From: brewnoser2@gmail.com   
      
   The race between Covid and the vaccines is now on full speed. And with   
   AstraZeneca out of competition for some time at least, we'd better hope that   
   there are no major delays in shipments from other countries.   
      
   Biden was going to share AstraZeneca with Canada and Mexico when approved in   
   the U.S. It's a gift we may not be wanting.   
   ________________________________   
   CBC News · Posted: Mar 29, 2021   
      
   B.C. implements sweeping restrictions on indoor dining, group fitness for   
   3-week 'circuit breaker'   
      
      
   B.C. is implementing a three-week "circuit breaker"-style lockdown,   
   introducing sweeping new restrictions on indoor dining in restaurants, group   
   fitness and worship services.   
      
   The province recorded 2,518 new cases of COVID-19 over the last three days,   
   including a record high 936 on Saturday. Six more people have died.   
      
   "We have seen the start of exponential growth," said Provincial Health Officer   
   Dr. Bonnie Henry at a Monday press conference. "Gathering indoors is what is   
   the greatest risk to all of us right now."   
      
   The province announced on Monday that all food and liquor-serving premises   
   must pivot to takeout or delivery service. Indoor dining is suspended, though   
   patios will remain open.   
      
   People dining on patios should do so with their immediate household or core   
   bubble only.   
      
   Indoor, adult group fitness activities of any kind are paused. Gyms and   
   fitness centres are restricted to individual or one-on-one activities.   
      
   A previous announcement allowing for limited indoor worship services has been   
   suspended.   
      
   Public health guidance for schools has also been amended and now encourages   
   students down to Grade 4 to wear masks while at school.   
      
   The Whistler-Blackcomb ski resort will also be closed.   
      
      
   First new restrictions in months   
      
   All new public health orders go into effect at midnight on March 30 and will   
   be in place until April 19.   
      
   B.C. is tightening restrictions for the first time since November. Unlike   
   other provinces, indoor dining in B.C. has remained open since May 2020.   
      
   But B.C.'s seven-day rolling average of new cases is now at 803 cases a day   
   — the second highest number of the pandemic. B.C. recorded 329 new cases   
   associated with variants of concern on Monday, bringing total variant cases in   
   the province to 2,233.    
   Currently, 413 of the variant cases are active.   
      
   Henry said she is concerned that variant cases are currently driving   
   transmission in B.C., especially as they are likelier to lead to severe   
   infection in young people, and the variant associated with Brazil, P.1., which   
   is showing significant growth, is    
   less amenable to vaccines.   
      
   "I was very hopeful, even as late as last week, that we could keep where we   
   were. But the dramatic increase in the last five or so days prompted this,"   
   said Henry.   
      
   Henry confirmed there is currently a cluster of P.1 variant cases, the strain   
   first detected in Brazil, in Whistler, and said that during targeted workplace   
   inspections in the resort town, the province found that staff were struggling   
   to maintain public    
   health restrictions between restaurant patrons.   
      
   "We have seen increased cases because of spring break travel — that has   
   meant a rapid rise in cases," said Henry.   
      
   "Despite testing and contact tracing, we are seeing a spike in the Whistler   
   Blackcomb region. Unfortunately, our efforts there have not been enough."   
      
   https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/xQVpE/237/   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)