Kindness greatest gift in COVID-19 Christmas
We are only days away from Christmas, and people across the East Coast are preparing for a Christmas like no other.
Since COVID-19 started to infiltrate our society, we have had to make significant changes in how we go about our daily lives. We will likewise have to adjust how we celebrate Christmas this year. Activities such as large family gatherings, staff Christmas parties, and travelling out of the province or country to visit family are not permitted this year - something that's necessary to curb the spread of this virus. It's been a difficult adjustment for all of us, and while we won't be able to do all the usual things, we need not lose the spirit of the season.
That's vitally important this year - especially responding to everyone with kindness. I've noticed this being consistently reinforced by Newfoundland's chief medical officer, Janice Fitzgerald, as she speaks about new infections that have been identified.
Since the second wave began, many East Coast residents have been afraid. We have been largely shielded from the ravages of this virus that is being experienced in other regions thanks to the Atlantic bubble. If we want to continue to keep this virus in check in this region, we need to make sure that people come forward for testing and do not fear being vilified by their neighbours if they test positive.
Those who test positive go through a great amount of fear and stress and need our ongoing kindness and support, not criticism and judgment over becoming infected. Regardless of how the infection happened, no one voluntarily chooses to become infected and risk spreading this virus to their loved ones and others within their community.
With the majority of new infections in this region being travel-related and involving our own citizens or essential workers entering the region from other parts of Canada, we also need to remember to be kind towards Canadians in other provinces who are undergoing significant spread of the virus. Most of us have family members who either live or work in these provinces so we should be aware that despite the spread of COVID-19, most people elsewhere in Canada are following the guidelines that exist in their provinces and are trying to do their best.
Our smaller population has allowed up to keep things in check and conduct contract tracing when infections occur; in larger provinces, once community spread started, it was virtually impossible to keep up with contact tracing and the virus got out of hand. They need our kindness as they struggle to get things under control and you can bet that Christmas in this region will involve a lot more freedom than they will have this year.
As vaccines begin to roll out, we need to remember kindness for the countries in the world where the virus is running rampant and the people lack the resources to afford to pay for vaccines. Canadians will be among the first in the world to start the vaccination process, whereas there are many other parts of the world where the situation is much more critical. There is a move on among some developed countries to ensure that vaccines reach these countries sooner rather than later; we have the economic resources and it would be kind to share with those who can't afford them.
Atlantic Canadians are
known for their friendliness and generosity of spirit, and Christmas is a time when this spirit is felt and expressed even more strongly. If there is any lesson that we learn from COVID-19, it's the need for kindness when times are tough. As we celebrate Christmas in whatever form it takes, remember that kindness costs so little to give but has such great value.