According to many public health observers across Ontario, the province appears well on its way to a catastrophic turn of events

Update: A Nov. 16, 2020 Toronto Star article is entitled: “Toronto Public Health officials barred from publicly revealing their advice to Doug Ford’s provincial government.”

An excerpt reads:

But de Villa said she could not share any advice that table has provided to Ontario’s chief medical officer of health because TPH members have signed non-disclosure agreements, as have all other members of the table.

“Unfortunately, given the terms under which we participate on the table, we are required to keep the discussions and the advice that’s provided at that table confidential,” de Villa said.

After hearing that, the board of health moved to ask the provincial government to “immediately implement a fully transparent process of receiving public health advice,” including making public the advice provided to the chief medical officer of health and cabinet.

The motion from board chair Coun. Joe Cressy was adopted unanimously and must be voted on by council next week.

The move by Toronto’s board of health comes after the Star reported that the provincial government ignored its own expert advice when it finalized a framework for reopening that contained thresholds four times higher in some cases than what was advised.

The province has since amended its framework to raise the bar for reopening across the province.

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This post is devoted to a few links and a tweet related to COVID-19.

The right mindset is helpful during a prolonged lockdown

A Sept. 26, 2020 Guardian article is entitled: “Dreading a dark winter lockdown? Think like a Norwegian.”

An excerpt reads:

Leibowitz’s findings build on decades of previous research showing that the mental framing of stressful events can powerfully influence the ways we are affected by them. People who see stressful events as “challenges”, with an opportunity to learn and adapt, tend to cope much better than those who focus more on the threatening aspects – like the possibility of failure, embarrassment or illness. These differences in mindset not only influence people’s mood, but also their physiological responses, such as changes in blood pressure and heart rate, and how quickly they recover after the event. And the impact can be long-lasting, even during major transitions: one Israeli study found that immigrants’ stress appraisals can predict how well they adjust to their new country. They also seem to determine how well police officers in Australia cope with the stresses of their work.

Of related interest: A March 15, 2016 Scientific American article its entitled: “Study Finds ‘Seasonal Affective Disorder’ Doesn’t Exist: A rigorous survey raises serious questions.”

An April 3, 2016 CBC article is entitled: “No evidence for seasonal affective disorder, says researcher: SAD is commonly believed to affect a significant portion of the population.”

An April 5, 2019 Evidently Cochrane article is entitled: “Preventing seasonal affective disorder (SAD): light on evidence.”

‘Limit contact only to those in your household’

A Sept. 29, 2020 CBC article is entitled: “Burst your social bubble and limit contact only to those in your household: Toronto’s top doctor.”

An excerpt reads:

Toronto’s top doctor is warning that it’s time to burst your social bubble and limit your interactions with anyone outside your immediate household or essential supports.

Bubbles were initially an effective method of curbing the spread of COVID-19, the city’s medical officer of health Dr. Eileen de Villa said at a news conference on Monday [Sept. 28, 2020]. But since then, she said, “times have changed.”

“In Toronto, we have to acknowledge that the extent of the infection spread and the nature of city life means that the concept of the bubble or the social circle no longer reflect the circumstances in which we live,” she said Monday.

‘Close dine-in at restaurants and bars before it’s too late’

A Sept. 29, 2020 CBC article is entitled: “Close dine-in at restaurants and bars before it’s too late, urges Toronto doctor.”

An excerpt reads:

Last week, a group of experts and physicians, along with the OHA, had issued a statement that called for very strict measures to really restrict and temporarily close businesses, particularly dine-in restaurants, nightclubs [and] bars, and we didn’t hear any of that.

Comment from Robert Fisher, retired CBC News Host

Robert Fisher @politicsfisher a retired CBC News Host tweeted on Sept. 29, 2020:

I’m hearing of mounting frustration within several @fordnation ministries because of long delays in getting approval for even the most straightforward news release. E-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g must be approved by Ford’s office. It’s all about control.

Fisher’s comment is of interest.

This does not look good.