DARPAN FEATURE
Back to Normal?
A Post-vaccination Canada BY NAINA GREWAL
Can we really expect activities such as sports, playgrounds, concerts, and weddings to reopen, per say?
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MAY | JUNE 2021
Reflecting The South-Asian Lifestyle
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hotos of vaccinated community members flood our social media feeds as people share their excitement on what seems to be a step closer towards a pre-pandemic world. As governments put a stop to social activities we previously took for granted, the question of finally returning back to the delicacies of ‘normal’ life lingers. Looking at our neighbors in the United States of America, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has said that fully vaccinated
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hospitalizations and deaths are expected to significantly drop as vaccinations increase, making it more likely that public health guidelines loosen and allow for larger gatherings. However, it is only after the second round of vaccinations that notable changes on restrictions for gatherings and travel will come about – more to the likeness of a pre-pandemic Canada. Until 80% of the eligible population gets both doses, masks and social distancing will be the norm. Also associated with the South Asian COVID Task Force, Dr. Madhu Jawanda details that as the vaccine roll-out accelerates and more people are getting vaccinated, along with the warmer weather, more outdoor activities will become sanctioned. Until we reach community immunity and are all safe, stadium sports and concerts are just not realistic. “I wish I had individuals are able to hold outdoor gatherings without the use of masks. However, Canada still stands on the cusp of just the first round of expectations. As such, can we really expect activities such as sports, playgrounds, concerts, and weddings to reopen, per say? Dr. Navdeep Grewal of the South Asian COVID Task Force suggests that we refrain from getting too eager, “After the first round of vaccinations, things won’t really change that much in terms of public health mandates because we are still not fully protected until 3-4 weeks after we’ve received our second dose. We will still have to wear masks indoors, in public places and continue to physically distance.” That said, she advises that the number of
“The new normal is here to stay until we have control of the virus. Right now, the virus has control of us to a certain extent. I think we will see normalcy in early 2022 in Canada.”
DR. MADHU JAWANDA OF THE SOUTH ASIAN COVID TASK FORCE
