LESSONS FROM SELF-ISOLATION
It’s easy to regard two weeks of mandatory self-isolation as trivial, and it is, compared to the experiences of healthcare workers, first responders and those who are sick with COVID -19.
That said, losing control over the conduct of my dayto-day life proved a little more challenging than I had anticipated. Like other returning travellers, I was obliged to spend 14 days at home. I thought that would be a snap, but in the end, I have gained a new respect for the efficacy of house arrest, which is certainly not a punishment-free lark.
In some ways, I was well prepared for self-isolation. As I often used to say with semi-seriousness, my ideal plan for any given day was to remain on my property in Carp, venturing into the village when I felt like it, and even driving as far as Kanata when absolutely essential. Plus, I have been working from home for years, so the work disruption that is affecting so many others wasn’t going to be a problem for me.
The experience of being locked up in the same house can be rather trying for couples not accustomed to spending a lot of time together, but it wasn’t going to be a big change for my wife and me. After working together for years, then retiring together, we have grown rather accustomed to each other’s company.
The most obvious challenge of self-isolation is getting food. Thanks to the neighbours who delivered necessary groceries. Writing columns and working on final revisions of my next book occupied much of my time. A lot of Scrabble games helped ward off cabin fever.
For me, like many others, being confined to home was frustrating, but that’s not the real problem. It’s that there is no normal world to return to. Life as we knew it is on hiatus and it’s not coming back any time soon.
Uncertainty is always unsettling, but doubly so when it’s accompanied by a pervasive fear of what’s to come. Right now, hope and fear are in serious imbalance. Our leaders have chosen to emphasize the potentially dire effects of the virus in an effort to persuade us to stay home. I get that. Right now, it’s the only real tool to contain the virus.
We do need to be aware of unintended consequences.
While the impacts of COVID-19 on physical and financial health can be roughly measured, we might be underestimating the psychological effects of the unrelentingly negative news. I worry about people’s mental health. Less than a month ago, Ontario announced a new free program for people suffering from anxiety and depression, the two most common mental health problems. If that was a significant issue then, what’s happening now?
Governments created a list of businesses that are expected to stay open because they are essential to our economy and our ability to sustain ourselves. But what happens if those workers become too scared to come to work? The federal government has already had to shut down its Service Canada centres because workers weren’t showing up. What if that spreads to grocery stores, or even hospitals?
The fear button needs to be pushed, but there is danger in pushing it too hard. Our governments’ approach has wide public support, so far, but it’s easy to overplay the hand.
Let’s go back to the practice of self-isolation for returning travellers. It is made more bearable by the ability to go out for walk, while carefully avoiding getting too close to others. Now, the federal government has decided even that is forbidden. That contradicts previous advice and common sense.
Despite new rules allowing fines or even jail time for those who don’t stay home, the campaign to contain the virus relies largely on voluntary compliance and the willingness to keep doing the essential jobs. It’s a delicate balance.
Randall Denley is an Ottawa political commentator and author. Contact him at randalldenley1@gmail.com.