I am confused by what behaviour is in my and my community’s best interests. That is not a reason for me to do nothing. My knowledge of this virus has changed over time as the experts learn more.

How can these folks guarantee we’ll have immunity after we have the virus the first time, to protect us against a second infection? The very best they can tell us is that this virus looks like some others in which the protection did happen. This assumption doesn’t mean it will protect us from this virus. It doesn’t mean it be will be a perfect immunity. It doesn’t mean the immunity will protect us for years.

Best practice should change over time and does. Unfortunately, in past normal times, this took years to evolve, whereas now it is happening in weeks or days. Remember, at one time, the best minds in the world proved the world was flat in a way that it was believed by most. It took years for that belief to evolve to what we know now.

I can’t quarantine stupidity, and without living in a complete police state, there will be folks who determine it is in their best interests not to stay home. I urge all the others to not focus on these folks, who are small in relative numbers. You can decide to stay at home as much as possible. Each person has to define that line.

Ask yourself this one question. Is there another way to get what I need without putting others and myself at an increased risk?

I’ll look at a couple of my scenarios, realizing we each have to make our own decisions taking into account our situations.

As part of my wellness plan, I’m trying to eat a low carb diet while reducing portion size and eating balanced meals. I love my carb comfort foods. My home-made recipe for low-carb bread has soy flour as the main ingredient. The grocery store was out of this item, so that I couldn’t order it online from them. I caught myself trying to find a mental loophole to go out and check several stores that might carry it. Fortunately, I realized before I left home, and I stopped myself from even thinking that way. It was stupid to weigh the risk of obtaining my soy flour in exchange for increasing the risk of bringing the virus into my home and putting myself and my wife at risk.

My son is still working and needs public transport to get to/from work. We thought the risk of public transportation in a crowded bus, given the reduced hours of service, could be lowered. I now drive him both ways. He wears a mask, and I use a scarf over my mouth and nose. I turn off the fan to reduce air circulation. I put the scarf into a bag that I carry into the house where I deposit the scarf into the washing machine. I wash scarves daily. This procedure is a family-based decision.

I urge you to think carefully about the big and little ways you can behave to reduce the risk to yourself, your family, friends and the community.

My thanks to Rick Mercer for his Rant on this topic

My thanks to St. Albert Seniors Association: 780-459-0433 for making this Blog possible.

Glenn Walmsley