Greetings from Whistler… where… good news! The pandemic is over! We went for a walk last night in the village… lots of strangers hanging out, having a great time… no social distancing needed! No masks! It’s amazing, eh… a short drive up Highway 99 and it’s a whole other world!
If you ever get depressed about Vancouver weather… and I’m guessing today is as good an example as any, because it can’t be too different from Whistler, where it’s pouring rain… you know, when you open up the Weather App and it’s just a long row of rainclouds for the next week… you know what I mean… ugh.
So… what you do… is check out the weather in San Pedro de Atacama… and pretend that’s our forecast. That’s the place I’ve previously mentioned where it never rains. All you’ll see is an endless row of smiling sunshine. Isn’t that great? Once in a while, a little cloud will show up 5 days from now, wrecking that perfect visual streak. Poor silly little cloud; it’s just lost. Soon, mommy and daddy cloud will find it and take it up north, to B.C., where it belongs.
Yeah, of course, you’re fooling yourself. But maybe it makes you feel a little better, albeit briefly.
Indeed, if you like sticking your head in the sand… it doesn’t need to be in the sand of the Chilean Atacama desert… it can be a lot closer… Florida or Georgia or any of the 50 minus 5 states where case counts are increasing daily. Or, apparently, it can be Whistler too.
One thing has become abundantly clear; this pandemic will not end – truly, end – until there is a vaccine.
There’s a whole other discussion that emerges from that; the vaccine will probably only be X% effective. Many people, especially south of the border where health is a political statement, will refuse that vaccine. So let’s say only Y% of the population gets vaccinated. You end up with X times Y percent of people who are immune, and certainly that number will be far less than what’s needed for herd immunity. And so, this damn little virus will persist… much like the ridiculous outbreaks of measles… for which there’s no reason, other than the insanity of anti-vaxxers. It actually does feel like making one stick their head in the sand. At least it's warm, and not raining.
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For your amusement. Came across this the other day, don’t know who wrote it. Coronacoaster (noun) The ups and downs of a pandemic. One day you’re loving your bubble, doing workouts, baking banana bread and going for long walks and the next you’re crying, drinking gin for breakfast and missing people you don’t even like. ????
I am enraged seeing people in MA not social distancing and not wearing masks ???????????? and I would love to be in the Atacama right now!
Your so right ????
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Does anyone know why bc is spiking a little bit now?
See above post. People aren’t social distancing, wearing masks and in denial.????
Whistlerites havent been wearing masks, went up for work for May 1 and wore a mask into a hardware store and got strange looks from everyone. Not so different in Kamloops now, I saw 2 customers in Saveon with masks, no masks in sight elsewere. Numbers supposedly stem from an event in Kelowna. These areas are almost clear of Covid until they aren’t.
Hey amigo! I’m in whistler too and you’re right, definitely no covid around here!!??? Asked the waiter why he wasn’t wearing a mask and he answered “we all voted against it”….there you go….mind boggling really..
I would say that in VANCOUVER no more than 5% of people are wearing masks. Half of those are Asians who have been wearing them since SARS and half of the rest are wearing “fashion masks”. As for distancing – no way. Check out bars and the restaurants that younger people go to and it’s just as you would see on CNN from Florida or Texas
So interesting because at the beginning of this thing, Whistler was extremely careful and played by the rules. Friends of mine left Whistler last week as they were so uncomfortable with the carefree attitude. Fingers crossed Whistler stays Covid free. I’m heading to Kelowna today, will report back. It’s scary as many Americans or shall I say Canadians living in the US are finding ways across the border and going to vacation spots, where you know quarantining is not part of their agenda.
For too many people, there’s an irreconcilable disconnect between science in the news, and the “monkey see monkey do” social cues. Our social wiring sadly pre-disposes us to some foolish choices. When people see others not keeping distance, hanging out in groups, not using science-advised barriers, and these others in their social milieu are looking safe and carefree – people start to FEEL safe. When we *think*, we can follow the science and choose wisely. But if we follow our socially-influenced perceptions, our silo will be our guide. If there are sheep, it’d be the deniers.
People have the opportunity to make safer choices; there’s enough science available. But instead of masks, a lot of folks are wearing blinders.
Moving to an isolated beach is looking good now…
Mandy Wexler read this
Aimee Szymczak read this and comments re Whistler x
So crazy. I was in Whistler over the weekend and did not feel safe at all. I concur, no masks or social distancing in sight. I wore a mask into a store and got leers and jeers from others.
I do say though that here in Gibsons/Sechelt, there are a lot of local businesses that DO have their employees wear masks and that says a LOT about their integrity, business smarts, and forethought. I actually forgot to wear mine as I went into the RONA in Sechelt and after seeing ALL of the staff wearing one, felt a bit foolish and inept. I won’t forget it again. Bravo RONA Coast Builders Bravo! ????????????
all it takes is one traveller from down south up having a little vacation in the great north ,detour on way to where?? oh yah ! Alaska – and for sure they are here and not even really hiding it since they are the great one’s – right