Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear?

Do you see what I see? Do you hear what I hear? I slept like a log last night. Where does that saying come from? I was shocked when I looked at the time at 6:30 am. I had not moved or awakened during the night. That rarely happens. I feel like my pre-COVID self, full of energy and optimism. I think I know why. Something I read on the news last night filled me with dread but that was quickly replaced with hope. The province has set new guidelines for PCR testing for COVID-19. It is a very short list. Ontario's testing capacity is 100,000 tests/day and Omicron is pushing us way past that capacity. The tests now need to be reserved for those at highest risk (See link at the end of this post ). Why? Because there is now rampant community spread of the Omicron variant with a test positivity rate of 30 %. That means that 30 % of the tests being done ( with a high number of tests being done daily) are positive. Of every 10 people standing in line at a COVID assessment centres, 3 are infected. That's huge. Behind those three are 1 to 3 more with whom that positive person has come in contact with. Omicron's R value may be has high as 3 which means all of those positive folks can and probably have, already spread the virus to three others. So why the renewed energy, hope and optimism? It was not just the good night's sleep. I slept well because I think this new variant and it's unexpected rapid spread is what will get us to the point where this pandemic becomes endemic. If a huge number of people out there have or are about to have COVID-19 with mild symptoms for the vast majority, that huge number will also develop immunity on top of the immunity they have from vaccination. They are protected from further infection, at least for the short term. The virus needs humans to spread. We are it's fuel. By it's very nature and the ease with which it spreads, it will soon run out of fuel. I am certainly not saying that people should throw caution to the wind and behave with any intention of getting the virus. You cannot predict who will become ill. Our hospitals are filling up. ICU's are filling up. Those are real people in the ICU and they are gravely ill. Do not 'choose' any path that may get you there. Instead, choose the prudent path. Get vaccinated. Start your vaccination series if you are not yet vaccinated. Get your third dose as soon as you can. Book one through your local public health department or family doctor's office. Limit your social contacts to less than 10 and limit the time you are together, just for now. Gather outside if that is possible. Improve the ventilation in the space you are gathering by opening windows. Wear a very high quality mask in public. Find a KN95 or an N95 that fits very tightly to your face. If you cannot access one of the above masks, wear two high quality three layer cloth masks but the masks must have a snug fit. All of these measures lower the R value of Omicron. They put barriers up against the spread of this variant. I may sound like I am contradicting myself. In one breath I am stating that the widespread transmission of this virus will cause it to run out of fuel which is a good thing and in the next breath I am suggesting we do all we can to protect ourselves against infection. Here is the deal. This virus is so transmissible that even with the barriers we should keep in place, it will spread. But the barriers significantly help prevent serious illness. THAT IS THE TICKET. Keep your armour up. It may spread but we are now protected. And once we all interact with the virus or the vaccine, Omicron runs out of fuel and COVID-19 becomes endemic and the pandemic ends. We stop acting out of fear in the face of the unknowns of a pandemic and we start managing a well controlled virus. I respect and admire Dr. Bonnie Henry. I think we are on the same page. She states, "The way the virus is changing with Omicron — that is leading us to that place sooner. The type of illness it's causing, with most of us being protected through vaccination, means that we are going to get to that place." The 'place' she is describing is the endemic phase of COVID-19. It's the time when we get back to a normal life or the post-COVID life. These are the new provincial guidelines for testing and isolation. It is extremely important that we follow them. These guidelines will allow for the safe and 'contained' spread of the Omicron variant and the protection of our vulnerable populations. The province says members of the public with symptoms of COVID-19 who don't meet the new eligibility criteria should assume they are infected and follow the new self-isolation guidelines. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-testing-isolation-guidance-1.6300831 Be safe out there. Gather safely tonight, if at all. Here's to 2022 and a highly vaccinated, much healthier year!! Anne-Marie Ahhh Yes. IT is December 31st and year end. The last day to donate if you can and get a 2021 tax receipt. Vaccines for all! Help us as we assist in the roll out of COVID vaccines in Lesotho. If you would like to be apart of this vitally important work towards making sure that vaccines are distributed in resource poor countries like Lesotho, you can donate here: https://www.braceletofhope.ca/ways-to-give/

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