Are you ready for Phase 3?

We are ready. Click on this link. Go to ' Are we flattening the Curve'. Click again and look at the chart titled, 'Total Cases in Canada' and you will see why we are ready.

https://bit.ly/3fCMRZa

Canada's curve has been flat for weeks.

Ontario reported only 116 newly confirmed cases of COVID-19 today.

Twenty nine of Ontario's 34 public health units reported five or fewer additional cases , while 21 of those 29 confirmed no new cases at all. .

We have seen a steady decline in the number of new cases in the province with record low COVID 19 hospitalizations

Of the 36,839 infections in Ontario since the outbreak, 87 % are considered resolved.

It is time. I had the busiest day of my professional life today. On July fourth, I marked 30 years of practising medicine in Guelph and today was by far the most overwhelming: twenty-five patients with appointments, 140 downloads of test results and consultant notes, 40 patients triaged with no room to see more. I ended my day at 7 pm and for the first time ever, I thought I might have to race out the back door. COVID 19 has added so many layers of suffering to our communities. Patients are in severe pain because their joint replacement surgeries have been cancelled or postponed. Specialist appointments have been delayed. The incidence of depression and anxiety has mushroomed. Two of my patients were suicidal. Two in one day. People have lost their jobs and are struggling financially. Our children are not being educated and parents have been overwhelmed with the task of home-schooling their children while working from home. Marriages are in crises and the elderly that are living alone are deteriorating day by day. At this point in time, the negative consequences of lock down far outweigh the suffering directly caused by the virus.

I spoke to another health care professional today and we both agreed that our success at managing this pandemic as a nation has been miraculous. What we were able to accomplish by following the public health guidelines and trusting in our leaders is quite astonishing. People will write many books, articles and theses about COVID 19. Looking back, we will understand our remarkable our response was.

The United Nations Secretary General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said today that countries that are struggling have leadership deficits that undermine the most critical ingredient needed for a response to a pandemic: trust. If the basics are not followed, there is only one way this pandemic will go". It is going to get worse and worse and worse".

We dodged that bullet.

It is time to head back to as close to normal as we can.

So, here it is in a nutshell:

Indoor gathering limits increased to 50.
Outdoor gathering limits increase to 100.
Restaurants, bars, nightclubs, gyms, recreational facilities, play grounds, personal care services, libraries, live shows, performing arts, movie theatres.... the list goes on. All opening up.

For the complete stage three guidelines, look here:
http://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/6987741/Stage-3-En.pdf

And here is how to do this responsibly and safely: Maintain six feet of distance wherever possible. Wear a mask in all of these places, all the time. Sanitize your hands frequently. These guidelines have not changed. We are now expanding them into more areas. Do not let your guard down. Continue to limit your errands and the number of trips that take you away from home. The only place where you do not need to wear a mask or maintain physical distancing is within your social bubble of 10. That number has not changed.

Remember, this virus loves it when humans gather is tight quarters, indoors without masks. Avoid this at all costs.

Continue to trust our leaders and follow these rules and guess what? We will be just fine and we will get used to this.

Confidence, fearlessness, perseverance and strength; we've exhibited these qualities for months and it has paid off. We just need to keep going.

Well done.

Back to the battle tomorrow.

Anne-Marie

Please share.

For non-Facebook users, you can find this post here:
https://braceletofhope.blogspot.com/