I have to be honest with you. It feels rather frivolous and self-indulgent to write about running today. Last week I had planned to write about my upcoming race season and rant about the UCP’s plant to gut the park system in Alberta. But as the global pandemic continued to spread and evolve at breakneck speed, I didn’t have the heart. Stuff is too real.
I was half living in Ottawa, spending time in Toronto when the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome ) outbreak hit Canada in 2003. I remember my ex and I picked up cheap hotel rooms in Toronto because the hotels were empty. More than anything I remember the fear that people had about going to Toronto. The city took a huge economic hit. Worse of all 44 people died in Canada. Many say Canada was not prepared for SARS. Government officials say they are better prepared this time.
However, the situation around the coronavirus or COVID-19 is nothing like I remember. Then again social media wasn’t a thing 17 years ago. People relied on legacy media aka newspapers to stay informed. We weren’t privy to pictures of hoarders clearing out the toilet paper aisles or endless tweets about the empty aisles at Safeway.
As I write this, there are 324 confirmed cases in Canada, of which 145 cases are in Ontario, 73 in British Columbia and 56 in Alberta. Four deaths are believed to be connected to coronavirus or COVID-19 in British Columbia.
Clearly we are living in uncharted territory as officials scramble to inform the public about best practices and measures to protect Canadians during this pandemic. Many, many people are in self-isolation, working at home and trying to understand what the hell “social-distancing” means. (Shouldn’t it be physical distancing?) We are inundated with information. It’s all a bit overwhelming.
I am trying not to get too anxious because these are scary times. Everything is changing quickly and there’s not real goalpost for when life will be back to normal because nobody really knows. I’m putting trust in our leaders and our health-care professionals. I will not get in arguments on social media or point out obvious photo-ops or make light of the closures or whine about my gym being closed (although I am very sad) because people’s livelihoods and actual lives are on the line.
Let’s put pause on all the politics. Now is the time to come together. It’s about community. (Yes, stay home if you’re sick and all the other recommendations.) Check on your neighbours. Call your family and friends. We’re all in this together.
Questions about COVID-19? Visit: Health Canada. Now is the time to put your trust in science and the health-care system. Take a break from social media or the news if you need to. Go for a run to clear your mind.