2021 Worlds are still on

[4everchan]

^^^^^This is an absolute fact! As an audience member, even if you're wearing a mask, socially distanced in the food and bathroom lines ( Which are quite long between flight's of skaters ) You will have to touch hand rails, lean on counters when ordering at the food court, not to mention sharing a bathroom with literally hundreds, if not thousands of people. IMO, this is the perfect year to have a small gathering of friends and watch on TV

First part of the post.. yup...

last sentence : not allowed where i live... no visitors are allowed in other people's home ... because it is those small parties that are responsible for spreading the virus within the community. So i think you meant :watch worlds online while chatting with forum friends or watch on TV with your family bubble

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

Are we talking about the same skaters who apparently went to a big birthday party following Rostelecom Cup...?

Well, then, that's just irresponsible of them... I would hope that the Russian skaters would have enough decency to not do something like that in Sweden and potentially endanger the other skaters. And if they do, well, goodbye!

 

[mrrice]

First part of the post.. yup...

last sentence : not allowed where i live... no visitors are allowed in other people's home ... because it it those small parties that are responsible for spreading the virus within the community. So i think you meant :watch worlds online while chatting with forum friends or watch on TV with your family bubble

Wow, those are some strict "Restrictions " We're allowed up to 10 people as guests in addition to our families as long as all are wearing masks. Of course, I live in a fairly large house with plenty of indoor and outdoor space. If I lived in an apartment, I'd probably watch by myself like used to.

 

[NanaPat]

Wow, those are some strict "Restrictions " We're allowed up to 10 people as guests in addition to our families as long as all are wearing masks. Of course, I live in a fairly large house with plenty of indoor and outdoor space. If I lived in an apartment, I'd probably watch by myself like used to.

We have similar restrictions in BC: no guests in your house, though you may admit cleaners, and people doing maintenance, and there are some exceptions for people who live alone. Since last March we have had one plumber, one furnace/fireplace technician, a cable guy, and a cleaner in our house; some of them have been here multiple times. Some people are doing renovations during the lockdowns, but we don't want a lot of different workers coming into our house.

Our Premier announced that he was having only his daughter and son-in-law for Christmas dinner, then had to backtrack and announce he had dis-invited them. If he had two (non-resident) daughters who each lived alone, he could have had them both over, but if he'd had three, he would have had to choose two to invite.

Some interesting statistics on covid in US states and Canadian provinces.

COVID-19 in the U.S.: How do Canada's provinces rank against American states?

Looking at confirmed coronavirus cases per million people, how do the U.S. states compare to Canada's provinces and territories?

www.ctvnews.ca

 

[sailormoon]

The European Union reimposed an entry ban on travelers from Japan following a surge of coronavirus cases in the country. With the new policy, the entry from Japan will be banned in principle, except for people such as long-term residents and their family members. Japan extended a state of emergency until early March and the entry ban may not be lifted in time for the Worlds.

Japan’s removal from the so-called EU travel ‘white list’

Entry restrictions into the EU for people travelling from Japan

eeas.europa.eu

 

[4everchan]

The European Union reimposed an entry ban on travelers from Japan following a surge of coronavirus cases in the country. With the new policy, the entry from Japan will be banned in principle, except for people such as long-term residents and their family members. Japan extended a state of emergency until early March and the entry ban may not be lifted in time for the Worlds.

Japan’s removal from the so-called EU travel ‘white list’

Entry restrictions into the EU for people travelling from Japan

eeas.europa.eu

well... as far as I remember, only a handful of countries outside Europe are on the "allowed to travel to Eu" list... Canada and USA are not...yet, athletes from these countries are participating to events in bobsleigh, luge, alpine skiing, cross-country skiing and long track speed skating... so I don't think these bans apply to elite athletes... If Japanese athletes want to go to Sweden, same with Canadians, I don't see the EU travel ban as an obstacle... otherwise, let's cancel Worlds and hold the event as EUROS ...

 

[ladyjane]

With the long track competitions, skaters were only allowed into the bubble if they had a negative test before getting onto the plane (and a limit on the time between getting the test outcome and departure), and another test was conducted on entry - only allowed in if that one was also negative.

Besides European skaters (including Russian) there are Canadians, US Skaters, Australians and also skaters from Kazachstan present. The Japanese had declined to go themselves (they could come despite the travel ban - under the conditions as mentioned).

 

[ELEk3k]

I'm far more concerned about all the air travel that athletes and coaches would have to endure to get to Worlds, than the safety of the venue.

I love figure skating as much as anyone, but, at this point, air travel and dealing with airports seems incredibly risky. Only a tiny percentage of people have even been vaccinated.

I am sure that the entire Russian sports delegation will be vaccinated by Sputnik V. In St. Petersburg and Moscow, a very active vaccination is now underway. My friend is already vaccinated, and all delegations for international cups will be 100% priority.

 

[[email protected]]

Are you serious? This is exactly how Covid-19 continuously gets spread despite all the Lockdown and safety measures that are in place, it's not big sporting events, but people thinking regular, small gatherings with family members or close friends are 'ok' or 'low risk'.
And thanks to them all the measures get prolonged, and prolonged, and prolonged while the numbers won't go down.

They do. Right now the 7 day moving average number of worldwide new cases is at the end of October level, 35% down from the mid-January peak. I would say that in a month it will further drop by half to the early September level. Vaccinations and herd immunity will say their word.

 

[1111bm]

They do. Right now the 7 day moving average number of worldwide new cases is at the end of October level, 35% down from the mid-January peak. I would say that in a month it will further drop by half to the early September level. Vaccinations and herd immunity will say their word.

Er, we've been in a semi lockdown state since the beginning of November, and no, the numbers did NOT go down. They only finally started going down now (slowly!) after all the christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations took place and after all non-essential stores have been closed for 6 weeks. And no, vaccinations have little to nothing to do with it (not yet), since they've only just started and have only vaccinated very old ppl + essential workers, and they're not the ones mainly spreading the disease.

So excuse me if I'm a liiiittle bit testy when the actions of irresponsible people unnecessarily prolong the state we have to live in! (and by that I mean not being able to skate for months, not even outdoor rinks are open, meanwhile every other country that's affected just as much has still open rinks and even public sessions...)

 

[anonymoose_au]

I am sure that the entire Russian sports delegation will be vaccinated by Sputnik V. In St. Petersburg and Moscow, a very active vaccination is now underway. My friend is already vaccinated, and all delegations for international cups will be 100% priority.

Does the vaccine work though? I thought there wasn't any peer reviewed research into it anything?

 

[DizzyFrenchie]

Does the vaccine work though? I thought there wasn't any peer reviewed research into it anything?

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00234-8/fulltext
It's a recombined virus, based on two different adenoviruses, AD5 for the first shot and AD26 for the second, which lessens the risk of a complete lack of protection (when people already have antibodies against the type of adenovirus the vaccine is based on) to a very small fringe of the population, so it is probably more efficient than other recombined vaccines, at least against the "regular variants" : against some of the new variants, both mRNA-based devices and recombined vaccines are likely to be much less efficient (or worse), this is why Sweden last measures (compulsory test to enter the country, nobody allowed who have stayed in the last 14 days in the countries where these variants have been found, to prevent their entrance in the country) are welcome. There are even wards at the frontiers with neighbouring countries. I don't know how they will check athletes and staff, particularly from the countries where these variants have been found. Maybe one negative test is not enough?

 

[TontoK]

Note to Mods: I deleted my earlier post on this thread, just a few up.

Not that what I wrote isn't true... but it's probably also not helpful.

 

[anonymoose_au]

https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)00234-8/fulltext

So it does work? I'm just concerned because it's got such bad press and if it doesn't work, but all the Russian skaters and coaches think it does they may take unnecessary risks. In which case they should be removed from the competition, which would be a huge blow

 

[[email protected]]

Er, we've been in a semi lockdown state since the beginning of November, and no, the numbers did NOT go down. They only finally started going down now (slowly!) after all the christmas and New Year's Eve celebrations took place and after all non-essential stores have been closed for 6 weeks. And no, vaccinations have little to nothing to do with it (not yet), since they've only just started and have only vaccinated very old ppl + essential workers, and they're not the ones mainly spreading the disease.

So excuse me if I'm a liiiittle bit testy when the actions of irresponsible people unnecessarily prolong the state we have to live in! (and by that I mean not being able to skate for months, not even outdoor rinks are open, meanwhile every other country that's affected just as much has still open rinks and even publis sessions...)

I can't argue with you on the situation in your country. For one thing, I don't know what country we are talking about. And I am sure you know better the situation there than I do. I was talking about the world and about the 7 day moving average which excludes daily fluctuations. The world now is 35% down in new cases just in 2 weeks since the mid-January peak and I am optimistic that the trend will not reverse. So that by the time of the worlds in the end of March it will go down further 50% to the last summer level. Those who come to Sweden will either have IGg antibodies or will have got the vaccine. Safety measures will be followed by skaters, teams, and officials.

With all this cancelling the worlds would be a mistake from my standpoint. Coronavirus is here to stay like flu, herpes, and other viruses. We have to live with it not deny ourselves the right to live.

 

[figureskatingandrainbows]

So it does work? I'm just concerned because it's got such bad press and if it doesn't work, but all the Russian skaters and coaches think it does they may take unnecessary risks. In which case they should be removed from the competition, which would be a huge blow

Based on everything I've seen, it's actually a legitimate vaccine - they're actually partnering with AstraZeneca to attempt to increase the effectiveness.

 

[eaglehelang]

As for Worlds,
IF they keep all athletes in one hotel.
IF they don't let them out of the hotel or the rink.
IF they enforce social distancing.
IF they enforce mask rules.

One violation, you're out, too bad, so sad, no appeal.

Maybe they can pull it off. Maybe.

Add to that :
1) Mandatory 14 day quarantine before competing. Test again before allowed to compete.
2) Continued testing throughout the tournament.
3) One athlete test positive, the whole team is placed in quarantine.

This is the most stringent rules that has been imposed thus far for sports.
Tested negative upon arrival does not mean wouldnt test positive as what happened during badminton competition in Thailand in Jan 2021 has proven.

 

[eaglehelang]

I can't argue with you on the situation in your country. For one thing, I don't know what country we are talking about. And I am sure you know better the situation there than I do. I was talking about the world and about the 7 day moving average which excludes daily fluctuations. The world now is 35% down in new cases just in 2 weeks since the mid-January peak and I am optimistic that the trend will not reverse. So that by the time of the worlds in the end of March it will go down further 50% to the last summer level. Those who come to Sweden will either have IGg antibodies or will have got the vaccine. Safety measures will be followed by skaters, teams, and officials.

With all this cancelling the worlds would be a mistake from my standpoint. Coronavirus is here to stay like flu, herpes, and other viruses. We have to live with it not deny ourselves the right to live.

Cases are actually rising in my country in Asia. It is expected to rise higher with the upcoming Chinese New Year starting 13 Feb.
It's not peak yet here in Asia, same as in 2020. Cases rose during and after Chinese New Year 2020, last year CNY was end Jan 2020. Cases always rise during festive season. Peak festive season over here has never been Dec except perhaps Philippines.

Now the World average is reduced, it will rise again. Remember how big is the population in China.

 

[CoyoteChris]

I find it interesting to follow how countries do over time....the US is now getting out of the Thanksgiving/XMAS/New Years disaster but I can't wait to see what happens after 50,000,000 Americans party during the Superbowl. Lots of alchohol and yelling I guess....never been to one...There seems to be about a three week delay and the numbers will go up or not....Me? After seeing how many people poo poo mask wearing here, I just stay home and wait for my second shot....

 

[TT_Fin]

Sweden has twice as many citizens as Finland. Their Corona deaths and are 10x more than in Finland and new positive tests are counted from yesterday's number 27x more. Norway is quite similar to Finland compared to all of those numbers. I am too tired to search if somebody already wrote this, but they now demand negative corona test, not more than 48 hours old, from everybody who arrives to country. They have some exceptions, for example people who go to work from neighbour countries, does not give it so often, but "new arrivals" must. Even the numbers in Finland are low, they are rising. How easy it is to get a test just 48 hours before going to Sweden if you come from other side of the globe? Sweden has had more loose line in restrictions than almost any other in Europe, but they are now following the example of their neighbours, Norway and Finland. Sweden's frontiers and now closed from everybody who come from Britain, Denmark, Norway and all the others who come outside of European Union. Russia and a and about a half of the other European countries does not belong to European Union. So it will be hard to organize the worlds in light of this if the situation does not change quite quickly.