COVID-19 Hide and Seek

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COVID-19 is gone. Is it? We are a bit relaxed this summer. Very few people wear masks inside public places and we have kicked social distancing to the curb.

What makes us so confident? Mass vaccination. Except for tennis star Novak Djokovic, Canada, like the rest of the world answered the call to vaccinate. Just when we think we have cleared the hurdle, two reports remind us that the virus is still hiding under bridges, like speed cops in South Africa.

l On June 13, Justin Trudeau, Canada’s Prime Minister reported he tested COVID-19 positive.

l On 22 June, Heather Stefanson, premier of Manitoba, one of the Canadian provinces reported she has COVID-19.

We know their status because they are public figures. Maybe our friends, colleagues, shoppers at the hardware store, church members or people we work with, also have COVID-19. We don’t know.

Because we vaccinated en masse, we are not monitoring government and World Health Organization (WHO) updates about the devious virus, as we used to. Maybe we should.

In the meantime, the ball is in our court on national holidays like Canada Day and the U.S. July 4th.  How do we celebrate without risking health?

By: Nonqaba waka Msimang. 

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