We’ve all heard about it and are watching for it, but will it actually happen? The second wave of the Covid pandemic isn’t something to take lightly. We need to be ready for it.
As cases of covid continue to decline in Canada, our attention turns to the possibility of a second wave. While there is little to no indication of this happening anywhere right now, ultimately it’s arrival is more or less up to the population.
Let’s face it, we’ve been cooped up long enough and as the season changes into one that allows for the most outdoor enjoyment, we’re tired of being locked away. Deconfinment is in full swing across the country and most of us are happy for it.
Being smart about it is key. As more and more businesses open and we get out more and more, we need to keep vigilant about this. After all, we may well be dealing with this virus for years to come.
Avoiding a second wave may not be possible, but turning that wave into a mere bump is within reach, so long as we accept the “new normal” for the foreseeable future. What we have been doing as a society has worked. Even the two most hard hit provinces, Ontario and Quebec, are seeing a drastic difference in cases and deaths when compared to what was going on just a couple of months ago, and this despite the relaxation of confinement measures.
The “new normal” we’ve heard so much about will be a fact of life for some time to come. People will continue to wear masks in public, keep 6 feet apart when possible, and wash their hands continuously. These are the steps that got us to where we are, now is not the time to let our guard down.
Businesses have suffered, of that there is no doubt. Companies both large and small are closing their doors. People are finding themselves without income. The financial reprecusions will be with us for a while as we head into a likely recession. With the economy in decline, the last thing we need is a second wave forcing us back into another lock down.
A second wave is not a foregone fact of life. We can avoid it. We’ve learned what works to keep this virus at bay, and we’ve also learned the steps to take to flatten the curve. Keep it up and we will get through this. Not unscathed, but a lot better off than it could be.