As if family members, rather than nursing staff, were the primary threat to residents…
As if this is unsafe… Even if the window is opened to chat through the screen, their faces are separated by the upper window glass; these people are using common sense, why can’t the municipal government?!
The City of Ottawa is cracking down on families visiting loved ones on the grounds of four city-run long-term care homes during the pandemic.
Long-term care homes in Ontario have been restricting visitors since March, but many people have been going to the homes to visit at windows or to hold up signs for loved ones.
Ottawa’s director of long-term care said in a statement to CBC they have to err on the side of caution and stop this from happening.
“This difficult decision to limit these visitors to the exterior grounds of the homes is based on prioritizing the safety and health of residents and staff,” said Dean Lett, director of long-term care at the City of Ottawa.
He said more residents are going outside now that warmer weather has arrived.
“We have experienced a number of situations where families have visited and have not respected the requirement for physical distancing as directed through public health agencies.”
So?
If you must, punish those who violate such rules, but not the rest! (Though I think even if windows are open so that sound can travel through a screen, while people are closer but separated by glass, what’s the matter with that?)
Guess nuance is something governments are incapable of; just ban it all…
Yes, the reasonable compromise is not ban window visits; ban people who are acting unsafe but not others…
Patriactionary 
feeriker
April 30, 2020 at 4:24 pm
My mother, who resides in a Senior Living community in the SF Bay Area, reports that they’ve been on full lockdown for over six weeks, with no visitors allowed. HOWEVER, they are allowed to receive deliveries of food and gifts. WTF? Either everyone is isolated for their own protection because ANY outside contact is dangerous, or there is no risk.
The fact that this nonsense is universally carried out, in the exact same way EVERYWHERE down to the letter really ought to be setting off more alarm lights than it is. My question at this point, to put it in the crudest form possible, is: What the fuck is the endgame here? Slow extermination of the elderly through isolation? Nothing else seems to make sense!
Will S.
April 30, 2020 at 5:07 pm
Yes; you’d think they wanted to kill off ‘deplorable’ old white voters, while posing as the people’s saviours when they end the economic crisis and restart the economy, saying they saved us, so stop this populism and nationalism nonsense and support huge government…
fuzziewuzziebear
April 30, 2020 at 5:40 pm
I have spent time in those places. Having people visit has to be one of the few bright spots about being there.
Do you think that government is so worried about unfunded liabilities, e.g. Social Security and Medicare, that they would consciously create conditions to shorten people’s lives? People can die of loneliness, but it would be hard to prove.
Will S.
April 30, 2020 at 5:45 pm
Maybe! Or maybe they just want to hasten the ‘utopia’ they want to build by getting rid of those they see as being in their way, i.e. old whites…
fuzziewuzziebear
April 30, 2020 at 6:06 pm
At some point, it is going to be hard to serve all the animals at the government trough. Will Grandma be able to compete for benefits with single moms? I found out something interesting recently. The US has the highest rate of single moms in the world.
Will S.
April 30, 2020 at 6:10 pm
The single moms will duke it out with Grandma, alas…
feeriker
May 1, 2020 at 5:15 am
I would put NOTHING past the sick, evil scumbags who oppress us, no matter how outlandish it sounds.
Will S.
May 1, 2020 at 6:48 am
Same.
feeriker
May 1, 2020 at 5:15 am
I would put NOTHING past the sick, evil scumbags who oppress us, no matter how outlandish it sounds.
freemattpodcast
April 30, 2020 at 6:24 pm
No need for family, govt is your family. Trudeau most have really enjoyed Mao’s teachings
Will S.
April 30, 2020 at 6:25 pm
Indeed.