The covid Grinch

So I found out yesterday, just in time for the holidays, that there’s a new strain of Covid. Although we don’t know how severe it is in terms of symptoms it’s proven much more transmissible than the original strain. If it were any year other than 2020 I might say I was shocked.

It’s 2020. I’m not.

I still see people wandering around with no masks on or with masks not covering their noses. A full year into a global pandemic and some people still haven’t understood the concept that this virus is deadly, contagious, and an ongoing problem.

It’s not hard to extrapolate data from that; those are the people more likely to be travelling to see their family and friends this holiday season, and I just wanted, as a travel blog, to get this holiday message out there:

STAY HOME

It’s still not okay to travel. It’s still not okay to have large gatherings, or really even small ones. It’s still not okay to go out of town shopping for gifts. I’ll also say the thing everyone dreads saying: You shouldn’t be visiting family or friends for the holidays.

Do I sound like the Grinch? Absolutely, but I’ve not stolen anything.

The people who stole your celebratory plans are the ones who refused to wear a mask in public, who insisted this virus was a hoax, and who continue to have large gatherings despite being asked and told not to for the safety of public health.

I, too, would love to have a party. I would love to see my friends, be able to hug them, and spend the day laughing with them. I just happen to be of the opinion that one day of merriment isn’t worth putting them into hospital for. I want them to be able to taste their food when they come out. If they come out.

So here’s the simple, hard to hear truth; stay home, wash your hands, wear a mask, shop online where you can, and have your holiday meetings over facetime or zoom.

As always gentle reader if you need more information about the virus you can visit the websites for the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Government of Canada, or the World Health Organization. If you are looking for a qualified spokesperson to get your covid news from please listen to the latest interviews done by Dr. Theresa Tam and Dr. Anthony Fauci.