The Summer of 2020, much like the preceding seasons of this year, will not be the same as any summer that people have lived through before.
Atlantic Canada may have the right idea, as they created a “bubble” of sorts where Maritime residents are able to travel between provinces in the region without the need for self-isolating, unless they are experiencing any symptoms related to COVID-19.
It’s a good way to allow some semblance of normalcy within the region, and it keeps them separate from Quebec and Ontario, which hold the distinction of being the worst-hit areas of the country for COVID-19.
The numbers in Quebec and Ontario are improving, but they have a long, long way to go to get anywhere close to where the rest of Canada is in handling the pandemic.
In a similar vein, the Prairie provinces ought to be set apart as our own “bubble” of sorts, or perhaps Saskatchewna and Manitoba ought to form its own region in terms of interprovincial travel and trade.
These two provinces have kept relatively low numbers of COVID infections, more so than Alberta has, and have been showing good progress in reducing the number of people who have been infected and are now recovering.
This is not to say that Prairie residents ought to simply go full-bore back to “normal” (whatever that is), but within the framework of observing physical distancing and being careful in public places, the communities of Saskatchewan and Manitoba ought to be able to enjoy the summer to an extent.
For example, events like barrel-racing and rodeos can resume, with limited spectator sizes, as of July 16, along with the outdoor sports that are now allowed at the community level, and use of recreational activities and facilities.
There are still limitations, such as the fact we may not see the Green-and-White pound the Bombers this season at all, or maybe in a limited way this fall — we shall see what September and October brings our way.
There is a possibility of the return of Major League Baseball and the NHL, and the NBA also, in a dialled-down way compared to a normal year — but people should realize we are kind of in a vulnerable position here.
If there are outbreaks caused by carelessness, we could very well be right back to a place of dealing with COVID-19 on a larger scale again. The hope is we won’t slide back down into the mire and pit of despair of a lockdown again, but that remains to be seen if it will be needed or not.
If there are any lessons that we’ve learned through the lockdown of March-April-May, we need to apply them and keep as much of our life and economic activity as possible, without endangering our society with a complete collapse of everything we know.
