Yeah. You guys are really funny!

Yesterday was an awesome day. In an entire afternoon, I saw every patient in the office except one. Virtual medicine is great and I hope it remains an option for patients in the post-COVID 19 era. I like the sound to that, 'The post-COVID 19 era'. We will get there.

Anyway, I would much prefer to see my patients in person. The lovely thing about family medicine and HIV medicine is that you have the privilege of caring for people over many decades. I like the sound of that too, 'Caring for HIV patients over decades'. We can do that now. We have come so far in the fight against HIV that most people living with HIV, in the developed world, are expected to live close to a normal life expectancy on the powerful treatments now available.

One of my patients came in to have her knee injected which obviously can't be done over the phone. So many patients are now sitting on very long joint replacement lists which were long before COVID 19. Now they seem completely out of reach. We are working on that. In the meantime, joint injections can relieve pain while people wait. This lovely patient always smiles. She is a little cheeky. I love her. I was lucky enough to be at the delivery of her first child in 1987 when I was training at St. Joseph's Hospital in Hamilton.

She has been following my posts. In a Zip Lock bag, she had an ice pack, the medication I was about to inject and...yep.... carrots. I will never live it down. Not laughing as much as I usually do at the office but I really belly laughed yesterday.

Joyful moments in a life that now seems to be constantly shifting. I think that is what I find to be one of the most difficult things about this pandemic. Nothing feels the same and tomorrow it will feel different again. I did not realize how attached I was to consistency and comfort.

Cases in Guelph are definitely up with 2 newly confirmed diagnoses today. Ontario's cases were above 200. Six provinces reported cases today after reporting 0 cases for several days in a row. But there is good news. There are fewer and fewer cases in the ICU and today, there are no COVID 19 cases in our ICU. What a relief it must be for the staff who have been battling with COVID 19 under incredibly stressful circumstances for over 100 days.

We are moving closer and closer to a vaccine. No worries. I have learned to strategically duck when I post that word on Facebook. Resilience is wonderful. Water off a ducks back. Researchers are now saying, 'when' we have a vaccine, not 'if' we have a vaccine, and they may be ready for use by the end of the year.

Nothing seems normal. Life is very difficult. The increase in anxiety is palpable, buffered somewhat by this beautiful season but still affecting most of us. We will look back at this trial. It will be behind us. The virus doesn't know this but we have figured out how to manage it. More and more evidence that masks work, that physical distancing saves lives and that hand washing makes the virus vanish. Early testing and contact tracing prevents outbreaks and reduces the number of people requiring hospitalizations and ICU admissions. We can expect more cases as we open up the economy but most of these cases are avoidable if we follow the guidelines.

I cannot stress how important it is to keep our guard up. A gentle but firm reminder to younger people; It is so difficult not to gather with friends. How can you spend a summer without beaches and bars and back deck parties? How do you develop a new long-term relationship during COVID 19? I feel for you but, a lot of new cases are occurring in people under 25. You are the most innovative and creative generation human kind has ever seen with incredible information technologies at your fingertips. Create a way. Socialize differently and stay apart physically. Please.

A reminder from Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health:
Please go to an Assessment Centre to get tested. Public Health DOES NOT provide testing. No referral is needed. Bring your health card to the assessment centre (if you have one). It is OK if it is expired. Presenting your health card allows you to:
• Check your test results online. Public Health only calls those who test positive.
• Be treated or prescribed medication for other respiratory conditions if needed. This option is available at the testing centre in Guelph.
• Move through the testing process faster.

Sit by an open window for a bit tonight. You will hear one of the most relaxing sounds. The wind in the leaves. Love it.

Anne-Marie

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For local assistance with anxiety and depression:
www.here4help.ca
CMHA WW Website: www.cmhaww.ca
Here 24/7 at 1-844-HERE-247 or www.here247.ca.
And for post-secondary students, Good2Talk
https://good2talk.ca/

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