As of midnight last night, we can no longer eat in indoor restaurant seating (again). I get why: Coronavirus numbers in BC are high, and greater restrictions need to happen to stop the spread. But these restrictions came with very little notice. I can’t imagine being a waiter now, and finding out shifts will be dropped. I wouldn’t want to be a restaurant owner, knowing that profits are going to take a big hit, and wondering if I could sustain this if the restrictions are extended beyond the scheduled three weeks.

There are also stricter mask rules in schools, with older elementary students needing to wear them, rather than this being optional. And the most hard-hit school district is getting their staff vaccinated first (this is wonderful to see), I hope our district gets the opportunity in the very near future.

I wish we could do a lockdown like New Zealand. That we could just put a chokehold on the spread of this virus and get it under control. This won’t happen in BC. Instead we do this dance of quick ‘fix’ restrictions (with little or no notice), while also flirting with new opportunities to gather in small groups (outdoors). We play this ‘push me pull you’ game of experimentation to see how little we can affect everyone’s lives while trying to curb coronavirus spread.

I keep going back to my survival mantra: Things will start to normalize by January 2022. This keeps me going, keeps me vigilant. I see timelines suggesting that things will happen faster, but I can’t hold on to these false senses of comfort. Promises of normalcy make added restrictions like this feel crushing… small losses with a promise of small gains. I can’t handle the swings if I think things will start to get better sooner. So, while restrictions are being added, I see them as part of the agenda to normalize by the new year. Until then, bring in the restrictions! Maybe make them tougher now, maybe lay out a plan that people can prepare for.

I’d rather do what’s necessary now than reach December and see my timeline that wrote off all of 2021 be seen as unrealistic rather than pessimistic. I want to be pleasantly surprised to see things get better by then, not drastically disappointed because I need to push the date back further.