We have new vocabulary that all of us are navigating. Social Distancing. Approximately a month ago few of us had ever heard of the term. A few weeks into it, many are suggesting it is not a good term, since we are all inherently social beings who need human contact even when we are distant from one another. So Physical Distancing is the new terminology. Keep a measured distance apart from one another. To help define this, we are told where we can go and how often. In the supermarket lines are taped to the floor to ensure that we do not get too close. See-through-barriers for cashiers, bus drivers and others. And we are not supposed to be in gatherings of people. At first it was groups no larger than 200, then 50, then 5, and now even meeting with one other person outside of your household is not recommended. We are threatened with penalties if we do not comply.
Its been a learning curve. For me, it began earlier than for most. I went into the hospital at the end of February for an operation, and during my convalescence at home, the Corona Virus (Covid-19) pandemic began to grow and spread. At first we thought it was something limited to a specific part of the world (China), but now we have the shocking reality of 614,136 worldwide cases, 4,326 of them in Canada. It has resulted in 28,251 deaths, 55 of them in Canada. And the numbers climb every day, so the ones I cited are probably out of date by the time anyone reads this. More interesting statistics can be found here.
We have, it seems an information overload on this event that is unlike anything we have seen in modern times. I will restrict myself therefore, to some personal impressions.
First, I would mention the sense of shock that I felt the first time I went into a grocery store and saw the empty shelves. Not only toilet paper and related products were missing, but the store I went to had no meat, no potatoes, no pasta, no bread. I felt tears coming to my eyes, because I remember Mom and Dad telling us stories of such conditions in post-war Europe, and I recall seeing documentaries about shortages in countries behind what was once called the Iron Curtain, but I never thought I would see such things with my own eyes here in Canada, the land of plenty that I was raised in. So I tried my luck by going to a second grocery store. There I was able to pick up the last package of spaghetti (not the kind of pasta I was looking for, but that was the only choice).
Secondly, I am disappointed by the foolishness that I see and hear not only in the media, but even among my own acquaintances. People who ignore the directives of our governments, and foolishly talk about how the whole thing is exaggerated.
Social media seems to be a great tool to stay in touch with those who mean a lot to us, and whom we cannot be with at this time. Sadly, many abuse that to peddle misinformation about miracle cures. I too have posted humorous things, thinking we need the relief of humour, but slowly it is no longer funny.
Finally, the pandemic is bringing out the best (or the worst) in people. In short, it is revealing who we really are, and sadly who we will continue to be when its over. Those who don’t go to church, for example, do not miss the fact that places of worship are closed, and for them nothing will be different when they open again. Those who have been socially distant, remain so to this day, and don’t do anything to reach out to loved ones and others, despite the ironic term of “social media”. I am very happy to be in touch with people that way, and disappointed (but not surprised) by those I have not heard from. Those who are by nature generous and caring, are the ones who are currently reaching out to the vulnerable and the helpless, and we read touching stories of that. They will continue to be generous and caring when this is all over.
Like many others, I ask myself, when we will return to some level of normality, and how will that normal look? At first we thought it is a matter of weeks, now we are hearing talk about months when the emergency restrictions will be lifted.
I really like what someone has said (and I’d love to give credit but I don’t remember who it was): “in our rush to get back to normal, we should reflect on what we want to get back to, and what we should leave behind”. Couldn’t have said it better myself.