There have been complaints about mixed messages and I agree.
While I have been at home heeding the messages of potential viral death if I get too close to anyone else. (And freaking out when driven out for basics, like food, medication).
My son and his girlfriend have been told by their bosses that they have to go into work every day, in busy busy shopping malls. They have been helping customers, handling cash, same old same old. There were zero precautions (plexiglas shields, hand sanitizer, masks (even though they don’t work), distancing, controlling numbers of people in the store, or worrying about how closely they stand together. So it has been hard for them own the hysteria. They have had to take public transport to work.
And their essential services? One works in a store that provides non-prescription supplements, another in Sport Chek. You got it, a sportswear store as an essential service. Are you kidding? And as a parent I have had to stay home and pray that they are overseen by a bountiful goddess of health.
We were told open borders weren’t a big risk. Now the borders are closed. (The borders are closed!!!!). That I understand, they were monitoring the situation. And it’s closed to people, not closed to people bound to commerce, products and goods. Healthy American grandma won’t be able to come to Canada to be with the fam, but we will let in the transport trucks filled with ice cream. Phew!
We were warned, and on this the science is certain, that once someone expels a viral droplet of spit into the world - and this is spit that routinely travels over 1 metre(!), it can live on surfaces for 2-5 days. It can land on Monday and someone can touch the same surface on Wednesday and KABOOM. INFECTED.
So we asked the scientists, do we need to wipe down packages? Worry about touching those surfaces. Nah, they have said. Don’t worry about it. Just wash your hands.
Umm.. Ohhhkayyy
Day 7 of self-isolation and I am quite rested. Take away the stress of errands and shopping and meetings and driving.
Speaking of driving - on my walk I still stop at cross streets to wait for the light, only to realize that the busiest cross section of Ottawa is a ghost town. There are no cars. No cars driving. No parked cars. No need to look both ways anymore.
The supermarkets are enforcing distancing. Controlling the number of people allowed in (not many), green tape of the ground outside, telling you how far apart to stand when you line up. Enhanced security, because we can't be trusted to stand on little green strips of paint without becoming violent. Oh pahleeeze.
Government has been reassuring us banks will give us breaks. People are calling banks and they are saying, dude/dudette, you have to make your payments.
Government has been reassuring us landlords will be understanding if rent cheques are not on time. Landlords are saying dude/dudette, I need your rent cheque on time.
Something has scared alley cat son and he is now grounded. And quite cheerful too.
There’s lots to be thankful for.