december update

worldwide cases: 65,395,834 (Oct. 25: 29,051,154)
worldwide deaths: 1,509,544 (Oct. 25: 924,879)
US cases: 14,149,770 (Oct. 25: 6,520,733)
US deaths: 276,406 (Oct. 25: 194,107)
Canada cases: 399,770 (Oct. 25: 138,712)
Canada deaths: 12,423 (Oct. 25: 9,221)
Ontario cases: 125,233 (Oct. 25: 46,485)
Ontario deaths: 3,727 (Oct. 25: 2,863)

that second wave picked up steam in Ontario and really shows no sign of going away any time soon. Ontario's daily infections have been in the 1700-1800 range for a few weeks. We've been in a new lockdown since Nov. 23....
"The orders, which came into effect at 12:01 a.m. on November 23 and will be in place for at least 28 days, include:
-no indoor organized public events and social gatherings, except with members of the same household
outdoor organized public events and social gatherings are limited to 10 people
-closing all outdoor dining and patios. Take-out, drive-thru and delivery options remain available and are strongly encouraged to support local businesses
-closing malls, except for essential businesses and pick-up of pre-purchased merchandise at designated pick-up areas
-closing all non-essential retail, except for curbside pick up
-limiting capacity of big box retailers with a grocery section and essential businesses to 50 per cent capacity
-closing all indoor gyms and recreational programs, with some City-operated community centres open for day camps, child care, mental health and addiction supports (not more than 10 people) and social services, such as food banks
-closing all hair salons, barber shops, nail salons and tattoo parlours."
(from the City Of Toronto website)

Obviously we aren't going anywhere for Christmas. Usually when the temp drops below freezing and there's a good dusting of snow on the ground, I start to feel like it's time to load up the car and head South - I'm a snowbird now, I guess - but this year we aren't leaving the country or the province. Or even the house, maybe. I've been in Toronto since 2004 and this is the first Christmas I haven't been back to Georgia. I guess we'll save some money, won't have to make a two day drive there and back, but it's still a bummer.

I got my hair cut right before the lockdown, I should be good until February. Most of my presents have been ordered online. We bought a little artificial tree. We did a video call with the family on Thanksgiving and will do one on Christmas. Between stat holidays and the remains of my vacation I wind up with two solid weeks of time off at the end of the year - I don't have to go back to work until Jan. 4. Hopefully I can use the time constructively?

convention madness

Apparently there's an anime convention happening this weekend in Dallas.

Repeat, an anime con in the middle of a global pandemic's giant wave of infections, at a time when hospitals and health care workers are being overwhelmed. Not a great idea.

Their COVID-19 precautions are as follows:

"-Attendees of Anime Dallas 2020 please note several health and safety procedures are being implemented for 2020. This year will be smaller and more spread out than past years and an attendance cap will be in place.

-MASKS will be required of all attendees, staff, and even the guests. Nobody is an exception to the mask wearing rules, and we will be asking folks to wear masks properly covering their nose and mouth.
-There will be no at-con registration allowed on Friday or Saturday of the convention, the convention’s busiest days. Only pre-registered attendees will be able to attend.
-Hand sanitizing stations will be provided at every panel room, at vendor booths, and throughout all other event spaces of the hotel.
-Hotel spaces will be specially sanitized and cleaned between events and at night
-We will be asking people to respect 6 foot social distancing guidelines and putting markers in place wherever we expect to have lines.
-An attendance cap will be implemented – and this limit will be less than half of last year’s total attendance.
-MANY wonderful and fun events simply can NOT take place during this time. Close contact events such as our convention dances will not take place. Events like our rave dances, maid cafe, etc, won’t happen this year.
-Panel rooms and hotel space seating will be socially distanced and additionally rooms will be capped at less than half normal capacity."

These might be good guidelines for any event moving forward, say in 2022. But right now, without a vaccine, they aren't nearly enough. Apparently the convention is hosting a buffet? A terrible idea right now. Locals say that the DFW area has been having weddings and events and buffets for a while, so Texas simply doesn't care, I suppose.

I have a friend who's vending at the show; he's not happy about it but he's got to be there this year or he loses his spot next year, and last year's convention was lucrative enough that he can't afford to miss it. That's where they're at - either risk your life, or risk your livelihood. Ugh.

Stay home. Don't go to this or any other convention.