}} Uncertain times
No more simple answers as we adapt to complex new reality
NANCY PAYNE, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
We human beings seem to do best with simple No gatherings with people outside your household. Easy instructions. That’s why, in the face of a terrifying new to remember, and, after a while, second nature. virus and predictions of overwhelmed emergency rooms But as those rules are being relaxed, the certainty and millions of deaths, we turned to political leaders and is disappearing. Sure, limiting travel and avoiding large health officials at all levels for guidance. groups still makes sense. But instead of it being a relief They came through with clear as the restrictions ease off, it’s actually directions like “Having a friend over the exact opposite. We always knew for coffee is not social distancing,” and there was no way things could go back “Stay home. Save lives.” When Rick to normal overnight, but if we’re being Mercer lectured, “Stop looking for honest, most of us probably believed We always knew loopholes,” we got it. somewhere deep down that life really there was no way Those of us who had to go to would just kind of pick up again over work — and there will never be words things could go back the summer. adequate to truly thank you, whether It can’t and it won’t. André Picard to normal overnight, nailed you clean nursing home bathrooms or it in a mid-May Globe and Mail but if we’re being stock drugstore shelves or drive truck column, “It’s easier to scare people or supervise an intensive care unit — honest, most of us than to unscare them.” The easy-todug in and washed their hands nonstop. remember rules are gone, and in their probably believed absence the uncertainty and fear of The rest of us quickly accepted that if all we were being asked to do was stay mid-March are back in full force, along somewhere deep home, well, we could handle that. with all kinds of new, super-stressful down that life Strange and hard as those noquestions. How long will we have to really would just loophole months were, we had rules keep our distance from other people? to guide us. As Mayor Andy Letham kind of pick up again Will we ever be able to go to a movie said in one of his regular video updates, or baseball game or church again? over the summer. Could there be a second wave? Would by following the guidelines, we were saving lives. No unnecessary travel. it be worse? CONT’D ON PAGE 29
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