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My mom works in a small grocery store in my hometown on Lake Huron. When the pandemic began, I was terrified. A broken ankle took her out of work in late March until very recently. I was feeling okay about her going back when Ontario& #39;s numbers were better. But now... 1/11
Each time we talk she tells me about more customers coming in refusing to wear masks. & #39;Why should I bother? It& #39;s not really here, and I see people not wearing them all over the place.& #39; Her friends and out-of-towners gathering in groups without #PhysicalDistancing or masks. 2/11
Each time I talk about #COVID19 on FB, friends who are still in the area insist the crisis is over and there& #39;s no need to worry. For them, & #39;we need to learn to live with this virus,& #39; means, & #39;we have to get back to normal and it is what it is& #39;. 3/11
They& #39;re gathering as usual. They& #39;re planning fall activities as usual. & #39;COVID& #39;s not really here,& #39; while seasonal tourists continue to fill parks and cottages and restaurants and businesses every weekend from all over the province. 4/11
I see friends from all over posting pictures of cottage weekends and wine tours with people I know are not in their social circles, taking a & #39;fun& #39; picture with a mask, and then the real pictures with hugs and close contact, captions about how good it is to back to normal. 5/11
Some of these visits include people from highly-impacted regions visiting areas with little to no activity, and have continued after kids have returned to school. 6/11
Every day we& #39;re told that 99% of people are being responsible and it& #39;s & #39;a bunch of yahoos& #39; screwing it up for everyone. I think it& #39;s a problem we& #39;re not talking about how great the complacency has become. People think it& #39;s over. 7/11
And at the same time, our rates are rising, colder weather will bring activities indoors, school is back, and flu season is beginning. We& #39;ve outstretched our ability to test people who need tests and response from the government lacks meaningful action to turn this around. 8/11
Govt messaging suggesting that restrictions to limit spread are a & #39;punishment& #39; make people resent the actions that need to be taken to save people& #39;s lives. Suggesting most people are following advice belies the reality. A lot of people aren& #39;t, and that& #39;s a huge problem. 9/11
@BogochIsaac has suggested it& #39;s time to call in communications specialists and I think, as far as Ontario as concerned, this is worth considering. What I& #39;m seeing from the people in my own circles tells me there& #39;s confusion about what& #39;s being asked of them. Clarity is vital.10/11
