It has been over a year since the Coronavirus was declared a pandemic. Multiple lockdowns, quarantines, and stay-at-home orders later, where has Canada reached in this pandemic journey of ours?
Image is courtesy of Edward Jenner via Pexels.
Evidence of increasing case counts and hospitalizations both point to the same unfortunate news; Canada seems to have entered the third-wave of COVID-19. CTV News explains that one major factor playing into this is the increased prominence of COVID-19 variants, which have higher rates of spreading. According to Dr. Theresa Tam, data modeling demonstrates that the number and proportion of COVID-19 variant cases are increasing rapidly in areas across Canada, demonstrating the urgent need for stronger safety measures.
Younger People in the Third Wave
Another observation made by doctors also highlighted by CTV News during this wave is that younger people seem to be catching the virus. The rollout of several vaccines–Pfizer, Moderna, AstraZeneca–has allowed for senior individuals of our communities to receive vaccine doses and the resulting protection from the virus. However, younger people are yet to receive vaccines (for the most part), which means they are more likely to be hit by the virus, particularly a variant.
Moving Forward
What should we be expecting during this third wave? Well, only time will tell. CNN warns that while vaccine clinics have been ramping up in regions across the country, the rollout has not been quick enough (at least in densely populated places), meaning that vaccines alone will not get us through this wave. We must also take safety precautions as seriously as possible and do our best to keep ourselves and others safe.
Coping With Life During Another Wave
The pandemic has definitely taken a toll on the lives of individuals across the world. Sometimes, it can be hard to remain optimistic when we are flooded with news about more closures, more cases, and more hospitalizations. On top of this, another wave of COVID-19 also brings feelings of uncertainty about when we will be able to go back to living our lives as “normal.” This makes it even more important for us to take care of ourselves and those we care about. Here some tips from CAMH and Sunlife to cope with isolation during the third wave:
Take advantage of the warm weather, but make sure to do it safely. This allows you to go on walks that can be relaxing and a break from school or work. However, when doing so, make sure to take all necessary COVID-19 precautions.
Try and keep busy! Engaging in daily tasks–from preparing meals to engaging in physical activity–can help you feel connected to others and yourself.
Make sure to take time for yourself. It’s important to step away from work to do things you love, whether it be watching your favourite shows or reading your favourite book.
Find ways to maintain social interaction. Try and call your friends and family during the week, and check up on them too. We’re all in this together! Remember that they are also there for you, so it’s okay to ask for help or advice when needed.
Evidently, the third wave of COVID-19 will come with its own challenges. However, as individuals and as a country, we must take the lessons learned in the past two waves to ensure we emerge from the pandemic connected and stronger than ever.
Article Author: Asima Hudani
Article Editors: Valerie Shirobokov, Victoria Huang