Two concerns

That was a spectacular weekend. I think we all feel just a bit better.

I have two concerns tonight. Both are troubling me quite a bit. The first is that people are breaking the public health guidelines; thousands in a Toronto park and a hundred or so twenty-somethings in a park in Guelph. And second, many are not trusting the politicians and health experts that are navigating us through this crisis. We need near perfection with respect to the social distancing guidelines if we want to control the virus and have our restrictions loosened.

My colleagues and I are bracing for a second surge and we are already exhausted. The majority are toeing the line but if we gather in large groups and disregard the distancing guidelines, the virus will spread.

The Centre for Disease Control recently announced that up to a third of people with COVID 19 are asymptomatic. There is a good chance that 1 or two of those that gathered in the Guelph crowd have COVID 19. In a crowd like that, they may have spread it to 10 or more. Now ten people will head back to their social bubbles and spread the virus to everyone there. The ones at risk of serious infection or death are the older people ( >60) in that home but there is no guarantee that young people will be spared a deadly outcome.

The weather is beautiful. We can now be outside. It is so much better than where we were in March. This is simple. Gather in groups of 5 or less. Stay six feet apart. Wear a mask for added protection when maintaining that distance may not be possible like when you are moving into an aisle in the grocery store sight unseen and someone is standing right there. They may be asymptomatic and very able to spread COVID 19 to you. Wearing a mask reduces that risk.

Don't touch your masked face. When you get home, wash your hands before taking the mask off. Take the mask off by using your pinky fingers, grabbing the loops of the mask behind your ears. Let the mask fall forward into a wash machine or sink full of hot soapy water. Wash your hands again.

This is an example of the pandemic etiquette that is necessary. I was in a small grocery store yesterday. I was coming to the end of an aisle. One gentlemen was coming toward me from the left and a woman was coming from the right. We all stopped. Like good Canadians, we all apologized and motioned for the other to go first. It's hilarious how long people can be stuck in this polite dance. You can bet, no virus was transmitted in this selfless moment.

Tackling a pandemic takes team work and near perfect leadership. Which of course, is not possible. I am expanding on a quote that I left you with last night.

"When new information comes out, it’s critical that public health authorities also shift their recommendations. In court of popular opinion and public trust, this is a lofty ask. But the goal with a pandemic isn’t to remain consistent; it is to respond to new information and changing dynamics. We Canadians need to allow our experts to be fluid with their recommendations." Inderveer Mahel ( MacLeans)

Many folks have been upset that we are not testing enough people. And, today, as I predicted, Premier Ford expanded the testing guidelines to include everyone, asymptomatic or not. I did not predict this because I have some kind of gift. I predicted this because I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that he is putting everything on the line for this province and he is following a constantly shifting target. I did not vote for him but, man, do I admire his outstanding leadership through this crisis.

I am heading to the COVID clinic this week. Not as a front line worker but as a responsible citizen who has just been asked to be tested. Will you show up?

We cannot expand testing if people do not make their way to testing centres. We cannot control this virus if people gather in large groups. Our leaders are doing a brilliant job navigating this Goliath. I am glad I do not have their responsibilities. Let's honour their incredible public service by following them.

Follow the guidelines to the T and trust our leaders.

Wishing you and all your colleagues a good and restful sleep tonight Premier Ford.

Anne-Marie

Oh, and as for the good news? No new cases in Guelph since May 21st. Four in the hospital and 2 in the ICU. That's 1 tenth of where we were a few weeks ago. Please. Let's keep up the good work!