Tags
Covid-19, Flouting rules, freedom, Premier Doug Ford, Premier François Legault, Testing, The Armed Forces, Young People
Dr Li Wenliang (Photo Credit: The Standard, UK)
© Dr. Eileen de Villa / Twitter A statement released by the City late Saturday night says thousands of people packed Trinity Bellwoods Park on one of the first warm days of the year, flouting physical distancing regulations.
Looking at the photograph above, I cannot help remember earlier posts. You may recall that once the lockdown was being lifted, Quebec Premier François Legault urged Montrealers returning to the workplace to wear a face mask. The province was about to reopen, but the virus had not gone away. A lady, a journalist I suspect, stated that the Premier, monsieur Legault, was walking a fine line. He wasn’t. I believe the lady was referring to Quebec’s Bill 21, which imposes complete secularization. But the wearing of a mask is a health measure.
© THE CANADIAN PRESS/Frank Gunn Ontario Premier Doug Ford listens to speakers at the opening of a new Daily Bread Food Bank in Toronto on Monday, May 25, 2020.
Freedom
- an anecdote
- flouting rules
- Trinity Bellwoods Park
I once told my students that they had kept me awake most of the night and that they should know better. It was frosh (first year students) week. Someone objected that students were adults and that consequently they were free.
Free, I exclaimed? First, I said that since they were adults and therefore free, I would no longer telephone campus security, but the RCMP (the Royal Canadian Mounted Police). Second, I explained to them that one’s freedom ended where the freedom of others began and that this they had to remember for the rest of their life.
On 23 May, thousands of sun worshippers gathered in Toronto’s Trinity Bellwoods Park defying all regulations. They did not stand at a distance from one another and they did not wear a mask, which is now recommended by Canada’s top doctor. Premier Doug Ford had to extend the state of emergency.
We were unprepared, but they knew…
When outbreaks of Covid-19 reached Canada, we were not prepared. But last Saturday, if a person did not know about aggressivity and transmissibility of novel coronavirus, that person had spent the entire lockdown in a coma. Therefore, it would be my opinion that these young people were engaging in reckless endangerment of human life, no less. There was a flare-up, une flambée, which forced Premier Ford to extend the state of emergency.
Canadians have received a great deal of information regarding Covid-19. At no point, did anyone say that the pandemic was over. On the contrary, Premiers and top doctors stated, in both English and French, that Covid-19 was here to stay and recommended the wearing a mask after the lockdown. It may be that Covid-19 will never go away completely. In Montreal, the situation is still critical, but I have not heard of violations of regulations. People wear their mask. In fact, persons using public transportation will be given a face mask and subways will not be crowded. It must end.
The Freedom we have …
It would be useful for people to look upon social distancing and the wearing of a mask as the freedom we have. The virus may linger, but if precautions are taken, plumbers, electricians, carpenters, doctors, opthalmologists, dentists, taxi drivers, etc. will be available. We need services. During the lockdown, nearly all services were closed. As well, thousands of people are now tested everyday.
The Armed Forces
Members of the Canadian Armed Forces were not doing what they do normally. But we could not have managed without them. They worked relentlessly in long-term care facilities, cleaning and sanitizing these facilities, and helping feed patients. Premier Legault will ask that they remain until September while CHSLDs are refurbished and air-conditioned. This is work that cannot be postponed. The province is also hiring healthcare givers for these nursing homes. The Armed Forces have now been called in Ontario where long-term care facilities are built like Quebec’s and are understaffed.
To my knowledge, no one in my building has been infected.
Would that Dr. Li Wenliang had been heard. Instead, he was silenced, reprimanded, infected and died.
RELATED ARTICLE
- Chronicling Covid-19 (14): The Mask (15 May 2020)
There are 87,481 confirmed and presumptive cases in Canada.
- Quebec: 49,139 confirmed (including 4,228 deaths, 15,319 resolved)
- Ontario: 26,483 confirmed (including 2,155 deaths, 20,372 resolved)
- Alberta: 6,901 confirmed (including 139 deaths, 6,048 resolved)
- British Columbia: 2,541 confirmed (including 161 deaths, 2,122 resolved)
- Nova Scotia: 1,053 confirmed (including 59 deaths, 975 resolved)
- Saskatchewan: 634 confirmed (including 8 deaths, 549 resolved)
- Manitoba: 281 confirmed (including 7 deaths, 269 resolved), 11 presumptive
- Newfoundland and Labrador: 260 confirmed (including 3 deaths, 255 resolved)
- New Brunswick: 122 confirmed (including 120 resolved)
- Prince Edward Island: 27 confirmed (including 27 resolved)
- Repatriated Canadians: 13 confirmed (including 13 resolved)
- Yukon: 11 confirmed (including 11 resolved)
- Northwest Territories: 5 confirmed (including 5 resolved)
- Nunavut: No confirmed cases
- Total: 87,481 (11 presumptive, 87,470 confirmed including 6,760 deaths, 46,085 resolved)
This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2020.
The Canadian Press
Love to everyone 💕
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Frederica von Stade: Trois airs français
Three airs français arranged by the Norwegian musicologist Arne Dørumsgaard. From a recital in Edinburgh, 1976, with Martin Isepp, piano.
The Good Samaritan by Rembrandt (Wikiart.org)
© Micheline Walker
28 May 2020
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