Tuesday March 24, 2020 ~ BC
by Mary Brooke ~ West Shore Voice News
As the COVID-19 situation unfolds — changing by the hour, politicians are being asked how long this will take for people to remain self-isolated at home and the economy effectively on shut down.
Here are some responses of the last couple of days which shed light on the answer to that question:
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (March 24, 2020): “It’s going to be in place for many more weeks.”
BC Health Minister Adrian Dix (March 23, 2020): ‘Doesn’t see this changing before the end of April’, as stated in the BC Legislature.
BC Provincial Health Officer Dr Bonnie Henry (for many weeks now): “This is for now, it is not forever.”
BC Finance Minister Carole James (March 23, 2020): “It’s an ever-changing situation. The plan is the plan today,” said Carole James in the BC Legislation. There will be “pressures’ in the days, weeks and months to come. “We are all in this together.”
During this downtime from participation in the regular economy, people are noticing the relief this is producing for the natural environment … with less noise and pollution (with vehicle and airplane traffic much reduced), the air is fresher and you can hear the birds.
Even during the imposed self-isolation at home, people may go out into their yards or take a walk around the block, so long as the physical distancing requirement is adhered to (i.e. stay 2 meters or 6 feet away from other people).