Dear Editor,
Over the last week, the number of active COVID cases in Okotoks has risen from 4 to 24.
While the case number itself might seem low, the rate at which it's climbing is concerning
COVID's R-value in Alberta was 1.48 as of Sunday, higher than it has ever been. This means "100 people with the virus will spread it to 148 others," according to CBC.
In other words, COVID is spreading faster than ever in Alberta.
We are all sick of this, especially our provincial government. With their recently declared victory over COVID, it's unlikely we'll see another health order mandating masks, physical distancing, restrictions on indoor dining, etc. I expect local councils will be hesitant, to say the least.
So, I'm not asking for government intervention.
That's not going to happen barring a health system catastrophe, which could lead to yet another "lockdown."
And I'm not talking to the person who's marching for freedom or making rude comments to mask wearers. I'm asking local citizens who believe in science and modern medicine to work together at a grassroots level.
There is no other option. We need to take our mitigation strategy into our own hands, for the sake of our community, children who are too young to be vaccinated, soon-to-be-open schools and local businesses.
We don't need everyone to mask, distance and gather outside, but any increased effort to curb community spread helps. If there's less COVID going around in our region, we all win.
This isn't fearmongering: It is perfectly reasonable to want to protect the unvaccinated from potential long-term health effects such as organ damage, chronic inflammation, neurological issues and more. It is reasonable to consider a fourth wave as possible.
I know it can be intimidating wearing a mask in public or asking people to respect physical distancing these days. Some people just don't want to see it. It reminds them that this horrible time isn't quite over
Don't let discomfort or any embarrassment stop you.
This isn't a culture war; it's a pandemic.
We know what works. Let's do what we can to protect ourselves without government intervention. Get vaccinated. Mask. Distance. Gather outside when possible.
I do hope I'm wrong, but there is no harm in taking these small, proven steps.
Jessica Hallam,
Okotoks
