2020, of new COVID-19 cases over the last 14 days and per 100 000 inhabitants;
4.2) The trend of new cases in the country over the same period in comparison to the previous 14 days would be stable or decreasing; and
4.3) Its overall response to COVID-19 would have to be seen as having been favourable, taking into account available information such as testing, surveillance, contact tracing, containment, treatment and reporting as well as the reliability of available information and data sources.
5) Every two weeks, the list of Exempt Countries would be reviewed, and as the case may be updated, by the Minister of Health, on consultation with the Minister of Transport, based on an overall assessment using the methodology, criteria and information referred to above.
6) For countries that would not qualify as Exempt Countries given a higher COVID-19 risk profile, a “Test-based” Model would be adopted, permitting a potential reduction in the length of quarantine, based on a traveller undergoing a COVID-19 test at a designated facility within 72 hrs prior to departure and, if deemed appropriate, repeated again on arrival.

Notes:

Examples of jurisdictions having adopted variations of Test-based Models are:
Singapore-China safe corridor testing example
Caribbean islands pre-departure testing requirements – negative test within typically 7
days to 72 hours prior to departure in order to travel
Waiver of quarantine with negative test – Iceland, Austria, Luxembourg
Testing required on arrival – South Korea, Hong Kong, Macao, United Arab Emirates
Potential List of Exempt Countries - based on exempt UK List
Andorra
Antigua and Barbuda
Aruba
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Barbados
Belgium
Croatia
Curaçao
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Dominica
Faroe Islands
Fiji
Finland
France
French Polynesia
Germany
Greece
Greenland
Grenada
Guadeloupe
Hong Kong
Hungary
Iceland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Macau
Malta
Mauritius
Monaco
Netherlands
New Caledonia
New Zealand
Norway
Poland
San Marino
Serbia
Seychelles
South Korea
Spain
St Barthélemy
St Kitts and Nevis
St Lucia
St Pierre and Miquelon
Switzerland
Taiwan
Trinidad and Tobago
Turkey
Vietnam
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pelmet
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by pelmet »

I decided to add up the daily new cases in all the countries listed on the letter from Air Canada that strongly hints would be appropriate to loosen restrictions.

https://www.euronews.com/2020/07/17/cov ... -worldwide

It came to over 5000. Considering that there are likely all kinds of cases that are not discovered because the person is healthy and has mild or no symptoms, it could add up to many times the amount.

Why should we open up to such a massive risk of importing this when we know the authorities will shut down the the economy(as is happening in California now). The governments have made their policy of shutdowns if things get too bad.

Canada's economic health is more important than the health of AC and AT, I suggest that these airlines and others ask for some economic assistance. I could see perhaps places like Taiwan and NZ and some of the islands being reasonable to open up to but the EU has a lot of hotspots and people able to move around easily. With 1400 new cases a day in Spain and being on the AC list, I suggest that perhaps they are not concerned enough about the risk to others.

Having a negative test 7 days before departure is hardly a guarantee of no Covid from someone touring around and visiting pubs, bars, beaches, etc. Young people who make up a lot of travellers have proven themselves to have a higher proportion of lesser concerned people with Covid parties and social distancing in general. We don't need them, whether they be Canadians or EU citizens crushing our economy due to their fun memories.
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Eric Janson
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Eric Janson »

There have been numerous cases where travellers have tested positive for COVID-19 after being allowed into a country. Just a few of them

- Qatar Airways in Greece. (They were given a temporary operating ban as a result). All passengers had to be Quarantined.

- New Zealand. Two British nationals allowed in on compassionate grounds. Later found to be COVID-19 positive. Didn't help that they'd travelled throughout New Zealand.

The real issue is that people are selfish and are unwilling to follow simple instructions or take simple precautions. That's why the situation in the US is the way it is.

I have mentioned it in previous posts but there is no health screening of any kind being done at most airports. No contact data collection to aid in tracing either. Health form is a complete joke - nobody will answer "YES" knowing that that's the end of their travel plans.

Huge risk opening borders under these circumstances imho.

People still are not wearing masks at the airport - Airlines are now having to provide them at check in.
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Last edited by Eric Janson on Fri Jul 17, 2020 10:20 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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digits_
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by digits_ »

There is no science based alternative to ease the quarantine. The quarantine is only being eased because of economical reasons.


Careful what you wish for, you might get it...
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lownslow
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by lownslow »

digits_ wrote: Fri Jul 17, 2020 6:21 pm There is no science based alternative to ease the quarantine.
If one assumes that science is the reason we began the quarantine they must also accept that science must be relied on for the quarantine’s end as well.
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Eric Janson
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Eric Janson »

Speaking of stupidity this is hard to believe:-

https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/coronav ... ies-trend/

When you're dealing this level of stupidity you have to keep the borders closed imho.
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BigQ
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by BigQ »

Keeping the borders closed because of a few stupid individuals is saying that you'd rather potentially destroy hundreds of thousands of lives to save a few hundred people from dying earlier than the average life expectancy.

Scientifically the position of closed borders is becoming less and less tenable.
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pelmet
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by pelmet »

I suspect the border openers coincidentally have a significant economic stake/benefit in the opening......including the AC Chief Medical Officer who was no doubt assigned to do this by upper management.

That has high potential to distort scientific analysis.
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Aviatard
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Aviatard »

BigQ wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 4:37 am Keeping the borders closed because of a few stupid individuals is saying that you'd rather potentially destroy hundreds of thousands of lives to save a few hundred people from dying earlier than the average life expectancy.

Scientifically the position of closed borders is becoming less and less tenable.
If you'd volunteer to be one of the few hundred people, that'd be greaaaaat.
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altiplano
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by altiplano »

BigQ wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 4:37 am save a few hundred people from dying earlier than the average life expectancy.
Average age of covid deaths in Canada is 84.8 years.

Life expectancy in Canada is 82.25 years.

Most of these people aren't dying from covid, they're dying with covid.
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Ki-ll
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Ki-ll »

altiplano wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 7:53 am
BigQ wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 4:37 am save a few hundred people from dying earlier than the average life expectancy.
Average age of covid deaths in Canada is 84.8 years.

Life expectancy in Canada is 82.25 years.

Most of these people aren't dying from covid, they're dying with covid.
What’s the median age of a COVID death?
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iflyforpie
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by iflyforpie »

Aviatard wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 7:13 am
BigQ wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 4:37 am Keeping the borders closed because of a few stupid individuals is saying that you'd rather potentially destroy hundreds of thousands of lives to save a few hundred people from dying earlier than the average life expectancy.

Scientifically the position of closed borders is becoming less and less tenable.
If you'd volunteer to be one of the few hundred people, that'd be greaaaaat.
If I was over 80 with chronic health issues, I wouldn’t want the world to be shut down all to extend my joyous existence of being neglected in an old age home maybe by a few months or years.

This is the only infectious disease we’ve ever tracked in near real-time. It would be the same as a flu virus every year if they bothered to test as extensively for it.

On a side note.. overdose deaths in BC spiked during June, exceeding in one month what COVID-19 took half a year to do. Likely due to depression because of economic hardship and quarantine and the need to cut ever more scarce narcotics with dangerous substances like fentanyl.

Are we sure that the cure isn’t worse than the ailment? This entire exercise has been like an autoimmune response.
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fish4life
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by fish4life »

We were never supposed to try eliminate the virus just slow it down, it’s perfectly normal for a virus to kill a portion of the population the flu does it every year. The whole point of locking things down initially was to slow the spread and not overwhelm the hospital system, currently most of Canada has pushed itself too far towards the eliminate instead of slow the spread side of the spectrum.

The thought of not having schools open in the fall is another ridiculous overreaction of the government, the mental impact on kids not seeing friends and learning is way worse than the impact of covid on young kids.
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Inverted2
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Inverted2 »

This whole thing reeks of a government conspiracy. Lockdowns, mandatory masks (why are they now enforcing it and not back in March?), keeping kids out of school, ruining the economy etc. Airlines and travel related businesses have been decimated. Next will be forced vaccines which may be more dangerous than the virus. Next year? How about being microchipped like your pet? Where does it stop.

The 2020 deficit will likely exceed 1/2 a trillion.
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altiplano
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by altiplano »

Guys like Trudeau and Morneau aren't in Government for the money, it's the power and status. Their actions have increased that power and status curiously unchecked

They throw around our money to their friends and to enough of the population to ensure a majority next time around.

Despite multiple ethics violations, despite the largest debt in history by am extreme margin, despite the flip flops, despite the hypocrisy, despite blackface, despite Liberal cronyism, despite programs that put billions into undeserving hands, despite the failures that are yet unfolding...

NDPers must be aghast of the performance of their leader.

Conservatives are too distracted by their own power struggle to mount much.
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rudder
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by rudder »

For all of you that feel that seniors that have overstayed their welcome should be deemed ‘expendable’, you should examine the statistic known as “excess deaths” rather than average age at death due COVID.

That is a better assessment of the mortality impact of COVID on a population. You can even look at it by jurisdiction.
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Aviatard »

Inverted2 wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 9:34 am This whole thing reeks of a government conspiracy.
[...]
How about being microchipped like your pet? Where does it stop.
What’s it like saying that with a straight face and not even seeming to be embarrassed about it? Liberating?
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Inverted2
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Inverted2 »

Well 3 years ago if I said in 2020 You’d have to wear a face mask to go into a store would you believe me?
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Cavalier44
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Cavalier44 »

Inverted2 wrote: Sat Jul 18, 2020 2:41 pm Well 3 years ago if I said in 2020 You’d have to wear a face mask to go into a store would you believe me?
If you told me that it was due to an ongoing global pandemic, yes I probably would. :roll:
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Rockie
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Re: Science-Based Alternative to Ease Quarantine Act Restrictions

Post by Rockie »

“No shirt, no shoes, no service” is universally accepted as a sensible health precaution and nobody loses their minds over it, but somehow masks during a pandemic is a violation of some morons’ rights and a government conspiracy to subjugate citizens and destroy society. It’s amazing how a simple piece of cloth costing a few cents brings out the total assholes among us.
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