As I walk around the neighbourhood I live in I see things like full parking lots and grocery stores packed with people. People are tempting shelves of food products and toilet paper. We have been told that social distancing is very important to beat back the spread of the virus. Simply put we need to stay 2 meters or 6 feet away for each other. Public parks and beaches are full of people. There is even a Leger Poll that shows 20% of the people believe this to be blown out proportion by the media. There was even a man in North Carolina who posted a video of himself shopping while claiming to have COVID19. He was arrest later and it turned out to a hoax. Before the shutdown of businesses, my wife and I fled a restaurant after another couple were bragging how they escaped China before the quarantine hit. The message was out to self-isolate if you had been travelling in Asia. Are people really listening 100 percent?
Since then Justin Trudeau, Canada Prime Minister, has issued several order and programs to help keep us going as a country and society. Economic packages to provide relief to all us. The truth for most of us is we are just a paycheque away from being homeless. We can not afford not to work. We run out of food, supplies and get evicted from our home. Our government has stepped up and is offering help. Along with this comes strict order to “GO HOME AND STAY HOME.” Trudeau is an example of what he is preaching even after his doctor order isolation he is planning on working from home.
The government on all is serious “follow the rules and guidelines or pay the penalties.” Am article about a Tim Hortons in Vancouver DTES has been shut down with a suspended business license. The location had been warned to space patron out so they are following the social distancing while wait to be helped. When warnings were not heeded the inspector shut the location for being a public health hazard. Social distancing works and needs to be followed. When we consider some the example of total disaster areas like Italy, Spain, Iran or New Orleans were they have converted public place like convention centres into mass morgues. People and government did not listen to the WHO warning and recommendations.
British Columbia lead health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry has placed orders across the province that are showing promise and the people in this area are starting to listen. The number of infections is levelling off. Dr. Tam the lead officer for Canada and the Premiers are working together the rising number are levelling. We need to continue by staying away from large groups. Find other ways to connect with phone and internet we should learn to use communication tools to truly express our feelings to the people we love. Some said to me the other day “if I can swing a hockey stick and it hits you you are to close.” While the official term is social distancing the hockey stick analogy is very graphic and very Canadian.
Click on the following link find Government programs to your family ride the Pandemic out
