We're All In This Together

It is without question that everyone in this world is aware of our current global pandemic - Coronavirus a.k.a. Covid-19. NOthing of this nature has happened in my lifetime. I know it’s not the most happiest of subjects to talk about but BECAUSE this disease has infected over 200,000 people around the world and has taken over 8,000 lives, I felt the need to document what is currently happening around me and around the world. This pandemic will go down in history along with such diseases like SARS and THE SPANISH flu.

I hope this blog post helps you understanding what is happening and it is informative. THere is a lot of news and controversy around this subject. I am writing this post so I can remember myself the drastic changes that have taken place as a result of COVID-19.

NOte: Any medical references made, political statements and facts about COVID-19 have been taken from reliable sources and will be noted when necessary. My feelings surrounding the virus are that of my own.

Ground zero for COVID-19 is in Wuhan, China. There are a lot of coronaviruses that circulate amongst humans such as the common cold. This new virus however has not yet been identified in humans until now. This particular virus has said to have come from animals. In rare occasions, ‘animal coronaviruses that infect animals have emerged to infect people and can spread between people.’ (cdc.gov) This is not the first virus to do this. SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome) are two other examples of coronaviruses that have originated from animals and then spread to humans.

COVID-19 was first detected in a live animal market and is now spreading from person-to-person. The CDC (Center of Disease Control) is still learning fully how this new disease spreads but some facts are evident. It is said that the virus can spread between people who are in close proximity of each other (within 6 feet) and ‘through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.’ (cdc.gov) This disease is said to be spreading easily and in a community spread.

Community Spread means people have been infected with the virus in an area, including some who are not sure how or where they become infected. (cdc.gov)

The symptoms of this novel coronavirus are common and at this time should not be taken lightly. The symptoms include: fever, cough & shortness of breath. Pretty common right? Symptoms can appear 2-14 days after exposure. If you feel like you’ve been exposed to COVID-19, please call your health care provider!

(Information above taken from cdc.gov)

How is this virus different from the regular flu? Like I mentioned above, COVID-19 first came from animals and transmitted to humans. An animal coronavirus in our bodies is like invaders. Your body doesn’t know what to do with it or know how to fight it off. This virus attacks the respiratory system. It’ll feel like you have a really bad cold or the flu. It then can turn into pneumonia which is when ‘the air sacs in the lungs become inflamed and filled with fluid, making it harder to breathe.’ (opb.org) These symptoms can make it harder for the lungs to get oxygen to your blood. We all know your blood stream goes all over your body and into your organs. So if your blood doesn’t have oxygen, your organs can fail.

Currently, Canada has over 600 confirmed cases and 214 of them are in Ontario with 9 deaths around the country.

I have lived through numerous life and society changes as a result of COVID-19. I am personally not infected with the disease and I hope I never will be. I have been a victim of job lose as a result of the fast spread of the novel coronavirus. I am not the only person that this disease has affected like this. Many businesses have chosen to temporarily stop operation to help stop the fast spread of COVID-19.

December 31st, 2019 - Wuhan, China reported it’s first case to the WHO Country Office in China.

January 24th, 2020 - Canada got it’s first confirmed case of the novel coronavirus. A man had traveled from Wuhan, China where the disease first started.

January 30th, 2020 - The virus was declared a Public Healthy Emergency of International Concern.

March 11th, 2020 - WHO assessed COVID-19 as a pandemic.

There have been many changes around the world such as boarder closures, country lockdowns where people can barely leave their homes and store/restaurant closures. The world is trying to contain the virus and of course find a vaccine. By containing the virus, we can slow the spread of COVID-19 stop this pandemic. We truly do need to act together in this. Not only in Canada but around the world we are asking people to do the following to help prevent and stop the spread of COVID-19:

If you’re sick, please stay home

If you feel like you’ve been exposed to the virus go to a clinic for COVID-19 testing. DO NOT plug up the emergency rooms and walk-in clinics. Do not expose others.

Self quarantine is the new tread now. If you’re in an area of high risk of getting exposed, please don’t go out in public.

If you need to go out, wear gloves and possibly a mask. Help protect yourself and protect others from you as well.

Avoid large crowds if you need to leave your home

Practice social distancing - 6 feet apart

Wash your hands with soup and water for 20 seconds

Avoid touching your face - nose, mouth and eyes

Disinfect commonly used surfaces

DON’T FREAK OUT! There is NO shortage in any foods and goods to survive. People have been wiping the shelves of many “essentials and non-perishables”. To some this can seem scary. There are many elderly people out there that need these essentials just as much as we do. These people are also at a higher risk at getting infected as they are older and their immune system is weaker. Please be ware of those around you and don’t over shop.

Honestly, these are very simply practices that most should be done on a regular.

When the WHO announced COVID-19 to be a pandemic it hit me differently. I am 27 and I am old enough to understand what is going on around me. I have lived through many other diseases that have traveled the world such as SARS in 2003. I was only 10 years old and I remember the term floating around but I knew nothing about the disease. I remember it being bad enough to effect the hotel and travel industry as my mom was laid off from her downtown hotel job at the time. When I say it hit me differently, I’m not going to lie, it made me nervous. I saw grocery shelves out of toilet paper, canned goods, hand sanitizer and disinfectant wipes. I was afraid of not being able to protect myself from this virus. I was afraid of not knowing how long stores will go on without certain foods and supplies. I was afraid of people over reacting and becoming violent to get certain goods. How will it effect my job? Am I at a higher risk of contracting this disease because of my job? Will I be laid off and for how long? All these questions and worries made me uneasy. I was stressing myself out unnecessarily. I did shed some tears in fear and worry I’ll admit. I know that I am healthy and well off. All the overwhelming news spread around the world - truth and conspiracy. Changes at work. Stores I go to every week closing. All of this was, as I already said…overwhelming at one point. I had some fear tears in me I had to get out. I felt like I needed a hug. Currently writing this I feel better. I feel like by blogging about it is has relieved this tension. It’s okay if you feel this way. To have some worry. It’s okay but please do not worry ♡.

March 11th, 2020 - WHO assessed COVID-19 as a pandemic.

March 15th, 2020 - OLG announced the closure of all Ontario Casinos in efforts to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

March 15th, 2020 was my last day of work. I work at a Casino and was affected by OLG’s decision to temporarily close all of Ontario’s Casinos. I do not know when I will return to work, but I know my job is secure. I have never been laid off let alone laid off as a result of a pandemic. It felt surreal when I left the building for the last time. An empty building that is always far from empty.

We were not the only operation to close. A lot of retail companies have chosen to temporarily close their stores in efforts to slow the spread of the virus. Many sports events are canceled such as the NBA (National Basketball League), NHL (National Hockey League) and MLB (Major League Baseball) just to name a few. Many gatherings such as marathons and concerts have been canceled. Major attractions like our C.N. Tower in Toronto is temporarily closed. Schools are currently on March Break but will remain closed for 2 weeks to help prevent any spread. Daycare/childcare centres are also closed.

Monday March 16th, 2020 (in Toronto) - Many restaurants were urged to only provide take-out, drive-thru & delivery. Schools, libraries, night clubs, theatres and churches/places of worship were told to be closed immediately.

In an announcement on March 16th, 2020 our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, urged Canadian travellers to make their way back home as soon as possible. He said their will be closures of all airports in Canada with the exception of 4 airports in Toronto, Montreal, Calgary and Vancouver. Canada is closing its boarders to most foreign travellers. There were also many reports on how the government will help Canadians in this time of difficulty.

March 18th, 2020 - The U.S.A and Canada have closed their boarders to all non-essential travel.

A joint decision made by our Prime Minster Justin Trudeau and the President of the United States Donald Trump. This is a first since the confederation of Canada in 1867. (National Post)

There is much more news on this subject. I have simply highlighted the major events that have lead up to this day around my Country, my Province and my City. I wanted to document what has happened thus far in our world…in my world as a result of COVID-19. This disease came on fast. It’s scary how it easily it spreads. It’s amazing how far it’s come in such a short amount of time. It’s something I’ll never forget. The social changes, the closures, the preventions taken to help stop the spread. This is why I wanted to write this blog post. To remember these drastic changes in our Country.

⇣ Disclaimer ⇣

I do understand that these societal changes have happened in other countries around the world and not just as a result of a pandemic but possibly as a result of war. Certain countries have been dealing with this way of life for many years and I do empathize with them. I am in no way trying to put the spot light on me or my Country. I come from a place that I am very fortunate to have many things looking out for me; my government, my health and wealth, and so much more. I have the freedom to travel, to go out when I want, to buy what I want. At this moment in time, in the year 2020, our society in Canada that is a 1st world country has changed temporarily. Changes that we never thought we would have to see in our life time. To document this is simply a reminder for me. I ask you please to respect this post.

☼ SOme positive news ☺︎

Vaccine development - Experimental vaccine being tested on 45 healthy adults in Seattle.

China’s new cases plummet - China has closed it’s temporary hospital that housed COVID-19 patients. Not enough new cases.

Drugs the work - Doctors in India have successfully treated two Italian patients with COVID-19.

103-year-old recovery - A woman in China has made a full recovery from COVID-19. She is the oldest patient to beat the disease.

Stores re-opening - Apple has reopened all 42 of it’s Apple retail stores in China.

Test results in two hours - A COVID-19 test that can give results in just two hours, rather than days.

South Korea has drop in cases - Speaks for itself

Israeli vaccine development - More than 50 scientists in Israel are now working to develop a vaccine and antibody for COVID-19, having reported significant breakthroughs in understanding the biological mechanism and characteristics of the novel coronavirus.

Full recoveries - Three patients in Maryland that tested positive for COVID-19 have fully recovered.

Isolated virus - Canadian scientists have isolated the COVID-19 virus which means it an now be replicated to test diagnostics, treatments, and vaccines.

Many treatments that work - Treatments from India and around the world that have shown recovery

All the above positive vibes are taken from here ⇢ ‘Good News About The COVID-19 Pandemic’

I am sending positive vibes your way ♡ I believe this will all go away. I believe this will be contained and we as a society will help each other.

We are all in this together