B.C.'s Chief Provincial Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix provide an update on COVID-19 on March 26, 2020. (Photo from B.C. government)
The pace of change is dizzying as the coronavirus continues its explosion across the world. It’s hard to comprehend all of the changes and what they might mean for a post-pandemic world.
Last Friday, when I wrote the week one entry, B.C. had 271 cases of COVID-19 and eight deaths. Canada had 934 cases and 12 deaths.
Today, as of March 26, 2020, B.C. has 725 confirmed cases and 14 people have died. One hundred and eighty-six people have recovered in B.C., while Canada has 4,018 cases and 39 people have died.
Here is a shocking list of changes from the past seven days:
- Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that the federal government will subsidize 75 per cent of employees’ wages to small and medium-size businesses to prevent layoffs. (Trudeau gives daily briefings outside his house, where he and his family are in isolation.)
- The United States surpassed both Italy and China to become the country with the most people with coronavirus.
- Prince Charles and Boris Johnson have tested positive for the virus.
- More than one million Canadians returned home from abroad. There are still others who are stuck overseas and cannot get flights home.
- The federal government enacted the Quarantine Act, which means anyone coming into Canada, except essential workers, has to self-isolate for 14 days, or risk a fine of up to $750,000 and/or imprisonment for six months.
- The United States is considering putting troops near the Canadian Border to stop people from crossing illegally (!).
- More than one million Canadians applied for Employment Insurance in one week. I’m sure that’s an all-time record.
- Employment Insurance is being replaced for the next four months by a new Canada Emergency Response Benefit that will pay people $2,000 a month. Details are still coming, but I believe this is also available to people who do not qualify for EI, such as people who are self-employed.
- The Canadian government reconvened (with a proportional number of fewer MPs) to pass a $107-billion relief package.
- The American government passed a $2-trillion economic stimulus package.
- The British Columbian government passed a $5 billion relief package for individuals, which includes a $1,000 payment if a person can’t work due to COVID-19 and boosts some other tax credits.
- Student loan payments have been frozen for six months.
- Car insurance and home electricity bills can be deferred for six months in B.C.
- Businesses in B.C. can now defer many tax payments and their school taxes have been reduced.
- The courts are sort of still operating, although they are greatly reduced. Some hearings are going ahead with skeleton staff and others have been postponed. Some are being held by teleconference.
- Bars and restaurants are all closed, with the exception that restaurants can do takeout and delivery. Servers can now home-deliver alcohol in B.C., with the purchase of a meal.
- B.C. Premier John Horgan said no one will lose their home because of COVID-19.
- In B.C., evictions are banned, except in exceptional circumstances. So are rent increases.
Renters who can’t work can have up to $500 a month paid by the government directly to their landlord.
- Child care centres are still operating, but anyone who can care for their child at home is asked to do so. Child care centres are also being supported financially by the provincial government.
- Teachers have been told they will “report to work” after spring break ends next Monday. The exact definition of “report to work” remains to be determined, but the government has said they want there to be some “continuity of learning” for school children and child care for healthcare workers and other essential workers.
- Liquor stores are still open.
- All personal services, like massage therapy offices or hair salons, were ordered closed.
- It’s nearly impossible to get groceries without going into the store. Trying to get a delivery time or a pickup slot takes hours and sometimes you can’t even get one. I got one for 10 days later!
- Two drugs have been said to possibly have promise fighting COVID-19. Now doctors in the U.S. are apparently hoarding them.
- Testing has shifted to people who are sick enough to require hospitalization, live in a care home or are healthcare workers.
- Parks and beach parking lots have been closed because people were not keeping their distance – public health authorities still say we can go outside, but only with people who we live with. If we see others, we need to stay two meters apart.
- Drive through testing has started, but only for healthcare workers.
- Visitors are banned from long-term care homes.
- There have been outbreaks at nine B.C. long-term care homes.
- Doctors and nurses have been asking for tighter restrictions on people’s movement.
- People living in high-density neighbourhoods like Vancouver’s West End or Yaletown are going on their balconies every night at 7 p.m. to applaud healthcare workers.
- Workers do not have to provide a doctor’s note if they are sick.
- The Summer Olympics are postponed.
- The B.C. Summer Games are cancelled.
- London Drugs stepped up to sell Girl Guide cookies.
- Younger people are stepping up to grocery shop for older family members, who are at high risk.
If you made it this far, you've seen that this week’s list is even longer than last week's. If, like me, you’ve got a constant hum of mid-level anxiety distracting you from everything, just know you’re not alone. We are all in this together. We are all equal.
B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix called this pandemic “the greatest fight of our time.” But as his partner in shepherding B.C. through this, our Public Health Officer Dr. Bonnie Henry, has said several times: this isn’t forever and we will get though it. Stay healthy, everyone.
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