Now comes the hard part

Submitted
Aug 13, 2020  •  August 13, 2020  •  2 minute read

The last couple of weeks have seen Canadians return to the greatest state of normalcy they’ve experienced since the middle of March. They’ve also been told to look forward to even more re-openings in the weeks ahead.

Almost every region of the country is now at a stage in their province’s respective re-openings where things that previously seemed far out of reach are now allowed.

If it was starting to feel like you were letting yourself go, gyms and fitness centres will now welcome you back.

While patios have been open for some time now, Canadians can head inside to enjoy indoor dining.

For those who have grown tired of what Netflix has to offer, the movie theatres have flung their doors open once again. Of course, there are limitations about how many people can be allowed into a movie theatre at one time, as social distancing restrictions, as elsewhere, will be in place.

Yes, we all had to keep our distance. But we’ve come a long way since sheltering in place throughout much of the spring.

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And September will bring even more changes. Provinces have been announcing their return-to-school plans and, for the most part, the nation’s children will be returning to school full time, just with enhanced public health protocols in place. The resumption of school will be the biggest challenge yet to the protocols and restrictions that have been in place. It will be a mammoth and perhaps near-impossible task to keep the COVID-19 virus at bay.

Meanwhile, workplaces are attempting to gauge what works best for them. Many offices anticipate remaining closed for longer, or at least having a reduced workforce.

But it is a mostly positive thing that we’re charging ahead. The Canadian economy requires it. So does our mental and social well-being.

Still, we can’t blame those individuals who are nervous about returning to what is being called the ‘new normal.’

The coronavirus does not spread easily in outdoor spaces, but poses a greater risk indoors. Extra vigilance will be needed in restaurants, workplaces and other inside spaces, and especially in our schools.

Trial and error may see that the rules get revised the more we learn.

This next phase, that sees us out and about more and back in school, may be the hardest yet.

– Postmedia