鈥淲hen is it all going to end?鈥�
This is the question on everyone鈥檚 minds regarding the COVID-19 pandemic crisis 鈥� and there are no easy answers possible at this time.
As the numbers of new cases decline and those who are sick recover, people may see a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel, but the danger is that it may be a mirage and not really the end of this ordeal.
The restrictions are hard to take, for sure, with 鈥渘on-essential鈥� businesses forced to close their doors for the duration, people being laid off, and physical distancing rules making it impossible to hold any kind of gathering.
This has caused some real restlessness in some areas, and currently it鈥檚 most visible in the United States where some very large protests have been held without any physical distancing or restraint.
The protesters are demanding an end to all the restrictions, and the TV reporters love finding the ones who will say on camera that it鈥檚 all blown out of proportion, and it really isn鈥檛 that bad. They might want to meet the families of some of the thousands upon thousands of victims of COVID-19 who found that the virus is every bit as terrible as it鈥檚 trumped up to be (no pun intended).
Meanwhile, most people are bearing up and are observing the physical distancing restrictions, and are refraining from large gatherings of people, taking in meetings by Zoom or teleconferencing.
With warmer weather starting to arrive in southeast Saskatchewan, there will be more of a temptation to get outside and enjoy the warm sunshine and the growth that comes in the spring.
To all the restless people who want to get back to work and go outside and enjoy the warm spring air, be cautious in how you do this. If people can still observe physical distancing, they should be able to go for a walk or a bike ride without putting anyone in danger.
The problem is once people do get outdoors, the temptation will be to gather with friends, and then physical distancing gets forgotten.
The whole reason that physical distancing is in place is because of the danger of spreading the COVID-19 virus, for which we have no cure and no vaccine currently available. The numbers are improving, yes, and in Saskatchewan, the picture looks really good right now 鈥� but this virus is vicious, and can reappear in a second wave that can take down a lot of people in a short time.
This is a crucial time for us all, but in order for the rules and restrictions to work, we all have to observe them, not just some of us. The sooner we are able to get past this pandemic safely, the sooner we can all get back to a 鈥渘ormal鈥� life once more.
