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| One Continent, Two Very Different Political Responses to the Pandemic | One Continent, Two Very Different Political Responses to the Pandemic |
| (2 months later) | |
| Shortly after I finished my previous Canada Letter, the country’s coronavirus count topped a symbolic 1,000 cases and 12 people had died. A week later and Ontario alone is now nearing the 1,000-case mark, while nationally confirmed cases have topped 4,000, with 39 deaths. | Shortly after I finished my previous Canada Letter, the country’s coronavirus count topped a symbolic 1,000 cases and 12 people had died. A week later and Ontario alone is now nearing the 1,000-case mark, while nationally confirmed cases have topped 4,000, with 39 deaths. |
| Several Canada Letter readers have suggested that we compare Canada and the United States in terms of how they are handling the crisis and their preparation for it. But after I started asking around, it became apparent that the regional differences in both nations make such an assessment impractical, at least in a digestible form. | Several Canada Letter readers have suggested that we compare Canada and the United States in terms of how they are handling the crisis and their preparation for it. But after I started asking around, it became apparent that the regional differences in both nations make such an assessment impractical, at least in a digestible form. |
| Compounding that is the rapidly shifting nature of the crisis. It’s not without anxiety for my colleagues that I’ve been watching New York’s rapid evolution into an epicenter of the outbreak. The week began with the heartbreaking news that one such colleague, Alan Finder, was a victim of coronavirus. | Compounding that is the rapidly shifting nature of the crisis. It’s not without anxiety for my colleagues that I’ve been watching New York’s rapid evolution into an epicenter of the outbreak. The week began with the heartbreaking news that one such colleague, Alan Finder, was a victim of coronavirus. |
| If you’ve not viewed it, make sure you watch the harrowing video by Robin Stein and Caroline Kim in which Dr. Colleen Smith, an emergency room doctor, takes viewers inside Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, the epicenter of the epicenter. | If you’ve not viewed it, make sure you watch the harrowing video by Robin Stein and Caroline Kim in which Dr. Colleen Smith, an emergency room doctor, takes viewers inside Elmhurst Hospital in Queens, the epicenter of the epicenter. |
| [Watch: ‘People Are Dying’: 72 Hours Inside a N.Y.C. Hospital Battling Coronavirus] | [Watch: ‘People Are Dying’: 72 Hours Inside a N.Y.C. Hospital Battling Coronavirus] |
| A reminder to spread the word that all of The Times’s coronavirus coverage can be viewed free of charge and can be found here. | A reminder to spread the word that all of The Times’s coronavirus coverage can be viewed free of charge and can be found here. |
| The political response to the crisis in Canada and the United States has, of course, been drastically different. Partisan and regional grievances have been set aside here with leaders both federally and provincially calling on Canadians to hunker down to contain the spread of the virus. Without exception they also have consistently deferred to physicians, scientists and public health experts to inform Canada’s approach. | The political response to the crisis in Canada and the United States has, of course, been drastically different. Partisan and regional grievances have been set aside here with leaders both federally and provincially calling on Canadians to hunker down to contain the spread of the virus. Without exception they also have consistently deferred to physicians, scientists and public health experts to inform Canada’s approach. |
| No Canadian leader from any party or province is echoing President Trump’s forecast of a return to normal by Easter, an assessment widely rejected by experts. | No Canadian leader from any party or province is echoing President Trump’s forecast of a return to normal by Easter, an assessment widely rejected by experts. |
| Certainly there was an unexpected delay when a scaled-down version of Parliament met to approve a variety of emergency health and economic measures. But, unlike the situation in Washington, it was resolved quickly and the dispute was over the government’s taxing and spending powers, not the need to quickly get money to Canadians and Canadian businesses while also stabilizing the financial system. | Certainly there was an unexpected delay when a scaled-down version of Parliament met to approve a variety of emergency health and economic measures. But, unlike the situation in Washington, it was resolved quickly and the dispute was over the government’s taxing and spending powers, not the need to quickly get money to Canadians and Canadian businesses while also stabilizing the financial system. |
| On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was still working in self-isolation from Rideau Cottage, the residence on the grounds of the governor general’s estate, currently serving as his official residence, because Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has tested positive for the virus. Catherine Porter and I looked into how he’s running the country while also serving as his family’s caregiver. | On Friday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was still working in self-isolation from Rideau Cottage, the residence on the grounds of the governor general’s estate, currently serving as his official residence, because Sophie Grégoire Trudeau has tested positive for the virus. Catherine Porter and I looked into how he’s running the country while also serving as his family’s caregiver. |
| [Read: Justin Trudeau in Home Isolation: ‘Daddy’s on an Important Phone Call’] | [Read: Justin Trudeau in Home Isolation: ‘Daddy’s on an Important Phone Call’] |
| And Dan Bilefsky, our Montreal-based colleague, teamed with Ceylan Yeginsu in London to look at the transformations, good and bad, that the global epidemic has brought to relationships, dating and sex. | And Dan Bilefsky, our Montreal-based colleague, teamed with Ceylan Yeginsu in London to look at the transformations, good and bad, that the global epidemic has brought to relationships, dating and sex. |
| [Read: Of ‘Covidivorces’ and ‘Coronababies’: Life During a Lockdown] | [Read: Of ‘Covidivorces’ and ‘Coronababies’: Life During a Lockdown] |
| As the number of cases is expected to rise over the coming days and likely weeks in Canada, the messages from government about medical equipment and protective gear like face masks have been somewhat mixed. | As the number of cases is expected to rise over the coming days and likely weeks in Canada, the messages from government about medical equipment and protective gear like face masks have been somewhat mixed. |
| In the absence of proven drug treatments, ventilators have become lifesaving devices. And Canada, like most of the world, is in a rush to purchase or manufacture more of the machines. The special legislation passed by the quick parliamentary sitting gave the government the power to take away patents to get vital medical equipment and supplies into production. Currently, all of Canada’s ventilators come from the United States or Europe. | In the absence of proven drug treatments, ventilators have become lifesaving devices. And Canada, like most of the world, is in a rush to purchase or manufacture more of the machines. The special legislation passed by the quick parliamentary sitting gave the government the power to take away patents to get vital medical equipment and supplies into production. Currently, all of Canada’s ventilators come from the United States or Europe. |
| On Friday, three of Canada’s largest auto parts makers announced that they would help manufacture 10,000 ventilators that the province of Ontario is trying to buy. That followed earlier announcements by major carmakers about partnerships with medical supply companies to build the much-needed ventilators. | On Friday, three of Canada’s largest auto parts makers announced that they would help manufacture 10,000 ventilators that the province of Ontario is trying to buy. That followed earlier announcements by major carmakers about partnerships with medical supply companies to build the much-needed ventilators. |
| In many ways, it feels like World War II, when auto assembly lines were turned over to the production of machine guns, shells and a vast array of other weapons. But Andrew Jacobs, Neal E. Boudette, Matt Richtel and Nicholas Kulish reported this week that it might be another thing to actually carry out those plans in a timely way. | In many ways, it feels like World War II, when auto assembly lines were turned over to the production of machine guns, shells and a vast array of other weapons. But Andrew Jacobs, Neal E. Boudette, Matt Richtel and Nicholas Kulish reported this week that it might be another thing to actually carry out those plans in a timely way. |
| “It’s not like making a sedan or S.U.V.,” an adviser to the United States Food and Drug Administration said. “Sounds good as a sound bite, but the practicalities may be very difficult.” | “It’s not like making a sedan or S.U.V.,” an adviser to the United States Food and Drug Administration said. “Sounds good as a sound bite, but the practicalities may be very difficult.” |
| [Read: Amid Desperate Need for Ventilators, Calls Grow for Federal Intervention] | [Read: Amid Desperate Need for Ventilators, Calls Grow for Federal Intervention] |
| The move by Bauer, the hockey equipment maker, to use its visor expertise to produce medical face shields in Quebec seems like a more practical plan. | The move by Bauer, the hockey equipment maker, to use its visor expertise to produce medical face shields in Quebec seems like a more practical plan. |
| Canada’s federal government and most provincial governments said this week that they had enough personal protective equipment either on hand or on the way. But staff members at some hospitals have been told to ration things like gloves and masks. | Canada’s federal government and most provincial governments said this week that they had enough personal protective equipment either on hand or on the way. But staff members at some hospitals have been told to ration things like gloves and masks. |
| I know from touring their operations that the marijuana industry has mountains of such stuff to avoid contaminating their plants and products. Canopy Growth told me that it had donated the protective gear from recently closed facilities in British Columbia to public health officials in Victoria. It also sent some masks to the police force in Smiths Falls, Ontario, the company’s hometown. Tilray, another grower donated to a hospital in Ontario. | I know from touring their operations that the marijuana industry has mountains of such stuff to avoid contaminating their plants and products. Canopy Growth told me that it had donated the protective gear from recently closed facilities in British Columbia to public health officials in Victoria. It also sent some masks to the police force in Smiths Falls, Ontario, the company’s hometown. Tilray, another grower donated to a hospital in Ontario. |
| Medical students in several cities including Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Montreal have started efforts to round up masks and other supplies from construction companies, dental clinics, nail salons and a range of other businesses. | Medical students in several cities including Edmonton, Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax and Montreal have started efforts to round up masks and other supplies from construction companies, dental clinics, nail salons and a range of other businesses. |
| Updated June 5, 2020 | |
| A study by European scientists is the first to document a strong statistical link between genetic variations and Covid-19, the illness caused by the coronavirus. Having Type A blood was linked to a 50 percent increase in the likelihood that a patient would need to get oxygen or to go on a ventilator, according to the new study. | |
| The unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May, the Labor Department said on June 5, an unexpected improvement in the nation’s job market as hiring rebounded faster than economists expected. Economists had forecast the unemployment rate to increase to as much as 20 percent, after it hit 14.7 percent in April, which was the highest since the government began keeping official statistics after World War II. But the unemployment rate dipped instead, with employers adding 2.5 million jobs, after more than 20 million jobs were lost in April. | |
| Mass protests against police brutality that have brought thousands of people onto the streets in cities across America are raising the specter of new coronavirus outbreaks, prompting political leaders, physicians and public health experts to warn that the crowds could cause a surge in cases. While many political leaders affirmed the right of protesters to express themselves, they urged the demonstrators to wear face masks and maintain social distancing, both to protect themselves and to prevent further community spread of the virus. Some infectious disease experts were reassured by the fact that the protests were held outdoors, saying the open air settings could mitigate the risk of transmission. | |
| Exercise researchers and physicians have some blunt advice for those of us aiming to return to regular exercise now: Start slowly and then rev up your workouts, also slowly. American adults tended to be about 12 percent less active after the stay-at-home mandates began in March than they were in January. But there are steps you can take to ease your way back into regular exercise safely. First, “start at no more than 50 percent of the exercise you were doing before Covid,” says Dr. Monica Rho, the chief of musculoskeletal medicine at the Shirley Ryan AbilityLab in Chicago. Thread in some preparatory squats, too, she advises. “When you haven’t been exercising, you lose muscle mass.” Expect some muscle twinges after these preliminary, post-lockdown sessions, especially a day or two later. But sudden or increasing pain during exercise is a clarion call to stop and return home. | |
| States are reopening bit by bit. This means that more public spaces are available for use and more and more businesses are being allowed to open again. The federal government is largely leaving the decision up to states, and some state leaders are leaving the decision up to local authorities. Even if you aren’t being told to stay at home, it’s still a good idea to limit trips outside and your interaction with other people. | |
| Touching contaminated objects and then infecting ourselves with the germs is not typically how the virus spreads. But it can happen. A number of studies of flu, rhinovirus, coronavirus and other microbes have shown that respiratory illnesses, including the new coronavirus, can spread by touching contaminated surfaces, particularly in places like day care centers, offices and hospitals. But a long chain of events has to happen for the disease to spread that way. The best way to protect yourself from coronavirus — whether it’s surface transmission or close human contact — is still social distancing, washing your hands, not touching your face and wearing masks. | |
| Common symptoms include fever, a dry cough, fatigue and difficulty breathing or shortness of breath. Some of these symptoms overlap with those of the flu, making detection difficult, but runny noses and stuffy sinuses are less common. The C.D.C. has also added chills, muscle pain, sore throat, headache and a new loss of the sense of taste or smell as symptoms to look out for. Most people fall ill five to seven days after exposure, but symptoms may appear in as few as two days or as many as 14 days. | |
| If air travel is unavoidable, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself. Most important: Wash your hands often, and stop touching your face. If possible, choose a window seat. A study from Emory University found that during flu season, the safest place to sit on a plane is by a window, as people sitting in window seats had less contact with potentially sick people. Disinfect hard surfaces. When you get to your seat and your hands are clean, use disinfecting wipes to clean the hard surfaces at your seat like the head and arm rest, the seatbelt buckle, the remote, screen, seat back pocket and the tray table. If the seat is hard and nonporous or leather or pleather, you can wipe that down, too. (Using wipes on upholstered seats could lead to a wet seat and spreading of germs rather than killing them.) | |
| Taking one’s temperature to look for signs of fever is not as easy as it sounds, as “normal” temperature numbers can vary, but generally, keep an eye out for a temperature of 100.5 degrees Fahrenheit or higher. If you don’t have a thermometer (they can be pricey these days), there are other ways to figure out if you have a fever, or are at risk of Covid-19 complications. | |
| The C.D.C. has recommended that all Americans wear cloth masks if they go out in public. This is a shift in federal guidance reflecting new concerns that the coronavirus is being spread by infected people who have no symptoms. Until now, the C.D.C., like the W.H.O., has advised that ordinary people don’t need to wear masks unless they are sick and coughing. Part of the reason was to preserve medical-grade masks for health care workers who desperately need them at a time when they are in continuously short supply. Masks don’t replace hand washing and social distancing. | |
| If you’ve been exposed to the coronavirus or think you have, and have a fever or symptoms like a cough or difficulty breathing, call a doctor. They should give you advice on whether you should be tested, how to get tested, and how to seek medical treatment without potentially infecting or exposing others. | |
| If you’re sick and you think you’ve been exposed to the new coronavirus, the C.D.C. recommends that you call your healthcare provider and explain your symptoms and fears. They will decide if you need to be tested. Keep in mind that there’s a chance — because of a lack of testing kits or because you’re asymptomatic, for instance — you won’t be able to get tested. | |
| Ethan Lin, a third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa, told me that the group he was involved with created a list of 1,000 companies in Ottawa and began cold calling them for donations. A single nail salon produced 300 surgical masks, another one donated 2,000 gloves. As of Thursday, Mr. Lin and his classmates had collected about 3,000 surgical masks and more than 60,000 gloves, with more coming in. | Ethan Lin, a third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa, told me that the group he was involved with created a list of 1,000 companies in Ottawa and began cold calling them for donations. A single nail salon produced 300 surgical masks, another one donated 2,000 gloves. As of Thursday, Mr. Lin and his classmates had collected about 3,000 surgical masks and more than 60,000 gloves, with more coming in. |
| “There are a lot of different people coming together,” he said. | “There are a lot of different people coming together,” he said. |
| For families with members who shuttle back and forth between Canada and China, there can be a wide range of stresses, and their situation has been made worse by travel restrictions from the current pandemic. But, as Dan Bilefsky found, growing up in an “astronaut family” pulled between two continents also has its advantages. | For families with members who shuttle back and forth between Canada and China, there can be a wide range of stresses, and their situation has been made worse by travel restrictions from the current pandemic. But, as Dan Bilefsky found, growing up in an “astronaut family” pulled between two continents also has its advantages. |
| [Read: ‘Astronaut’ Families Stressed by Straddling 2 Worlds: China and Canada] | [Read: ‘Astronaut’ Families Stressed by Straddling 2 Worlds: China and Canada] |
| A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for the past 16 years. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten. | A native of Windsor, Ontario, Ian Austen was educated in Toronto, lives in Ottawa and has reported about Canada for The New York Times for the past 16 years. Follow him on Twitter at @ianrausten. |
| We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to nytcanada@nytimes.com. | We’re eager to have your thoughts about this newsletter and events in Canada in general. Please send them to nytcanada@nytimes.com. |
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