Welcome to the new normal in N.L.!
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| By April, grocery stores had signs reminding shoppers to practice social distancing. The virus is very infectious. Submitted Photo/My Online Journalism Blog |
My Online Journalism Blog
Melissa Wong
The streets of St. John’s, N.L. are nearly empty because
most people are inside while others are risking a trip to the grocery
store.
Where have all the people gone?
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| Libraries
and other public buildings are taking measures to protect the public.
People are asked to stay safe and
practice social
distancing.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
They are trying to stay safe from the severe acuterespiratory syndrome-related coronavirus 2. It is a virus that causes the
globally infectious disease people are calling coronavirus or COVID-19.
The virus spreads through contact with other people or
surfaces. If someone touches an infected surface or person and then touch their
face, chances of infection are high.
Once infected, that person will run the risk of fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, and maybe trouble breathing. For those infected, they
run the risk of needed hospitalization and in some cases, death is very
possible.
Coronaviruses are similar to the common flu. People infected
will show symptoms in 10-14 days. Most people are only sick for a short period
before they recover, while others will worsen.
Currently, there is no vaccine for COVID-19.
Prevention at this point is the best that people do so as
not to be infected. Everyone is being asked to wash their hands with soap and
water for 20 seconds because the coronavirus is encased in a layer of fat that
can be broken apart by soap. Even if the virus does not get destroyed, it can
be washed down the drain.
Everyone is practicing “social distancing”; this practice is
achieved when one person stands 2 meters from the next person who is
outside their social isolation group. Governments are asking as many people to
work at home if they are able.
It all started in 2019
The first case of someone suffering from COVID-19 was in
China and can be traced back to November 17, 2020, according to this article.
The Chinese government has been criticized for trying to cover up the virus at
first when it emerged in the Wuhan in the Hubel province, before China alerted
the World Health Organization (WHO) about the virus on December 31, 2019.
Canada’s first case of COVID-19 was confirmed January 25, 2020, after a man travelling from Wuhan, China, to Canada tested positive.
Afterward, Canadians travelling from many other countries began to test
positive for this new virus too.
The Canadian government tried to help the situation by
sending around 16 tonnes of medical equipment to China on February 4, 2020, and
donated 2 million dollars to WHO on February 11, 2020. On March 28, China repaid Canada by shipping medical equipment back to Canada, which foster
international cooperation.
It was on March 5, 2020, that Sophie Trudeau, the Prime Minister of Canada’s wife, tested positive for the coronavirus and the Prime
Minister’s family went into self-isolation. By March 5, Prime Minister Justin
Trudeau created an ad hoc Cabinet Committee in response to the virus and the
next day, the Government of Canada announced they would invest $27 million to
fund 47 research teams to research the virus and possibly find a vaccine.
On March 11, Trudeau outlined Canada’s COVID-19 response by
establishing a COVID-19 Response Fund. By March 25, the Federal Government made financial funds available to the Canadian people who lost their jobs because of
the pandemic and Canadian businesses that are struggling to stay
open.
WHO declared a global pandemic on March 11, 2020, when
121,000 cases developed in 118 countries.
Many people in Newfoundland and Labrador (N.L.) went on
impulse shopping to prepare for the day that the virus would come to the rock.
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| Shoppers
resorted to panic buying because
of fears that essential items will be unavailable.
By March 14, 2020, St. John’s
toilet paper shelves had been sold out.
Submitted Photo/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| Dicks and Co. Office Supplies Store advertised toilet paper available by the case. |
N.L. 2020 Pandemic
On March 18, the N.L. government declared a public healthemergency.
Bars, gyms, and other selected businesses were ordered to
close and groups of 50 people or more were prohibited. If these rules were
broken, then people faced fines or jail time.
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| The President and CEO Michael Medline announced
Sobey’s will step up sanitation protocols and plexiglass
cashier shields will be set up.
Screenshot/My Online Journalism Blog |
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Sobey’s were not the only ones to set up cashier shields.
During the pandemic, Dominion also has shields.
Submitted Photo/My Online Journalism Blog |
The Virus visits the rock
On March 20, the provincial government of N.L. announced
four people were infected in N.L., the media reported the number of cases inCanada passes 1,000, and Trudeau told the public that by midnight that day, the
Canada-US border was closed for all non-essential travel. The news was later
tipped off that Parks Canada lifted Newfoundlanders’ spirits by lighting the
star on Cabot Tower. It inspired locals the next day to turn on their own
Christmas lights as a sign of hope.
On March 22, Caul’s Funeral Home on LeMarchant Road warnedthe public a visitor tested positive for COVID-19. It was during two
visitations and funerals that were held on March 15, 16, and 17,
2020.
Anyone who attended the funeral was warned they might be
infected and were asked to self-isolate for 14 days.
By March 23, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Janice Fitzgerald
revealed there were fifteen new presumptive positive cases in N.L. and COVID-19cases rose to 24. The Liberal Party suspended its leadership race the same day,
in the face of this crisis, as restrictions were raised to prevent any more
people from being infected.
On the 24th, the Royal Newfoundland Constabulary (RNC)
warned that they would arrest people who were breaking quarantine rules, and
the police did just that. On March 25, the RNC confirmed on Twitter that Wednesday they had arrested a 53-year-old woman, the night before, in Corner
Brook and she was put in jail overnight. She was arrested for breaking the health emergency orders put in place to control the virus.
On March 30, Atlantic Canada’s first recorded death linkedto COVID-19 was reported from N.L. when a 78-year-old man passed away. He was
believed to have been exposed to the spread of the virus at an N.L. funeral
home.
To see Newfoundland and Labrador’s current statistics head
to http://covid-19-newfoundland-and-labrador-gnl.hub.arcgis.com as the pandemic
continues…
Photo Gallery:
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| You cannot buy these candies yet.The virus is very infectious. Submitted Photo/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| Lockdown changed store hours. Social distancing changed how people shop. Submitted Photo/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| By April 1, grocery stores had signs reminding shoppers to practice social distancing. The virus is very infectious. Submitted Photo/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| May 26, 2020, only so many people
are allowed in Sobeys.
Today, the line-up is nonexistent.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| Sobeys customers can make sure
their shopping carts are very clean.
Just don’t use the spray on your hands.
Melissa
Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| Before doing your May shopping you
can wash your hands in the sink
next to the shopping carts.
There are even instructions on the wall.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| These posters remind shoppers
to practice social distancing.
They also control the traffic in
between the shelves.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| Pipers now have germ shields for the
cashiers and customer interaction.
They also revised their refund policy.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| Stand on the stickers
When
you are waiting in line.
All part of the May 26th shopping
experience.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| During COVID-19 practice safe banking,
by waiting in line to go into the bank.
The red stickers reveal how far
to stand apart.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
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| Once inside the bank,
stand on the sticker to wait in line.
The stickers say #PhysicalDistancing
rather than #SocialDistancing.
Melissa Wong/My Online Journalism Blog |
To support those affected, please check out https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/connect/togetherathome/act/?utm_source=social_platform&utm_medium=platformglobal_general&utm_campaign=tah
To donate, see https://www.facebook.com/donate/1564752357011737/?fundraiser_source=external_url
https://www.givedirectly.org/
To contact me you can go to:
Journalist.wong@gmail.com
To donate, see https://www.facebook.com/donate/1564752357011737/?fundraiser_source=external_url
https://www.givedirectly.org/
To contact me you can go to:
Journalist.wong@gmail.com
@MilsongWong
©Melissa Wong
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