Are we taking this pandemic seriously or just breaking the law?
Now that Saskatchewan is in Phase Three of the re-open plan, is it permitted to socialize in larger groups of 15 indoors and 30 outdoors?
It is evident that some groups are not taking this seriously.
It is evident that these restrictions are still required after a link to a large family in Saskatoon met for a barbeque and now there is a contact investigation involving up to 60 people due to residents not taking social distancing seriously.
There are examples of huge groups meeting and political leaders joining them. Are the very leaders who instructed us to remain socially distant still taking this pandemic seriously?
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a newly discovered coronavirus that can be a very deadly infectious disease, yet most who contract it will only experience mild to moderate symptoms and will recover without special treatment.
To date there have been 6.8 million confirmed cases worldwide, 95,942 confirmed cases in Canada and 650 cases in Saskatchewan.
The deaths in each of those are as follows 397,000 worldwide, 7,824 in Canada and 11 in Saskatchewan.
The Saskatchewan Health Authority has established very well planned out events that have drastically shaped our lives, including self-quarantine and self-distancing.
The Health Authority has also come up with a plan to “Re-Open Saskatchewan”, consisting of 5 phases and June 8, 2020, marks the commencement of Phase Three.
Phase Three consists of re-opening restaurants and food services, gyms and fitness centres, licensed establishments and child care facilities; re-opening remaining personal care services; re-opening places of worship; increasing indoor public and private gatherings to 15 people and outdoor gatherings to 30 people.
As much as we miss socializing at the local ice cream window or walking with friends for our daily exercise or congregating at the local parks, these things should not be part of our routine yet. As we moved further into a phased re-open plan we can then look forward to larger gatherings.
Hopefully soon Sakactewan and Canada can make the same proclamation and follow New Zealand, it is open due to the leadership of Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and the residents who declared to the world on Monday, “We are confident we have eliminated the transmission of the virus in New Zealand for now, but elimination is not a point in time, it is a sustained effort.”
We need to do our part in keeping the law and this virus from claiming more lives.
By Gary Horseman
(Local Journalism Initiative Reporter)
garyfourtownjournal@gmail.com
Four-Town+ JournalFourTownJournal