Not a great day for numbers… our one-day new test-positives total is the largest one to date: 165 new cases. To compare, Ontario had 146. And Quebec, once looking to have had things under control… saw 499 new cases. More than 1,000 new cases in Canada, for the first time since late May. We’re going to run out of chances to say, “last chance”.
Also, for those around here… most of didn’t know much about pandemics until March of this year, but we’ve learned a lot. Similarly, few of us knew much about of smoke and haze and bad air, but here’s 2020 to educate us all.
The one question everyone is asking… when will the smoke clear? I must say, I was disappointed when it recently rained (pretty heavily) and nothing much changed. Historically, isn’t that the deal in Vancouver? Some things are implied trade-offs… like, you go to a movie… they get to charge you $5 for 10 cents worth of popcorn. Correspondingly, you get to leave it spilled all over the floor and not feel guilty about it.
Similarly, ok, rain on us… but crisp, fresh, clean air is (supposed to be) part of the deal. As it turns out, it’s not so simple.
The short answer to the question is… complicated. Rain, wind, time, high/low pressure… potential new smoke… it all contributes in some fashion, but the consensus seems to be that by the middle of next week, things should clear noticeably. But as far as the weekend is concerned, not much is likely to change.
There’s an app called “Shit! I Smoke” which translates the air quality number to equivalent number of cigarettes. If you were out and about earlier in the week, you “smoked” the equivalent of more than 8 cigarettes a day. Ugh… as if you need one more reason to wear a mask…
View Original Post and All Comments on Facebook
I was wondering about that cigarette thingee.
How long does one have to be “out and about” to get the full value of 8 cigs? Will 5 minutes be enough? Or does it have to be all day?
Anybody know?
Ugh, my lungs burn – yes, just like I’ve smoked a cigarette but like all the time. Never had a problem with the smoke from fires before, but now I do. Mask on, inside – brought out the mask with the real filter. 🙁
Kind of a side comment but it makes me think of the housing crisis – the house I’m in is an older house so the smoke just seeps in; I’m sure hundreds of thousands if not millions of others are in a similar situation. Another argument for affordable, *decent* housing for all.
At the rate the numbers are trending across Canada we are not looking good. That elusive herd immunity is slowly turning into culling of the herd. Just another way of looking at it.
Great post amigo…crazy unimaginable times we’re living in…????????????????????????
How long do you need to be out there in the smoke to have the equivalent of 8 cigarettes?
Try the app WTFORECAST! ????
Ugh. Driving me crazy. Even some otherwise intelligent folks are still writing their own rules. Interpreting the science and the guidelines to suit their social and emotional desires. I think the messaging needs to be succinct and super clear. Because with enough qualifiers, too many people are dodging the limitations.
And not to rant for too long – but the masks being worn improperly! If I see one more nose hanging out, I think I’ll be moving to a remote beach.
There’s going to be a LOT of popcorn to clean in the aftermath of 2020….
On Jack FM I recently heard “With air like this, every break is a smoke break” ????