Ok, it’s 2021. Now what?
When will things get back to normal?
“I can’t wait until 2020 is over.” How many times have you said that to yourself? For many of us, reaching the end of 2020 signaled finally being able to see the light at the end of what has been a very long and difficult tunnel. Collectively, we sighed in relief as that clock struck midnight. We could finally leave the nightmare of 2020 behind us. Now, our dream that things will ‘get back to normal’ will finally come true!
Well, we’re about to end our first week in 2021. And, it’s safe to say we can all agree that things are definitely not ‘getting back to normal’ as quickly as we hoped. We’ve already missed major milestones, celebrations, events and are understandably excited about making future plans with friends and family “once this pandemic is over.” So when exactly will that be?
The harsh reality is that life will not be ‘back to normal’ until late 2021 or even 2022. And our definition of what ‘normal’ means will significantly change. But that doesn’t mean you should lose hope. 2021 can be a better year by preparing yourself for what’s to come. Here’s how…
Let’s start with the good news.
We have two vaccines approved in Canada, and worldwide there are dozens of others in various trial stages. Between the early doses already in the country, and the shipments now scheduled, Canada should have 1.2 million doses from Pfizer and Moderna delivered by January 31st, 2021. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has stated that eventually in 2021, enough doses will arrive from the two companies to vaccinate 30 million people, or almost the entire adult population in Canada.
Here’s the current situation. No opinions. Simply, the facts you should know.
As of Jan 6th, 2021 there are 625,000 total cases of Covid-19 in Canada which represents of one day increase of 7,222 new cases. There have been 16,317 deaths, a one day increase of 159 people. Approximately 529,000 recoveries have been recorded. A number of provinces have imposed restrictions including the province of Ontario which is currently in ‘lockdown’ until January 28th. The province’s seven day average of daily cases is approaching 3,000 for the first time, and the number of patients being hospitalized is jumping considerably.
The Canadian health care system is at capacity and continues to face incredible challenges as the rate of community-based spread and the increase of hospitalizations tax an already exhausted workforce and available resources. Dealing with these record-breaking numbers of new cases while also trying to administer vaccines will take time and considerable efforts to manage and execute.
Even though we now have vaccines to treat and contain the spread of COVID-19, we still need ‘herd immunity’ for the disease to be eradicated. Herd immunity occurs when enough people contract an illness (either directly or via a vaccine) and become immune so it can no longer spread. It is ‘highly unlikely’ that COVID-19 will completely go away - it will most likely continue to circulate seasonally like other viruses - such as the flu.
One impeding factor towards ‘herd immunity’ is the population of anti-maskers and anti-vaccinators within Canada and around the world (including our US neighbours) that do not believe that COVID-19 poses a serious risk to them or that it even exists. These beliefs have had a direct effect on the health of the general public as transmission rates continue to rise despite pleas for social distancing, self-isolation and wearing masks. Unfortunately, to develop ‘herd immunity’ approximately 70% of the population must be immune, which means either contracting COVID-19 or getting the vaccine.
While the federal government is working to ensure equitable distribution of Canada’s vaccines, the provinces get to decide what to do with them. The number of priority groups — and the percentage of the population they make up — may impact how long it takes before the vaccine is opened up to everyone.
Ontario is taking a three-phase approach to vaccine distribution. Phase 1 targets long-term care residents and workers, health-care workers and other priority groups and is expected to take until the end of March. Retired general Rick Hillier who is heading up the rollout has said, “We can’t do it any faster. We don’t have the vaccines coming to us any faster, and if we did we will use them more quickly.” After that comes Phase 2, which involves further targeting of key groups like First Nations elders and broader health-care workers. Ontario aims to have 8.5 million people vaccinated by July, which is a little over half the province’s population. Then comes Phase 3, which is when the vaccine is broadly available in pharmacies and doctors’ offices like the flu shot.
Setting realistic expectations for our ‘new normal’.
An epidemiologist and associate professor at the University of Ottawa, Raywat Deonandan predicts Canada will start lifting restrictions around summer 2021 — assuming the vaccines prevent transmission, and enough people get inoculated. He anticipates the pandemic will be officially declared over by 2022, but noted it will likely still exist in some countries. This will continue to greatly impact our ability to travel internationally and may even require proof of vaccination.
Back at home, even as some Canadians get vaccinated, we will need to continue to follow public health guidelines and still take safety precautions, like continuing to wear masks or limiting the number of people inside a building or how we gather.
It's likely we won’t ever go back to our way of life in 2019 as certain parts of our day-to-day life during the pandemic have become widely accepted. For example: Zoom meetings, working from home (at least part-time) and distance learning.
But there are reasons to be hopeful.
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed by this dose of reality and feel that you have little control as you face the implications of what this means to you personally and to those you care about. We have all faced an unprecedented amount of stress since this pandemic started at what we thought was going to be a sprint, but turned out to be a marathon.
But there is a way forward.
Now is the time to reflect on the lessons learned during COVID-19 and temper your expectations with what is possible and what is not. You know the current situation, you know the facts, you know that things have and will continue to change. It’s how you deal with these changes that makes all the difference. That’s where resiliency comes in.
Resilience is a crucial skill needed to thrive in uncertain times.
Resilience represents the ability to rebound productively in challenging situations. It can be learned and built over time and it will help you cope when things get emotionally stressful or you are faced with uncertainty.
Here’s how:
Focus on what has been ‘good’ about COVID-19. What are the things you have learned or enjoyed? Was it being able to slow down? How about less time commuting? What about being able to spend quality time with family? Keep those things that have made a difference to you.
Start each day with intention. Take 10 minutes to sit, focus on you and what’s on your mind. Let feelings go from yesterday and focus on what you want from your day.
Stay in the moment. It’s natural to ‘doom-scroll’ and catastrophize what will happen next. But when you focus on the worst-case scenario, you use up all your energy worrying about something that you cannot control. Focus on what’s in front in you and devote your energy to what is possible and what you can control. Enjoy your day-to-day life instead of worrying about an unknown future.
Think positive. Our brains are wired to think ‘negatively’ as a defense mechanism for survival. However, worrying and stressing out are bad for our bodies and minds. Learning to recognize our responses to stress, emotional strain, and exhaustion is the foundation for building resiliency. When you feel your negativity start to rise, work to catch those thoughts before they spiral into anxiety and depression. It’s not about putting on rose-coloured glasses or burying your head in the sand, it’s about naming your feelings, understanding why you feel the way that you do and reframing your response to that feeling. A response that is less about anger and fear and more about positivity and hope.
Find the meaning. We must acknowledge what this pandemic has uncovered about our assumptions of what makes our life ‘meaningful’. Pre-pandemic, many of us worked 24/7, driven to ‘succeed’ financially to secure our ‘happiness’ and ‘future’. Post-pandemic, we’ve begun to rethink these assumptions of ‘success and happiness’ now that we’ve had to live our lives ‘differently.’ This pandemic has offered us a chance to change the narrative and do things differently - not just for us as individuals but for the common good.
Be physically active. Being ‘cooped up’ has sparked a renewed interest in maintaining some sort of physical activity. Whether that’s remote yoga, at home gyms or daily walks outside, people are realizing the benefit of ‘moving’ everyday not just for their bodies but for their minds.
It’s okay to not be okay all the time. ‘Everyone’ to some degree has experienced stress and anxiety during this pandemic and that ‘shared’ experience has reduced the negative connotations that getting help is somehow shameful. We’ve all become a little bit more compassionate with each - and ourselves - about not having it all together. Life isn’t perfect, and neither are we.
Life will feel better.
It’s more than important than ever to prioritize taking care of your emotional and mental well-being. While it’s natural to feel anxious and stressed periodically, it can be a physical and mental challenge to feel this way for long periods of time. If you are finding it difficult to tackle your specific challenges on your own, that’s nothing to be ashamed about. If this year has taught us anything, it’s that we all could use some help when things get tough. Talking to a mental health professional can help you discover the right tools for you to cope with stressors as they occur and develop the resiliency you need to actually thrive during these uncertain times.
In the end, just remember that although life may not be back to normal, life will feel better. Don’t give up hope.
Whatever it is, we’re here for you.
Life is uncertain. Jobs are stressful. Parenting is hard. Relationships take work. Families can be dysfunctional. And, sometimes love hurts. When you’re confronted by feelings, events, or issues that are making your life challenging, it’s okay to ask for some help.
SOURCES:
Canada.ca The Coronavirus disease
Canada.ca Information on COVID-19 Vaccines
CBC.ca Coronavirus: What’s happening in Canada and around the world on Jan 4
Huffingtonpost.ca When Will Canada Start Vaccinating The General Population Against COVID-19?
Huffingtonpost.ca Wondering When The Pandemic Will End? Here’s The Expected Timeline for Canadians
Worldometers.info World Coronavirus Cases
