RISKY BUSINESS - LOCKDOWN REDUX
Thursday, December 10, 2020
Cross your fingers, hope not to die …
Albertans have visceral recollections of last spring’s shut down.
Thankfully, not calamitous but a scary preview, our reality-check ramped-up our grasp of infectious disease parlance and spurred hoarding of paper products. The curve was flattened, and grocers came through.
This go-round, I expect our grocers will be less stressed, as will shoppers; we’ve learned about PPE, and we’re stocked up. Everyone’s OK for TP.
Trouble with the Curve was a great movie title – now it’s an unsettling descriptor for coming to grips with our severe winter ahead.
Imagine getting sick, needing life-saving surgery, or an emergency room. Now also imagine bulging hospitals without sufficient capacity to accommodate you.
Why should anyone be afraid?
Because it’s not just about tragic COVID statistics, not about continued economic strife, not the shutting down of activity – but the risk of insufficient hospital capacity. I’ve seen gymnasium photos, carpeted cot-to-cot in 1918 when patients sick with flu overflowed hospitals.
Yes, we’ve come a long way.
Vaccine doses (developed – awe-inspiring fast) are coming.
Six months from now, we likely all have two shots – that’s encouraging.
We tend to dismiss ‘official warnings’ and ignore political rhetoric – sometimes with good reason, but I don’t feel this is one of those times. As I read the new Alberta rules, I wonder, if we’d had that more-balanced regime in place last spring, would the pandemic severity have been blunted?
Stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask, limit contacts, and keep safe distances.
Don’t get sick.
Don’t get injured.
Don’t visit anyone – stay well, and stay out of hospitals.
Like I said, fingers crossed.
Reader feedback:
I could not agree more with your musing this morning. I think the amount he has raised since the election is higher - around $425M - to fight his frivolous legal battles, launch his next election campaign for President 2024, and serve his lifestyle in whatever fashion he chooses- his last big grift while in office. Payment for pardons .....it just goes on and on. Why you would be constitutionally set up to give the loser of an election that much residual power for 72 days after he lost the election? I’m more disgusted by the Republicans that enable, and outwardly support, his behavior, RT, White Rock, BC
I agree the pandemic is certainly the #1 thing in the world right now, but I certainly hope we don’t give up everything else, including being vigilant. As far as the ex-president of our neighbor is concerned, I’m guessing most, if not all of that money came from his followers. I’m sure you remember, I’m also not a supporter of this person, to say the least, but probably would like to meet your friend, as I have searched for one of his intelligent followers to at least understand how anyone can support him, without success. I don’t know much about American history, but don’t know how this person won’t be considered the worst president of that country in history, at least in modern times. Yes, the American economy did well during his tenure, but I also believe no country “controls” their economy any longer. I believe even the major countries of the world have let the biggest businesses take this over by their lack of supervision and control. LH, Lethbridge, AB
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