Letter to a grandchild
A fourth pandemic letter to my unborn grandchild Sparky: Dear Sparky:
I last wrote to you in April, when we were in the third wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. It is time for an update.
It is getting very tiresome. We are facing a fourth avoidable fourth wave as a result of the “Delta variant” of COVID-19. Vaccines are widely available, but we have plateaued at 71% fully vaccinated with 2 doses and 82% at least one dose.
Our health region has been hit hard in the last few weeks, and I speculate it is a result of vacationing un-vaccinated Albertans. The travel restrictions mentioned in my last letter were lifted Anybody can travel anywhere within the province or visitors can come into the province. The U.S. land border has been closed, but no restrictions on air travel. We deadbolted the door, but left all of the windows open.
Apparently, the pandemic is over in Alberta. Masks are not mandatory. No restrictions on indoor gatherings. Testing is being phased out. Contact tracing is finished. Parents do not need to notify schools if their child has contracted COVID. Their health system is collapsing. Why do some politicians ignore science?
We desperately need both provincial and federal governments to figure out a vaccine passport. It is needed to protect vaccinated people from the pro-disease anti-vaxxers. The passport would be needed to take public transit, go to restaurants, gyms and attend public events such as concerts and sporting events. Maybe the noncritical thinkers will get jabbed if they face restrictions.
Wishful thinking. If one contracts COVID-19 while unvaccinated, one has to pay one’s medical bills. (I have always thought if one gets hurt while not wearing a seat belt or not wearing a motorcycle/bicycle helmet, the public should not be paying for your care and your insurance is void.) You pay for your freedom of choice!
There will be a federal election in a few weeks. The Liberal minority government has done a reasonable job of handling both the pandemic and the economy, so polling fairly well. I hope they are punished for their opportunism as the opposition parties have been supportive of their policies and there is no need for a new mandate. I am grateful for mail-in ballots.
The heat and the smoke are unbearable. Our annual viewing of the Perseid meteor shower did not happen because of the smoke. We cannot see the lake, when we normally enjoy a few of the KVR trail above Naramata. I cannot stay outside for more than 20 minutes without getting a headache. We gave up looking for a new country to move to as the whole world is a mess. Sorry.
This week’s report from the UN says global warming is worse than predicted. Sorry again. —Grandad John PS: Sparky, still sorry to have saddled your generation with paying off our deficit.