It was another week of mixed and confusing messaging in our battle with Covid-19.
Our national advisory council said we could now be selective about which vaccine we would like, sort of like picking a Chev, Ford, or Toyota when purchasing a vehicle. All you have to do is check the warranty (the doctors and scientists call it ‘efficacy’) and when you need your first maintenance appointment - which may be at the original shop or at a drop-in location four months later. As if the vaccine booking systems did not have enough problems keeping track of who has had their first shot and when they can get their second jab there are rumours the wait time might be shortened.
I’ve lost track of the number of lockdowns we have been through, and what colour they were has passed into forgotten history. I vaguely remember the ‘bubble’ idea and as restrictive as that was, there was some sense of freedom and choice. Nonetheless, here we are in the 3rd wave, and there is no sign of winning our fight against the virus. Eight will get you five this current lockdown will be extended.
There are signs though of people giving up – on the fight, the restrictions, the wait for the vaccines, and physical distancing with masks. People have been going to church meetings, golf courses, house parties, and rodeos. Snowbirds are walking across the border, tired of all the flying restrictions. Merchants have been protesting against the definition of ‘essential services', and lockdowns, and perhaps most importantly, the enforcement of Health rules and laws as applies to our Rights under the Charter. Church leaders, golf course owners, businesses deemed non-essential, and now some police officers, are taking their Charter challenges to the courts. It must be enough to make the Premiers feel like throwing in the towel.
The phrase ‘throwing in the towel’ comes from the sport of boxing where the corner (trainer/manager) could see that his fighter had no chance of winning the bout and threw in the white towel, signaling that they conceded the match. Originally, they threw in the sponge used for wiping off the fighter’s sweat, but a white towel was more dramatic.
Now some doctors and scientists are saying we were not strict enough on travel and border closings nor in our definition of essential businesses. Hindsight. That we did not get the vaccine sooner was no one’s fault, but how we distributed it is now being second-guessed. Some might say that the problem was exacerbated by having politicians make the decisions concerning lockdowns and vaccine distribution, for as we know, a politician’s first goal is to do nothing that will interfere with being reelected. Leaving the decision to the Health care people may have not worked since they have this bias about healing people or keeping them alive and may not consider all the ramifications of trying to keep us at home, essential workers or not. Our society is simply too intertwined with the logistics of providing sustenance, education, health and our inalienable right to do as we damn well please.
On top of that, some scientists are breaking ranks and saying this lockdown isn’t working and won’t work – open things up and let us get back to some semblance of normality. Keep vaccinating, do the social distancing and masking, but throw in the towel and let us get back up on our feet to fight again another day.
We could tone down the fear-mongering with the hourly reports on how many people were tested, admitted to an ICU or died from Covid-related illness. A little perspective on hospital admissions and deaths might ease the tension. How many people died yesterday from other causes? Yes, yes, there can be serious complications from Covid but likewise, there can be serious consequences from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes, cancers, and accidents. People whose healthcare treatments have been deferred because of the concern of over-loading the system may feel like we have thrown in the towel on them.
We should not worry if the provincial leaders throw in the towel and leave us to our own resources – wearing masks, distancing, washing hands, praying, and drinking elixirs to ward off the virus, because our beloved Prime Minister says (again and again) that he has our back. But what about our front – our future? By the time we reach herd immunity (please don’t look at the WHO prediction of when we will reach global herd immunity) we will all be basket cases. Yes, we are all in this together and we may eventually beat this version of the virus but how many lockdowns can we survive?
On a more positive note, it is almost time to plant our gardens and flower beds. Is it okay to visit the gardening shops? Surely, they are essential. Just saying.
