ISU has cancelled 2021 Europeans, ISU Grand Prix Final, World Junior Synchro; Stockholm Worlds still on for now

[skategal]

I hope the IAM dancers are on their way back to Montreal this weekend (Ie. before the new travel restrictions are put in place.)

I imagine it would suck to have to quarantine 14 days in a hotel room rather than at your own place.

I noticed on Instagram a few days ago that Maddie Hubbell is already back in Montreal.

So that’s good.

 

[Lemonade20]

They ask you to quarantine in a hotel room, but I know that certain skaters literally just drive across the border and stays at other people’s houses instead.

 

[TygerLily]

They ask you to quarantine in a hotel room, but I know that certain skaters literally just drive across the border and stays at other people’s houses instead.

I think people are talking about the new restrictions that Trudeau says could begin anytime:

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Friday his government could impose stricter restrictions on travelers at any moment in response to new, likely more contagious variants of the ***** — possibly making it mandatory to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense when they arrive in Canada.

“Trudeau said at a news conference that such measures could be imposed suddenly and bluntly warned against nonessential trips abroad.”

https://tinyurl.com/1i7ue3lx (Global News)

 

[aka_gerbil]

Zach Donohue posted an Instagram story early this morning with Madi H.
They were in a vehicle and it looked like fields outside. I presume they’re heading back to Montreal.

 

[MacMadame]

I would like to point out that it is very typical for skaters to take a week or two off after US Nationals. I don't think the fact that people did this, especially ones who haven't been able to see their family as much as normal this past year says anything about what skaters think about Worlds one way or another.

 

[Debbie S]

I think people are talking about the new restrictions that Trudeau says could begin anytime:

“Prime Minister Justin Trudeau warned Friday his government could impose stricter restrictions on travelers at any moment in response to new, likely more contagious variants of the ***** — possibly making it mandatory to quarantine in a hotel at their own expense when they arrive in Canada.

“Trudeau said at a news conference that such measures could be imposed suddenly and bluntly warned against nonessential trips abroad.”

https://tinyurl.com/1i7ue3lx (Global News)

So the hotel requirement hasn't actually been imposed yet, it's just under consideration. (And I doubt something like that would be "sudden", as in instantly - they would need at least a few days to set something up with hotels and figure out how to enforce.)

 

[skategal]

So the hotel requirement hasn't actually been imposed yet, it's just under consideration. (And I doubt something like that would be "sudden", as in instantly - they would need at least a few days to set something up with hotels and figure out how to enforce.)

It’s most likely happening next week sometime. Yesterday was the warning from PM Trudeau.

What people don’t realize is that hotels have been on retainer on an as needed basis for this since March.

If someone came into Canada and didn’t have a sufficient quarantine plan, they got sent to a specific hotel nearest to their destination city to quarantine.

 

[Frau Muller]

So the hotel requirement hasn't actually been imposed yet, it's just under consideration. (And I doubt something like that would be "sudden", as in instantly - they would need at least a few days to set something up with hotels and figure out how to enforce.)

A couple of Qs:

1. Why at a hotel, rather than in one’s own home? In most countries, local police go unannounced to check-up on the person who is quarantining...as happened with a French colleague of mine who had to return home in November. Do governments that impose the hotel rule simply not trust people?

2. Are the hotels guarded, to ensure that nobody sneak out?

 

[skategal]

A couple of Qs:

1. Why at a hotel, rather than in one’s own home? In most countries, local police go unannounced to check-up on the person who is quarantining...as happened with a French colleague of mine who had to return home in November. Do governments that impose the hotel rule simply not trust people?

2. Are the hotels guarded, to ensure that nobody sneak out?

There is evidence that people are breaking quarantine. It’s not a matter of trusting people. The governments (Federal and provincial) know through contact tracing that people are not complying by who is getting infected with crud.

I assume the hotels will be guarded like they do in Australia.

 

[kwanfan1818]

There is evidence that people are breaking quarantine. It’s not a matter of trusting people. The governments (Federal and provincial) know through contact tracing that people are not complying by who is getting infected with crud.

Friends who've returned to BC have told me that monitors show up at the address listed to be sure they were there. I've heard tales of fines if people aren't there, but none of my friends are owning up to it being they.

 

[Karen-W]

There is evidence that people are breaking quarantine. It’s not a matter of trusting people. The governments (Federal and provincial) know through contact tracing that people are not complying by who is getting infected with crud.

I assume the hotels will be guarded like they do in Australia.

Yes, it is a matter of not trusting people.

That isn't to say that people haven't demonstrated good reason to not be trusted to quarantine as requested, but let's not pretend that the threats being issued by Trudeau and other government officials are happening for any other reason than a lack of trust in the citizenry.

As far as what will happen to any US skaters who are based in Canada for training, I would hope they are allowed to stay in their own homes but I guess we'll see if their travel is considered frivolous and unnecessary by the Canadian government.

 

[marbri]

I would say it's a case of trust being broken, not that the governments didn't trust initially. Far too many people in different countries not doing what was very clearly required of them. You break the rules and these are the consequences. Everyone pays because someone thought it was okay for them to go to Tims or wherever.

 

[skategal]

Yes, it is a matter of not trusting people.

That isn't to say that people haven't demonstrated good reason to not be trusted to quarantine as requested, but let's not pretend that the threats being issued by Trudeau and other government officials are happening for any other reason than a lack of trust in the citizenry.

As far as what will happen to any US skaters who are based in Canada for training, I would hope they are allowed to stay in their own homes but I guess we'll see if their travel is considered frivolous and unnecessary by the Canadian government.

We have had a 14 day quarantine requirement for international travellers since March 2020 based on the honour system.

And it worked for awhile but now there is evidence that it’s no longer working.

The provinces are crying out to the Federal government to stiffen the requirement because they see the evidence that people aren’t complying because it shows through contact tracing of cases.

The people of Canada only have ourselves to blame for tougher restrictions coming.

No one will be allowed to stay in their own homes to quarantine after international travel once this regulation comes into effect.

 

[Carolla5501]

I’m a little concerned that we seem to have stalkers on here following every move these young people make. Who really cares where they are right now?

 

[aka_gerbil]

I think people are just wondering about the US ice dancers getting back over the border before the new rules go into effect and Instagram provides some clues on that. It’s not like these accounts are top secret and some of the skaters are literally tagging where they are.

 

[overedge]

Because people are breaking quarantine while doing it at their houses and spreading CV so it will now be in a hotel under security like in Australia.

And because if there are other people in their house, they could be interacting with them and spreading the v*r*s to them, and everyone else those people come in contact with. They could also spread the v*r*s to anyone else who comes to the house, like delivery people, if they don't take enough precautions when those people visit.

 

[Frau Muller]

There is evidence that people are breaking quarantine. It’s not a matter of trusting people. The governments (Federal and provincial) know through contact tracing that people are not complying by who is getting infected with crud.

I assume the hotels will be guarded like they do in Australia.

Thanks for answers. However, as mentioned earlier with the French example, my colleague was indeed monitored during his period of quarantine...the Gvt monitor showed up at the address of quarantine (his mom’s home). He was there every time. So is an entire population to be punished because a dishonest few?

FYI- I also have examples of such foreign-visitor self-quarantine in Ryazan, Russia. Public-health Monitor also went to the recorded address.

 

[skategal]

Thanks for answers. However, as mentioned earlier with the French example, my colleague was indeed monitored during his period of quarantine...the Gvt monitor showed up at the address of quarantine (his mom’s home). He was there every time. So is an entire population to be punished because a dishonest few?

FYI- I also have examples of such foreign-visitor self-quarantine in Ryazan, Russia. Public-health Monitor also went to the recorded address.

They had surprise checks from monitors here too but cases are mounting now and not enough people to do contact tracing in an overwhelmed health system.

I’d rather the population of travellers quarantined in a hotel than have a few dishonest ones spreading this around and causing deaths.

 

[4rkidz]

Well short track europeans seems to be successful this weekend with their bubble, daily testing and no audience, same at long track worlds although sounds like they had more rules.

 

[Elka]

Well short track europeans seems to be successful this weekend with their bubble, daily testing and no audience, same at long track worlds although sounds like they had more rules.

Figure skating europeans were supposed to be next week.

 

[anonymoose_au]

Yhe Gvt monitor showed up at the address of quarantine (his mom’s home). He was there every time. So is an entire population to be punished because a dishonest few?

The problem, in Australia at least, is the cops would show up and the person would be out at which point it was too late if they turned out to have the Rona. So many did this that it was determined it was better to be safe than sorry and put them directly into hotels. Which does make some sense since instead of multiple people going to multiple places all over a city they all went to one or two hotels.

Also for the first six months or so here hotel quarantine was paid for by the government so people weren't out of pocket. Unfortunately, that's since changed to user pays and with the decrease in international flights thousands and thousands of Aussies can't get home, which is sad.

On the other hand it certainly has been successful, we've managed to keep or death toll below 1000 so far.

 

[Rebecca Moose]

much to the dismay of many people here, Worlds will happen this year. sorry we can't all be as pious as Canada, but no way ISU cancels Worlds two years in a row.

 

[marbri]

I thought the Quebec government cancelled worlds...
Other than that I don't know what was so shocking about your post you had to drag out moose droppings instead of your real name...

 

[skategal]

I thought the Quebec government cancelled worlds...
Other than that I don't know what was so shocking about your post you had to drag out moose droppings instead of your real name...

Besides the fact that no one knows yet (including the ISU) if Worlds will go ahead or not this year.

I suspect if it goes ahead that Canada may try to send a team considering the precedent has been set now with the speed skaters.

I just don’t know if the new international travel restrictions will be the death blow to those efforts.

 

[missing]

My guess (based on nothing) is that the ISU will announce this week that they intend to hold Worlds as scheduled. But it won't surprise me if a month from now, they announce it's cancelled.

It's easier to say Yes and then No than it is to say No and then Yes. So why not say Yes now and see where things are in a few weeks.

 

[marbri]

My guess is Worlds is not cancelled until it is cancelled, or not. And it would be the Swedish government who decides that. Not anyone in this thread. And Canada will decide what they do when the time comes just like every other federation will decide. The only thing anyone knows for certain is P/C aren't going. Seems like all the skaters are still training for it, even the Canadian ones.....

 

[Deleted member 221]

A couple of Qs:

1. Why at a hotel, rather than in one’s own home? In most countries, local police go unannounced to check-up on the person who is quarantining...as happened with a French colleague of mine who had to return home in November. Do governments that impose the hotel rule simply not trust people?

2. Are the hotels guarded, to ensure that nobody sneak out?

I am not sure about the methodology, but the UK did a study showing 95% of people required to quarantine did not adhere to the rules. Admittedly, some of the rules are unclear - e.g., if it's "forbidden" or just "not advised" to transit from the airport except in your own private car, or if you can make one trip to the supermarket if you have no alternative. There was also no separation of truly risky activities - e.g., going to a pub (when they were open) v. going out for a walk while wearing a mask. Still, I think it's fair to say that the majority of people required to quarantine did not do so - which matches my anecdotal feedback, too.

I had to quarantine twice and did not receive any visit, phone call, etc. The second time, I got some automated text messages, but strictly reminders - no need to reply or take action.

There is just no way to enforce the rules at scale except by having people in a hotel, with guards. Singapore requires travelers to download an app that allows them to be traced. This is workable in a city state, but there's no way to do it in a country as large as the UK.

In a country that has nearly eradicated C19, it's a risk to allow travelers to leave the airport - one public transit ride or one uber / taxi ride could cause outbreaks. So mandatory hotel stays are the only way to go. It looks like the UK is going this way - which means I probably can't leave the country until vaccinated.

 

[Karen-W]

There is just no way to enforce the rules at scale except by having people in a hotel, with guards. Singapore requires travelers to download an app that allows them to be traced. This is workable in a city state, but there's no way to do it in a country as large as the UK.

In a country that has nearly eradicated C19, it's a risk to allow travelers to leave the airport - one public transit ride or one uber / taxi ride could cause outbreaks.

Yes, I'm scratching my head at just how Canada thinks it is going to be able to enforce the quarantine rules they are looking to impose on foreign travelers arriving in the country. I assume there would be a legal challenge to making people pay for their own hotel rooms when they have homes where they can go (there would be in the US) and I assume there would be a legal challenge to making people download or use an app on their phone to trace their movements (that would definitely receive a legal challenge in the USA), beyond that if someone really wants to break the quarantine rules all they need to do is leave their phone at home and the app won't show anything regarding their whereabouts.

The biggest problem with the current lockdown measures, as far as I can see, is that they were never lifted enough in many areas. So, people have been going on a good 10-12 months of these restrictive measures and what good has it done? We still have record deaths and spread of the crud and, when it would matter and be effective to maybe do another 2-week hardcore lockdown, most people have no appetite for that and are going to keep doing what we were allowed to do last summer once things began to open back up. In that regard, I think Sweden's approach was far healthier, in the long run, even if they have gone through a bad wave in the last month or so. Hopefully their numbers will continue to trend downward. As it is, I still expect Worlds to be held. We have another week or so before we'll know for sure if US Nats wound up being a spreader event but it certainly doesn't seem that way and I think the ISU has a good handle on the bubble format for speed skating, so they'll work with the Swedish government, which is far less prone to employ drastic lockdown measures than the Canadian government was last year, and Worlds will happen.

 

[olympic]

I obviously haven't flown but if there are international flights, do they conduct any sort of testing upon landing in another country. To protect one another, maybe Swedish authorities could conduct tests on anyone in attendance for Worlds

 

[Lemonade20]

it does make sense to force travellers to quarantine at a hotel upon returning from whereever. Its easier to monitor hotels than visiting several houses. Also, I don't feel sorry for them. If you can afford a trip to Mexico...