COVID-19 impacting daily life
Residents of southwestern Nova Scotia, like people throughout the province and beyond, are growing accustomed to a new norm caused by COVID-19. But the new norm, of course, is that nothing is normal at all.
Hospital visitation restrictions are in place, seniors long-term care facilities are closed to visitors, events have been cancelled, sports have shut down, schools have closed, businesses are adjusting hours or having staff work from home, people are being told they must self-isolate for 14 days if they’ve been outside of Canada and social distancing has become a thing.
The province announced its first presumptive cases of COVID-19 on Sunday and provincially, nationally and internationally the pace of the information coming out is constantly evolving.
Still, there are constant themes and messages, as Premier Stephen MacNeil reiterated again in a press briefing on Monday.
“We need to continue to do proper hygiene practices and that will go a long way to ensuring that we flatten the curve on this virus as it comes into Nova Scotia,” he said.
So wash your hands, and wash them a lot. Avoid touching your face, etc.
On Monday, it was announced that all branches of the Western Counties Regional Library and Books by Mail services are closed to the public for three weeks in an effort to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.
“Patrons will not be charged late fees for materials on loan during this period and we encourage everyone to keep their borrowed materials until libraries re-open,” reads a media release. “The library has a digital library that is accessible all the time to download eBooks, audiobooks, digital magazines.”
Municipal units in the tricounties were sharing public safeguarding information on their social media accounts and websites and this week were expected to share more information with the public about ways the units are looking to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“We will be discussing (Monday) evening at committee of the whole and also MLA Gordon Wilson, the warden of District of Digby, Clare and myself are meeting later today,” Digby Mayor
Ben Cleveland said on Monday prior to this newspaper’s press deadline.
The five units in Shelburne County met via conference call earlier this week with the mayors, wardens, senior staff, EMO personnel, etc., to discuss measures in place to provide essential services and to protect staff and the public.
“At this time, all municipal offices in Shelburne County remain open but this will continue to be monitored daily,” the units said in a media release on Monday. “For the protection of our staff, residents and visitors, we are requesting that anyone visiting municipal offices or facilities respect the social distance of six feet and continue the practice of good hygiene, such as washing hands.”
The town of Yarmouth said on Monday it was reviewing all services to determine what can or should be suspended. The town was also reviewing all work to see how it could maximize what can be done from home/remotely. Reduced hours at the town hall and to services, including transit, were also being reviewed.
“We are determining what services are non-essential and will work to keep the public updated in a timely manner on any changes that might impact daily life as we know it,” said Yarmouth Mayor
Pam Mood. “Any measures taken will be done to ensure the good health and safety of our residents.”
Throughout the tricounties community, events planned by groups and organizations were being cancelled to reduce the opportunity for large crowds to gather.
With universities suspending in-person classes and opting for online instruction instead, students began returning home on the weekend.
Students from elementary to high school have the week off for March break, but they won’t return to classes when it’s done. Schools will remain closed to students from March 23 to April 3. This closure will be reassessed at the end of this period.
“We understand that any change to school schedules can be disruptive to families; however, this is an important way to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 in our communities,” said Chris Boulter,
TCRCE’s regional executive director of education. “We also recognize that you may have questions about what this closure will mean for learning, completing courses, final exams, school calendars, etc. Please know that our staff and members of the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development are working together to address these questions. You can expect to receive an update from us by the end of the week.”
Although kids were off school, a majority of March break activities were cancelled. In Shelburne County, as an example of what is happening throughout the region, municipal recreation programs and community events have been cancelled, school gyms closed for community use and some restaurants are offering takeout only.
In the spirit of community, however, to help those who have to self-isolate because they’ve tested positive for COVID-19, have travelled outside of the country or are concerned with coming in contact with the virus, the Facebook group Shelburne County 2020 Helpers Group has been formed to give a hand by delivering needed supplies.
Meanwhile, Dr. Robert Strang, the province’s chief medical officer of health, reminds all Nova Scotians that we all have a role to play to keep ourselves and those around us safe. He stresses the importance of self-isolating if you have been travelling. If people are not doing this, remind them they have to, he said on Monday, and/or contact public health.
He stressed said people need to heed the advice of public health and government officials.
“Now is the time for us to be thinking about how we slow down our lives,” he said.
Stay close to home and minimize contact with others.
Strang said if people adhere to the messages and information “we can actually bring down the impact from 30 to 50 per cent of the transmission of the virus. But we can only get there if everybody is working together and that will have a huge impact on the number of people who get sick and the stresses that are put on our health-care system.”