The
lockdown grows...
It’s
like a tsunami in slow motion. All around the world, countries are closing
their borders, restricting travel and public gatherings. People away from home
are being urged to return, while there are still ways to get there.
Today
143 countries (up 3 in 24 hours) have reported 171,961 cases (up 11,479); 6,654
people have died (up 591); and 77,773 have recovered (up 1,830). Canada has 342
reported cases (up 89).
Most
of us will never have seen anything like this. And no one really knows where it
will end. More importantly, what will be the economic fallout when it does end?
While many changes to our lives resemble what might be expected in a wartime
footing, no escalation of work or production of materials is taking place.
Employers
are sending people home and/or laying them off. One after one, industries are
slowing. Among the most affected will be the travel and hospitality businesses.
For the foreseeable future, fewer people will be travelling, staying in hotels
or eating in restaurants. The entertainment businesses are next in line to see
fewer patrons, joining the sports venues.
There
is no template for responding to this health challenge – no playbook to use in
designing approaches to slow the rate of infection. No timeline for a vaccine
exists. What everyone appears to agree on is that limiting contact between
people will (hopefully) limit its spread.
Where
we live, our provincial government announced sweeping new regulations designed
to help slow or limit the spread of Covid-19. These became necessary as several
new cases were determined to have spread within the community unrelated to people
who have recently travelled abroad. Our city (Calgary) has declared a state of
emergency and is closing all public facilities in which people gather.
The
Government of Alberta lists on its official webpage
concerning the Covid-19 outbreak the following policy changes and restrictions:
·
Effective immediately, student attendance at schools
is prohibited. Work will continue by educators to ensure that students receive the
full accreditation they need to progress to the next level or qualify for post-secondary
studies.
·
In-person post-secondary classes are cancelled.
Campuses will remain open.
·
All licensed child-care facilities, out-of-school care
programs and preschool programs are closed indefinitely.
·
All long-term care and other continuing care
facilities are advised to limit visitation to essential visitors only.
·
Places of worship are no longer exempt from
restrictions on mass gatherings.
·
Any event that has more than 50 attendees and expects
to have international participants, or involves critical infrastructure staff,
seniors, or other high-risk populations, should also be cancelled.
Travel
outside the country is being discouraged. The federal government has not yet
but is considering closing our borders.
One
of the most effective measures people can take is to practice good hygiene, including:
“cleaning your hands regularly for at least 20 seconds, avoiding touching
your face, coughing or sneezing into your elbow or sleeve, disposing of tissues
appropriately, and staying home and away from others if you are sick.”
Food
is still plentiful, although there are still many panic-driven shoppers who
think otherwise. The water system and other utilities continue to function at
their normal, high levels. Pubic transportation is not being affected although
there are many who might reconsider taking a crowded bus or C-train. Once we
can get rid of winter, we will at least be able to enjoy the outdoors more. So will
our dogs!
Right
now, education about the diseases, its effects, its symptoms and its control is
paramount. All government bodies are concentrating on getting information out.
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