I received this mask and rubber duck from Doug MacMillan at 'Letter M Marketing' today. I couldn't resist the photo op. My staff thought this was quite funny. When the stress is high, a sense of humour can completely shift our sense of wellbeing. The gift came with a letter from Doug in which he states that "Guelph's popular duck race fundraiser has been a Canada Day tradition for 15 years". I am a Rotarian. Charities are having a difficult time raising funds during COVID 19. This Rotary fundraising event has gone online this year. Go to Gotduck.ca to purchase raffle tickets for some great prizes. Proceeds support local charities and recovery efforts related to COVID 19.
Well, here is the low down. New cases of COVID 19 are increasing across the country with almost a thousand cases in Canada today and over three hundred in Ontario and Quebec. The increase in cases in not driven by a return to school but by good, old fashioned community spread. Take a look at this graph titled ' New Cases Analysis by Date'. Click on this link:
Scroll down to find the graph and click the 'New Cases' box. We are trending upward and it is a troubling trend. But, notice that the curve is not as steep as it was in March. New cases are not increases as fast or as high. We are far below the peaks we faced in the spring. We are still in a slow burn when it comes to COVID 19 and it's spread and we can still turn this around and avoid a second surge that brings the risk of overwhelming our healthcare system. An intact system lowers the risk of dying of COVID 19. The goal to avoid a second surge should be top of mind. It is a marvellous goal. If we reach it, we save lives. That is a pretty great thing to work towards, together.
Here is what we have learned in the last few weeks:
We have been reminded that COVID 19 is easily spread and will do so as soon as we let our guard down. It is not just big parties and social gatherings that have fuelled the recent increase in cases. There are multiple recent reports of cases tied to bustling indoor spaces that build on months of research showing the combination of crowds, close contact and closed settings drives viral transmission. Crowds, close contact and indoor settings are the fuel this virus needs and it spreads with remarkable ease if we gather indoors without masks or social distancing.
Emerging details from public health officials suggest a variety of social gatherings, not just large gatherings, are causing the recent spread and in Ontario, the majority of those getting the virus are under 40.
This is the scary part. They're getting infected at cottages, family gatherings, dinner parties and simple, seemingly innocuous visiting with friends and family indoors. This is so important for all of us to know as we are driven inside in the coming weeks by colder weather.
PERSONAL GATHERINGS ARE THE MAIN DRIVER OF NEW CASES OF COVID 19.
One striking case study from Ottawa involved a 10-person cottage trip. Under provincial guidelines, 50 people can gather indoors, right? So, ten is no problem? Ten IS a problem if you are from different bubbles.
IF YOU ARE NOT IN THE SAME SOCIAL BUBBLE AND YOU ARE GATHERING INDOORS, YOU MUST BE PHYSICALLY DISTANCED.
There was one person in this cottage group who developed cold-like symptoms while at the cottage party. They tested positive on their return home. Subsequently, seven of those friends tested positive for COVID-19.
After leaving the cottage, some members of the group had visited work and retail locations, including two child-care centres that wound up shuttered to prevent further spread and several people ended up hospitalized. That means, they were so ill that they required the administration of oxygen or intubation and life support in the ICU.
According to a random sample of hospital outpatients from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 20 per cent of previously healthy adults between 18 and 34 weren't back to their usual health 14 to 21 days after testing positive. A small percentage, die.
This is a cautionary tale. COVID 19 is highly infectious. We are it's host. It needs to infect us in order to survive. It wants to survive. It is wired to survive. We allow it to survive by being close to others indoors.
So, here's the drill. This fall and winter will not be easy. Here is where we need to fight together to reach the goal of avoiding a second surge and saving as many lives as we can. Please, do not gather with others indoors if you are not in the same social bubble; not on thanksgiving, not for that birthday party and not....I am choking this out....on Christmas Day. Bloody, bloody hard this is. But we must toe the line for the good of all. This will not last forever. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. We are all lucky ducks to be living in an era where we can communicate with ease, stay in touch on line and create a vaccine in under 18 months. BAM. Amen to that.
Next stop....flushots and why we should get one this fall.
Anne-Marie
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