Here's a bit of a COVID rant. This is my perspective, observations, and opinion; so they should be taken as such. Do your research and come to your conclusion with whatever you want to do.
Has anyone else noticed all the mainstream media's articles don't use the word 'law' when they're talking about social distancing? I'm sure there are some out there who have used it, but I've been noticing this for a while and most are using the word 'rule' instead.
Some examples:
Thankfully, Ottawa Public Health has taken steps to alleviate any confusion, and Canada’s social distancing rules just became a lot easier to understand!
the rules regarding “essential” trips and outdoor activity seem to have been misunderstood by some people.
To make the rules as clear as possible, OPH and Dr. Etches have explained exactly what the protocol is in their latest statement, and it’s pretty helpful to understand!
Following the rules is no longer just a social obligation...
To enforce that rule, and others surrounding social distancing, police officers in Ontario have been given temporary powers under the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act.
...to ticket or fine anyone breaking the rules, which have also changed drastically since the beginning of the week.
Tickets amounting to either $750 or $1,000 will be handed out to anyone not complying with physical distancing rules.
...where the government is issuing $1,000 fines for violations of social distancing rules...
In such cases, where local rules are being violated, it makes sense to let authorities know...
That's just a small sample. I've noticed this starting from the very beginning and it raises a few questions.
Why don't they call them laws and how did all the mainstream media start doing this from the very beginning? Obviously, this is coordinated in some way.
It seems like such a minor detail, but it continues to happen and I can't stop noticing it. Now that I've told you, you'll notice it too - sorry about that.
And really, it's so minor I don't even know what to say about it, but something is up with that word. When you've got armed individuals running around demanding money from people or locking them in cages because somebody broke a 'rule' that is being made up on the fly and seems to change without warning, there's a problem.
As much as I don't agree with laws that don't produce victims when broken, there is a process to enact those, including the ability to look up the exact law once it comes into effect. The ability to change the law once in place is also a process, which prevents it from being changed from day to day to suit the needs of the slimy politicians wielding them.
These 'rules' are on a different level. They're coming from everywhere and given the state of our mainstream media these days, they can't be trusted and it's best just to go to the source yourself and look what the 'law' says.
As it normally is, the laws are spread out and buried deep in a bunch of ridiculousness, but I did find the official 'rules' for where I live. They are not as restrictive as the media is reporting them to be - at least in Nova Scotia. I'll list some of what I found here, so you can read them yourself if they apply.
Nova Scotia Emergency Management Act
Offence of obstruction
Any person who obstructs the Minister, a municipality, the Department, a committee established pursuant to this Act or any person in the performance of any action, matter or thing authorized by this Act or who contravenes or fails to comply
(a) with any provision of this Act or any regulation; or
(b) with any direction, order or requirement made pursuant to this Act or the regulations, is guilty of an offense and liable on summary conviction
(c) in the case of an individual, to a fine not exceeding ten thousand dollars; or
(d) in the case of a corporation, to a fine not exceeding one hundred thousand dollars, or to the imprisonment of not more than six months or both.
This act doesn't say a whole lot as far a what people have to do. It lays out the processes for officials mostly. It does say you can be fined for breaking any orders pertaining to this. No mention of breaking the 'rules'.
Nova Scotia Health Protection Act
Restrictions on private rights and freedoms limited
Restrictions on private rights and freedoms arising as a result of the exercise of any power under this Act shall be no greater than are reasonably required, considering all of the circumstances, to respond to a health hazard, notifiable disease or condition, communicable disease or public health emergency.
Orders respecting health hazards
(1) Where a medical officer reasonably believes that
(a) a health hazard exists or may exist; and
(b) an order is necessary to prevent, remedy, mitigate or otherwise deal with the health hazard, the medical officer may make any order that the medical officer considers necessary to prevent, remedy, mitigate or otherwise deal with the health hazard.
(2) A medical officer may make an order orally if a delay is likely
to increase substantially the hazard to public health.
(3) Where an order is made orally pursuant to subsection (2), the contents and reasons for the order shall be put into writing and served on each person to whom the order was directed within seventy-two hours after the making of the oral order, but a failure to comply with this subsection does not invalidate the order.
Here's where it gets into orders pertaining to health hazards. They can be made orally, but needs to be put into writing within 72 hours. Not putting it into writing does not negate the order, but good luck trying to enforce hearsay on an entire province through the legal system. In any case, the order is in writing below.
Nova Scotia Alerts and Notices Pertaining to COVID-19
Here's all the Acts, Orders, and updates put out by Nova Scotia. It is pretty in-depth and there is quite a bit of information in there. They put the 'rules' on this page and they do reflect the official order, so read the rules here if you can't interpret the legalese version.
The key order (reworded) is this:
The following restrictions are in place under the Authority of the Health Protection Act:
Gatherings and social distancing
- There are to be no non-essential gatherings of more than 5 people.
- Any workplace, business, or organization that is not deemed essential (or not already required to be closed) can remain open as long as a two-meter (6 foot) distance can be maintained.
So as long as there aren't more than 5 people, non-essential gatherings are permitted. Generally, this is not what I'm seeing in the media and it's probably causing people to go through more hardship than they need to be. Sure, the best thing to do is to stay home unless necessary and it's a good 'rule' to go by. But, the 'order' is not the same as the 'rule' and there is no legal requirement to stay home unless necessary.
ORDER BY THE MEDICAL OFFICER OF HEALTH UNDER SECTION 32 of
the HEALTH PROTECTION ACT
This is the official order.
There are a lot of restrictions in there for business. They lay out all the businesses that must close, all businesses and people exempt from the order, and the procedure for self-isolating and self quarantining if you've come in from out-of-province or became ill with COVID-19.
The law basically gives these people powers, whatever that means, to issue orders pertaining to the situation. The order is still an enforceable law. No mention of the word 'rule' in there at all.
There is only 1 paragraph I found that actually applies to most people that haven't left the province:
All persons present and residing in Nova Scotia must maintain social distancing of two meters or six feet and keep social gatherings to 5 persons or less.
Pretty much everything else in these 'orders' is for businesses, closures, or isolating direction.
There are a lot of specific things being thrown around as 'rules' that actually aren't. Keep in mind this is for Nova Scotia so make sure to look into the real 'laws' where you live.
So, are you allowed to invite people over to your place for a BBQ now that the weather is getting nicer?
Yes - as long as there are less than 5 people and everyone can remain 6 feet apart.
Keep in mind there is still a risk involved in doing this from both the virus and "law enforcement" and it is still not advised. The "law enforcement" probably is briefed and some may have even read the order, but others might just be going off what the media is telling them so they're unpredictable if you have to deal with them. But, there is no law or order preventing anyone from gathering of 5 people or less.
Are you allowed to go for a drive?
Yes - This is the kind of thing that is getting confusing with the media. The media and even the Cheif Medical Officer of Health (who wrote the order) have said on TV that we 'should' avoid driving in case we get into an accident or break down, but this isn't in the order and therefore, is not a law that can be enforced. They've been strongly encouraging people to stay home when possible, but it's not against the law to leave, for any reason. I can see their point of view that there is a risk in leaving your home if it's not essential, but I also think they can't confine healthy people because it would be against our rights, and they know it. The law directs them to minimize human rights infractions so they are while getting the media to be vague about the 'rules'. Putting everyone on official house arrest in an official order would be going too far should anybody challenge that in court, so they didn't put it in there. Instead, it seems like they're making it seem like a rule on TV when in reality it's not.
Are you allowed to go out in the woods?
Yes, but...
all Municipally owned parks, playgrounds, beaches, and trails in the Municipality of the County of Kings shall remain closed with the exception of the Harvest Moon Trail.
source
...so it's best to find some land not deemed a park - there is plenty around here. That's the notice put out for my area, but most of the province has probably done the same thing. Make sure to check the municipal rules pertaining to you as well.
Do you have to wear a mask?
No - But having some masks and gloves handy in your car wouldn't be a bad idea in case you need it. No need to wear them in the car, especially if you've been outside the car with them on.
Do you have to stay in your house if not showing or feeling symptoms?
No - It's not a bad idea to practice this rule, but there is no obligation under the order.
Can you be fined for getting too close to others?
Yes - Even if you are following all the orders, nothing is stopping a cop from giving you a ticket if he wants. They are the ones with the guns in Canada and you are not. You can fight it later in court, but no matter what it'll be a headache and even if you win, you won't get that time back.
In any case. The chances of someone having evidence that you were too close to someone is pretty low at the moment. I'll be giving Marc Stevens a call if that happens to me, anyway. In reality, what physical evidence is there that these Acts apply to everyone just because they're occupying a specific piece of dirt?
Obviously (or not) I think people should be making their own decisions and take the precautions they feel necessary to protect themselves and others. If you're at risk or worried about putting others at risk, stay home. But on the other hand, if you're able to avoid crowded areas, leave your house if you want to.
The goal here was never to stop the spread. The goal was to slow the spread to avoid overwhelming the inadequate healthcare system. I had to make 8 trips to the ER in the last 2 weeks. Not for myself, but to bring someone else for a reoccurring issue. The healthcare system here is so fucked, it took 8 visits of someone in excruciating pain before they would do anything besides pumping them full of drugs. Every visit also resulted in a different diagnosis ranging from, "You're fine. There's no reason you're having this pain," to, "You're going to need surgery," and even, "This pain is going to be the new normal for you." After nearly two weeks of pain, it turned out to be a simple solution that should have been tried in the first place. I have no faith in our current healthcare system anyway, so we're all fucked if we get sick anyway - COVID or otherwise. They might be able to keep you alive if you cut your arm off, but otherwise, it's proven pretty useless from my experience and observation over the years.
This 'rule' seems to be evolving as well. More and more I'm noticing officials making these 'rules' to "stop the spread". They don't even know what they're talking about anymore and, to me, it looks like most people are just regurgitating what they've been told.
Back to the word 'rule'.
The media seems to be using this word so they can say whatever they want. There are plenty of health officials saying things that 'should' be done. They encourage people to stay at home as much as possible and call it many things - guidelines, rules, recommendations, etc. But they aren't calling it a law or an order because it isn't one.
So when you see the next article, "Man charged with breaking social distancing rules," ask yourself if he broke a rule, or was it an order or a law? Probably the latter. I've read through a bunch of articles related to Nova Scotia. The media keeps pushing that they are breaking the 'rules' but not one has posted a link to the actual order, nor have they clarified what the actual order is they broke. Some have made it look like they did, and I'm sure there are articles out there that do, but generally, it's empty or misleading content. Defining the order would cause people to know that there is no order to stay in your home or your neighborhood if you're healthy. Instead, they're being as vague as possible so people think doing something completely legal is not.
In any case, I'll continue to do what I'm doing. I don't need to go out a whole lot and I didn't even before all this. Not being able to run to the hardware store for a single pack of screws or a piece of hardware for a project is my only setback right now. Definitely a first-world problem.
Many other phrases are being repeated over and over on all media channels as well. They seem harmless but are misleading to most. I could go on and on about some of the words I'm seeing that should be something else.
Here's two that really jump out and they're everywhere.
Social Distancing should be Physical Distancing. Does nobody else see this? Social distancing implies that you can't be social when you do go out, and that is actually how people are acting. People are keeping their heads down, not smiling, not talking, and pretty much pretending like you're not there when you pass by. Somehow they'll get the virus if they make eye contact I guess. Or maybe it's the threat of being extorted if you're social with someone. I'm not sure people realize they are doing this, but they are indirectly being told this and it seems to be working to make people less social while they're physically out in public still. I make a point to make eye contact and say, "Hello," when I pass by someone (while keeping my physical distance). There's no reason not to. I also try not to say social distancing. "Distancing," or "Physical Distancing" is the words we should probably be using instead.
The New Normal - What the fuck is this? It's being repeated quite often and, to me, is quite obviously a word to get people used to whatever 'rule' they want to implement while dismissing other options that don't align with their agenda. It seems like a phrase you use to deal with cognitive dissonance. None of this is normal. This will never be normal. Using this phrase already implies we aren't going back to anything. As this gets worse and worse, we'll just keep calling it "the new normal" and people will have to accept it.
Well, this did turn into quite the rant and there's still so much to rant about. All this from the word 'rule'. I didn't mention any of the conflicting numbers, the doctors speaking out, the alternative media supplying much more thorough information and being censored because of it, or the mainstream and officials keeping data from the public.
I'll save those for my next rant.
