COVID Q&A
Item
Title
COVID Q&A
Description
Question 1: As of this date, in what ways has COVID-19 affected you at work / school / other?
I am now working from home. It is not bad for me as my kids are older and can fend for themselves while I am "at work." I do worry that the longer this goes that there will be enough work to sustain us. A big component of my work is interacting with others and working with resources that are now locked up.
I am now working from home. It is not bad for me as my kids are older and can fend for themselves while I am "at work." I do worry that the longer this goes that there will be enough work to sustain us. A big component of my work is interacting with others and working with resources that are now locked up.
Question 2: How has it affected you at home?
There is a general concern about education for my kids - high school and university. Now, it sounds like there are measures in place to address these in some fashion. My wife is a nurse who specializes in infection control. This pandemic has been like a hand grenade going off in a crowded room. All medical professionals are working really hard and going way above and beyond to address everyone's needs. It has only been three weeks and they are exhausted. But they carry on.
There is a general concern about education for my kids - high school and university. Now, it sounds like there are measures in place to address these in some fashion. My wife is a nurse who specializes in infection control. This pandemic has been like a hand grenade going off in a crowded room. All medical professionals are working really hard and going way above and beyond to address everyone's needs. It has only been three weeks and they are exhausted. But they carry on.
Question 3: What are your biggest concerns surrounding the COVID-19 outbreak?
I am certainly concerned for the older and vulnerable members of my family and community. They all seem to be doing the right things to remain safe. I have big concerns about the economy and personal finances of those who cannot work at this time. This has been so disruptive and there is no precedent on how we all move forward when this is over. I hope that greed does not take over the spirit of goodwill and common decency that we see and hear about every day.
I am certainly concerned for the older and vulnerable members of my family and community. They all seem to be doing the right things to remain safe. I have big concerns about the economy and personal finances of those who cannot work at this time. This has been so disruptive and there is no precedent on how we all move forward when this is over. I hope that greed does not take over the spirit of goodwill and common decency that we see and hear about every day.
Question 4: Do you know someone who has contracted the virus (no names please)? What has that experience been like for the individual(s) and those around them?
I don't know anyone personally with COVID-19 so far. It seems like a very scary experience because there are so many unknowns.
I don't know anyone personally with COVID-19 so far. It seems like a very scary experience because there are so many unknowns.
Question 5: What are your opinions on how the media has covered the pandemic?
I think that there has been a lot of fearmongering and misinformation put out by the media - ex. headline baiting to catch eyes. I do not believe that it helps. But as this has progressed, it seems to have gotten better with interviewing intelligent people in the know and reporting on recovery and good news stories as well as tragedy. The media plays a critical role in how the masses react in times like this. I wish that they would take more responsibility and play a more positive role in this. Fox News should be banned from existence. Thankfully, we are not American.
I think that there has been a lot of fearmongering and misinformation put out by the media - ex. headline baiting to catch eyes. I do not believe that it helps. But as this has progressed, it seems to have gotten better with interviewing intelligent people in the know and reporting on recovery and good news stories as well as tragedy. The media plays a critical role in how the masses react in times like this. I wish that they would take more responsibility and play a more positive role in this. Fox News should be banned from existence. Thankfully, we are not American.
Question 6: Do you feel like your local leaders - medical, political, business - are doing a good job in responding to COVID-19? What about at the provincial or national level?
I think that our leaders have been doing a very good job of reacting to the crisis. Once it was very apparent that this was going to be bigger than we all expected, local businesses, politicians, educators all made sound decisions to protect their communities sometimes to great personal cost. I am not a fan of Doug Ford or his administration in any way. But he too has reacted well to the crisis. PM Trudeau, despite some missteps and faults, always seems to put people first. He has shown great leadership at the national level.
I think that our leaders have been doing a very good job of reacting to the crisis. Once it was very apparent that this was going to be bigger than we all expected, local businesses, politicians, educators all made sound decisions to protect their communities sometimes to great personal cost. I am not a fan of Doug Ford or his administration in any way. But he too has reacted well to the crisis. PM Trudeau, despite some missteps and faults, always seems to put people first. He has shown great leadership at the national level.
Question 7: When do you think this will end? What challenges are still ahead? What will be different? What will be better?
I think that this will continue for two months at a minimum. The beginning of returning to normal will start in July. But a lot will have changed. More people will have learned to work and manage their lives from home. Employers will have to figure out how this could work regularly from an HR standpoint. When will we start to shake hands in greeting again? Will this be a thing of the past? More people will take their annual flu vaccinations seriously I hope.
I think that this will continue for two months at a minimum. The beginning of returning to normal will start in July. But a lot will have changed. More people will have learned to work and manage their lives from home. Employers will have to figure out how this could work regularly from an HR standpoint. When will we start to shake hands in greeting again? Will this be a thing of the past? More people will take their annual flu vaccinations seriously I hope.
Question 8: Is there anything else that you would like to say about the COVID-19 pandemic?
COVID-19 is not going to disappear. It will become a regular, seasonal occurrence. Are we going to shut down the world every winter from here on out? I hope that our natural immunities will learn to fight this better in the incoming years as well as the development of a vaccine. We should listen to the scientists and medical professionals who specialize in this work moving forward. Trust the experts. Don't let this become politicized or dismissed as something of the past. We can all learn from this and do better.
COVID-19 is not going to disappear. It will become a regular, seasonal occurrence. Are we going to shut down the world every winter from here on out? I hope that our natural immunities will learn to fight this better in the incoming years as well as the development of a vaccine. We should listen to the scientists and medical professionals who specialize in this work moving forward. Trust the experts. Don't let this become politicized or dismissed as something of the past. We can all learn from this and do better.
Creator
David Sharron
Date
April 5, 2020
Spatial Coverage
St. Catharines
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This item was submitted on April 5, 2020 by [anonymous user] using the form “Questions and Answers 1” on the site “Documenting COVID-19 in Niagara”: https://exhibits.library.brocku.ca/s/COVID-Niagara
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