If you are a Facebook friend of my mom then
you may have seen her post announcing that her partner Tex has tested positive
for COVID-19 and she is a presumptive case.
The novel coronavirus has disrupted every
part of our lives. It’s not just a community state of emergency, it’s global.
Up until they received their diagnosis a couple of days ago, for our family
COVID-19 was a disease that was affecting other people.
Like most British Columbians we have been
hearing the recommendations and orders
from Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia’s Chief Medical Officer, and taking
them increasingly seriously. My family has been restricting our movements and
limiting our interactions with others. Other than a quick trip to the
legislature I have been limited to our property for the past week.
My mom and Tex attended a conference in
Toronto and returned two weeks ago feeling unwell. Thankfully over the past few
days they are not getting much worse, however they are also not getting much
better either. Living with COVID-19 is a story that I will leave for my author
mom to tell when she has the energy.
Thankfully they
took those early recommendations of the public health officer to
self-quarantine very seriously.
They live near the airport and other than a
quick trip to my sister’s house to pick up their dog they went home and have
not left since.
The people at the BC
Centre for Disease Control have been an incredible support. They continue
to investigate the situation but they have completely cleared the single brief
interaction at my sister's house. Other than through the phone and video
conferencing, nobody has had any interaction with my mom and Tex. I and my
immediate family feel fine.
It is a surreal time for our family and all
British Columbians.
We are proud of our freedom and liberty that
in the past few weeks have been dramatically restricted.
Everything that once seemed reliable is now
in question.
The emerging public
health emergency, is also a growing economic emergency.
Our entire society and way of life has been
turned upside down.
I’m sharing this story about Tex and my mom
because COVID-19 is real. It is a devastating disease and it must be taken
seriously. As Minister of Health, Hon. Adrian Dix, stated emphatically in his
response to my question in Question Period, the public health orders to
stay home are 100%.
Other than
essential business, 100% of British Columbians should stay home 100% of the
time.
If you do have to
go out, maintain physical distance from the people around you. Make sure you
wash your hands often, wash them thoroughly following all the guidelines for
hand washing.
As my mom said, when she and Tex were telling
their grandkids on a video conference that their grandparents have COVID-19, if
they had not taken those orders seriously nearly two weeks ago, then they would
have been responsible for spreading this awful disease to their entire family.
Thank you to everyone who has read my mom's
Facebook post and reached out to us to extend your well wishes. Our family
appreciates you keeping them in your thoughts and prayers just as we are
keeping all the people who are struggling with COVID-19 in our thoughts and
prayers.
Please listen to
the updates and follow all the recommendations as if you have no other option.
Our government does not want to have to force further restrictions and we are
hoping for broad social acceptance.
We can limit the spread of the novel
coronavirus by each one of us doing our part.
Thank you for doing your part to keep us
safe. For medical questions please call 811 to speak to a nurse.
For non-medical COVID-19 questions (i.e.
childcare, financial support or travel) call 1-800-COVID-19. Information is
available in 110 language between 7:30am and 8:00pm.
If you are not well and think you need to be
tested, check out the provincial government self-assessment tool at COVID19.THRIVE.HEALTH.
For employment insurance inquires please call
Service Canada at 1-833-381-2725.
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