Leafs @ Flames - Dec 16th POSTPONED

[ACC1224]

Their ticker and weather report must be sending you subliminal messages.

 

[The Examiner]

With covid going crazy again in Ontario, and how much everyone there overreacts about it, I think things might go pretty badly for the leafs the next few months. Like, Vancouver level canceled games and ridiculously tight schedule at the end of the season to make up for it

They’ve played the 2nd most games in the league so at least they won’t have it as bad as some of the other teams will.

Boston could really be screwed if they start having games postponed. I’d feel really bad for them

 

[Notsince67]

Freaking 1,000 person 3 hour lineup at our pop up for boosters 5 minutes before it opened .. OMG this thing is bigger than I thought .. guy at front says well don't think we have enough shots for this crowd .. ridiculous bad planning .. people are sh*tting bricks already

I saw that monoclonal antibody treatment is being trialed at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton. Highly effective from the literature. This is way overdue in Ontario. Just a tip if anyone here or their loved ones get sick.

 

[Ciao]

I watched a video of one of the Dr.'s who discovered this latest strain and she said it's much more transmissible than any known strain but not nearly as lethal. If you have your vax you may no longer be immune but your body will know how to respond quicker/better than if you don't have your vax. It's all about your response. I've always wonder if Covid has been around for longer than 2 years and the people who are asymptomatic are just people who contracted the virus before and have a certain level of immunity? I think the original Covid-19 in 2019 is a variant of some other virus, we call it the first Covid-19 because its the first we know of but it didn't just appear out of thin air, it mutated from something.

I hope I don't break the rules and/or get infracted for this, but this is what I'm reading in the Toronto Star today. Of particular note is whether Omicron is significantly less lethal. As far as I can tell, that really isn't known yet, and it is very worrisome.

I would prefer that teams with COVID outbreaks just don't play or practice until the outbreak clears.

I expect many, many will disagree with me - that's fine. I respect that. I'm not expecting to persuade anyone, but would just like to offer my opinion.

‘Increasing vaccination is not enough,’ experts say as Ontario reports 2,421 new COVID-19 cases​

The science table advising Premier Doug Ford says more “circuit breaker” measures are needed in addition to ramped up COVID-19 booster shots to slow the speedy spread of the new Omicron variant.

​

By Rob FergusonQueen's Park Bureau

​

Robert BenzieQueen's Park Bureau Chief

Thu., Dec. 16, 2021 3 min. read

​

The science table advising Premier Doug Ford says more “circuit breaker” measures are needed in addition to ramped up COVID-19 booster shots to slow the speedy spread of the new Omicron variant in Ontario.

​

“Waiting to take action means waiting until it’s too late to take action,” Steini Brown, co-chair of the science table and dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, said Thursday in presenting new modelling for a fraught festive season and beyond.

​

“Increasing vaccination is not enough to slow this wave,” he added, noting each person infected with Omicron is spreading it to six others. “Waiting for more information will eliminate the opportunity for action.”

The warnings came as Ontario reported 2,421 new daily cases, 600 higher than the previous day and double the level posted last Thursday.

​

The modelling was presented to Ford’s cabinet Wednesday before the government announced anyone over 18 can get a booster shot starting Monday, providing it’s at least 84 days after their second dose — a waiting period that was previously 168 days.

As well, the province is limiting venues with more than 1,000 seats such as sports stadiums, arenas and theatres to 50 per cent capacity starting on Saturday, with masking requirements to be more strictly enforced.

​

More public health measures such as capacity limits in other settings such as restaurants and gyms and improved masking habits would help “buy time” for booster shots to take hold, Brown said.

​

“I recognize these are not easy decisions,” added Brown. “Anything we can do to reduce crowded indoor places is helpful.”

​

The government said it will continue to review trends and data and “act as necessary.”

Ford did not rule out more public health measures at a news conference Wednesday but indicated lockdowns are not anticipated. Officials say schools will remain open.

​

Despite numerous reports that Omicron could be less severe than the Delta strain it is rapidly replacing, Brown insisted that is not true and forecast hospital and intensive care unit occupancy will rise quickly toward the end of the month and could reach “unsustainable levels” in January.

​

“It does cause severe disease ... it’s not just a case of the sniffles,” said Brown, who at another point in the briefing said “the severity of Omicron is unclear.”

​

He said hospitalizations for Omicron in Denmark have been 0.81 per cent of cases, versus 0.75 per cent for other strains, a similar rate.

​

Those Omicron admissions are “not the sniffles,” he added. In actual numbers, there were 28 hospitalizations from 3,437 Omicron cases and 665 hospitalizations for 88,940 cases of other strains.

“Recent data from South Africa suggesting about 25 per cent less severity cannot be extrapolated to northern, high-income countries due to differences in population age and degree of immunity/previous infection,” the modelling presentation cautioned.

​

“A steep rise in cases in South Africa during the current Omicron wave is followed by a steep rise in hospitalizations, while the rise in deaths currently is less steep than in previous waves.”

​

Hospitalizations in Ontario have risen almost 27 per cent in the last four weeks and intensive care unit occupancy by 26 per cent, according to science table statistics.

​

“We are already trending up and we have not yet seen the impact of Omicron,” said Brown, predicting the new strain could easily surpass Ontario’s highest case levels of the pandemic, when the number of new infections reported daily approached 5,000.

​

Without any additional public health measures, the daily case counts could hit 10,000 daily by early January, the science table warned. However, that projection did not account for the actions taken Wednesday to lower the age eligibility for booster shots and capacity limits at arenas and other large venues.

Ontario’s high vaccination levels will also help, with two doses providing good protection from severe illness and boosters further improving that.

​

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott said the modelling does not take into account the accelerated booster shot program — which aims to double or triple vaccination levels to 200,000 or 300,000 daily — and the capacity limits in large venues.

​

“Today’s modelling confirmed that accelerating the booster campaign, as we are, will help blunt the Omicron wave,” said Alexandra Hilkene.
“While the province’s ICUs continue to remain stable, we expect the number of admissions to rise in the coming weeks as Omicron spreads, particularly among the unvaccinated.”

There are now 165 COVID patients in intensive care units, about 600 beds immediately available and “surge capacity” for almost 500 more, Hilkene added.

​

 

[justashadowof]

sigh

 

[Gary Nylund]

I hope I don't break the rules and/or get infracted for this, but this is what I'm reading in the Toronto Star today. Of particular note is whether Omicron is significantly less lethal. As far as I can tell, that really isn't known yet, and it is very worrisome.

I would prefer that teams with COVID outbreaks just don't play or practice until the outbreak clears.

I expect many, many will disagree with me - that's fine. I respect that. I'm not expecting to persuade anyone, but would just like to offer my opinion.

‘Increasing vaccination is not enough,’ experts say as Ontario reports 2,421 new COVID-19 cases​

The science table advising Premier Doug Ford says more “circuit breaker” measures are needed in addition to ramped up COVID-19 booster shots to slow the speedy spread of the new Omicron variant.

​

By Rob FergusonQueen's Park Bureau

​

Robert BenzieQueen's Park Bureau Chief

Thu., Dec. 16, 2021 3 min. read

​

The science table advising Premier Doug Ford says more “circuit breaker” measures are needed in addition to ramped up COVID-19 booster shots to slow the speedy spread of the new Omicron variant in Ontario.

​

“Waiting to take action means waiting until it’s too late to take action,” Steini Brown, co-chair of the science table and dean of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health at the University of Toronto, said Thursday in presenting new modelling for a fraught festive season and beyond.

​

“Increasing vaccination is not enough to slow this wave,” he added, noting each person infected with Omicron is spreading it to six others. “Waiting for more information will eliminate the opportunity for action.”

The warnings came as Ontario reported 2,421 new daily cases, 600 higher than the previous day and double the level posted last Thursday.

​

The modelling was presented to Ford’s cabinet Wednesday before the government announced anyone over 18 can get a booster shot starting Monday, providing it’s at least 84 days after their second dose — a waiting period that was previously 168 days.

As well, the province is limiting venues with more than 1,000 seats such as sports stadiums, arenas and theatres to 50 per cent capacity starting on Saturday, with masking requirements to be more strictly enforced.

​

More public health measures such as capacity limits in other settings such as restaurants and gyms and improved masking habits would help “buy time” for booster shots to take hold, Brown said.

​

“I recognize these are not easy decisions,” added Brown. “Anything we can do to reduce crowded indoor places is helpful.”

​

The government said it will continue to review trends and data and “act as necessary.”

Ford did not rule out more public health measures at a news conference Wednesday but indicated lockdowns are not anticipated. Officials say schools will remain open.

​

Despite numerous reports that Omicron could be less severe than the Delta strain it is rapidly replacing, Brown insisted that is not true and forecast hospital and intensive care unit occupancy will rise quickly toward the end of the month and could reach “unsustainable levels” in January.

​

“It does cause severe disease ... it’s not just a case of the sniffles,” said Brown, who at another point in the briefing said “the severity of Omicron is unclear.”

​

He said hospitalizations for Omicron in Denmark have been 0.81 per cent of cases, versus 0.75 per cent for other strains, a similar rate.

​

Those Omicron admissions are “not the sniffles,” he added. In actual numbers, there were 28 hospitalizations from 3,437 Omicron cases and 665 hospitalizations for 88,940 cases of other strains.

“Recent data from South Africa suggesting about 25 per cent less severity cannot be extrapolated to northern, high-income countries due to differences in population age and degree of immunity/previous infection,” the modelling presentation cautioned.

​

“A steep rise in cases in South Africa during the current Omicron wave is followed by a steep rise in hospitalizations, while the rise in deaths currently is less steep than in previous waves.”

​

Hospitalizations in Ontario have risen almost 27 per cent in the last four weeks and intensive care unit occupancy by 26 per cent, according to science table statistics.

​

“We are already trending up and we have not yet seen the impact of Omicron,” said Brown, predicting the new strain could easily surpass Ontario’s highest case levels of the pandemic, when the number of new infections reported daily approached 5,000.

​

Without any additional public health measures, the daily case counts could hit 10,000 daily by early January, the science table warned. However, that projection did not account for the actions taken Wednesday to lower the age eligibility for booster shots and capacity limits at arenas and other large venues.

Ontario’s high vaccination levels will also help, with two doses providing good protection from severe illness and boosters further improving that.

​

A spokeswoman for Health Minister Christine Elliott said the modelling does not take into account the accelerated booster shot program — which aims to double or triple vaccination levels to 200,000 or 300,000 daily — and the capacity limits in large venues.

​

“Today’s modelling confirmed that accelerating the booster campaign, as we are, will help blunt the Omicron wave,” said Alexandra Hilkene.
“While the province’s ICUs continue to remain stable, we expect the number of admissions to rise in the coming weeks as Omicron spreads, particularly among the unvaccinated.”

There are now 165 COVID patients in intensive care units, about 600 beds immediately available and “surge capacity” for almost 500 more, Hilkene added.

​

My impression (too early to tell for sure) is that omicron is highly unlikely to cause serious illness if you've two shots, the third shot is effective mostly against preventing transmission. If you get omicron, the chances of you developing serious illness is near zero unless you are completely unvaxed.

It's the anti vaxers that look like the problem to me. If everyone was vaxed, boosters wouldn't even be that important because nobody would be at high risk of getting seriously ill. Basically it's the people who are already vaxed who need to get more and more shots mostly to protect those who refuse to get even one shot. Ridiculous!

This might be of interest: Two-dose vaccines induce lower antibodies against Omicron, study finds

 

[Kurtz]

Yeah, it seems reasonable that the Olympics are a no go, and the All-Star game (it's in Vegas of all places this year, yikes) is cancelled as well.

Then the NHL can use those freed-up weeks to do a couple of 10-day health pauses.

 

[ACC1224]

Yeah, it seems reasonable that the Olympics are a no go, and the All-Star game (it's in Vegas of all places this year, yikes) is cancelled as well.

Then the NHL can use those freed-up weeks to do a couple of 10-day health pauses.

Probably need to use some of that time for make up games as well.

 

[justashadowof]

The male lambs are instinctively leery of humans seeking the safety of their ewe. Eventually this passes and they are corralled at the end of every day into the barn with little trouble after a day of frolicking and high kicking in the fields with their cousins. The worst thing to happen in that barn is a chemical dip or powder or a number sprayed on their rump. The most obedient must wonder why some still try to break loose from the herd. Then there's that day in the autumn...

 

[Jojalu]

I know the Leafs could use the rest, plus I know Calgary is getting torched from Covid, but damnit.. I have the night free from any responsibilities and I need the game to be played.

I guess it will be Spiderman before the theaters get to 50% capacity

 

[ACC1224]

I know the Leafs could use the rest, plus I know Calgary is getting torched from Covid, but damnit.. I have the night free from any responsibilities and I need the game to be played.

I guess it will be Spiderman before the theaters get to 50% capacity

NFL game should be a good one, was looking forward to watching both.

 

[ECanuck]

The male lambs are instinctively leery of humans seeking the safety of their ewe. Eventually this passes and they are corralled at the end of every day into the barn with little trouble after a day of frolicking and high kicking in the fields with their cousins. The worst thing to happen in that barn is a chemical dip or powder or a number sprayed on their rump. The most obedient must wonder why some still try to break loose from the herd. Then there's that day in the autumn...

Yeah but as soon as you break loose the wolf is waiting behind the fence. Life is just a bad deal man. lol

 

[Voodoo Child]

This is shaping up well.

They need a rest, somehow every year the Leafs play more games than everyone - Jackie is overworked and needs the rest, Mitch and Sandin can recover a bit, guys always have nagging injuries that they can rest.

I hope this counts towards Spezza’s total for suspension but watch, it won’t, Leafs will still be called Gary’s pet.

There are games happening as we speak in Edmonton and Montreal, the Hurricanes seem to have been the offending team and they’re playing.

I’m happy Canada didn’t go back into full lockdown - because I don’t think the people would take it.

 

[ACC1224]

NFL game should be a good one, was looking forward to watching both.

That was awesome

 

[Brown Dog]

That was awesome

Yes, that was magnificent! Go Chiefs!

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

Any word on a make up date?