Can we pause and ZOOM in on the good news? Please?
There is lots of it. First of all, we are climbing the curve of the second wave. It might get worse before it gets better. Most of the people infected in wave 2 are young. They have weathered the COVID storm well. Our health cares systems remain intact.
I am worried about the 'Thanksgiving Effect'. Numbers may start climbing next week if social gatherings caused more transmissions of the virus. But from what it looks like now, we are flattening the curve with a steady 7 day rolling average somewhere between 700 and 800. Well done. This is not a safe number as it could turn on a dime, spread dramatically and send us into a second wave surge. But, ultimately, if we tighten up on mask wearing, gathering avoidance and physical distancing, we could be on the other side of this wave and ready to have a reasonable Christmas season.
It is all par for the course: first wave, second wave, risk of a third in the winter months if restrictions are lessened. This is how pandemics work. To the scientific folks that follow these things, none of this comes as a surprise.
Here's the good news. We will likely have 1 or 2 vaccines by January. This statement from Dr. Bonnie Henry, the Chief Medical officer of Health in BC.
"British Columbia's provincial health officer says she expects the "beginnings" of a COVID-19 vaccine may be available for some residents as soon as January.
I am confident we will have a vaccine and it will be effective for at least some people and it will be safe. But it's going to take more time now to find out exactly which one it is," Dr. Bonnie Henry told CBC News on Wednesday.
Currently more than 150 vaccines are in development around the globe and 10 of those vaccines are in the midst of Phase 3 clinical trials — which involve hundreds of volunteers being vaccinated to ensure they are safe.
She added that she expects the vaccine to come in stages and that the B.C. government will likely not have enough for everyone right away.
Health-care workers, seniors, people with underlying illnesses and those who live in close quarters with others are likely candidates to receive the vaccine first, she said. "
JANUARY!!!! I agree with this lovely, brilliant, strong, confident women and exceptional leader. January is just THREE MONTHS AWAY!!! Three months before we switch out of a dark and hopeless phase to an exciting and hopeful stage.
Can we ZOOM in on that good news for a minute? Can we do this for another three months, six months? Sure we can. When the 'at risk' and vulnerable people start to be immunized, our restrictions will lessen, week by week as we move toward providing the vaccine for everyone, we will watch the numbers fall, our spirits elevate and our hope surge.
I think we need to move out of the fearful stage and start thinking about how you would like to feel when COVID 19 is over. Will I be proud of my efforts, of my resilience, of the way I treated my fellow man, the way I followed guidelines to protect others?
You can shift out of the fearful stage and into confident warrior mode. We are winning this battle. Your legacy in that battle is totally in your hands right now.
Heads up. Winter will be tough but it will be short. I am looking forward to educating all of you about the vaccines.....in THREE MONTHS!!
Please share
PS. This is my House Call in the fall COVID 19 look. Many Flu shots to be given out there!
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I love this so very very very very much. I'm going to read it over and over again and share it with my family and ESL students, too!
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