Ruminations

Pushing The Envelope on COVID-19

"This [daily rise in COVID-19 cases nationally] coincides with increasing reports of individuals contracting COVID-19 at parties, nightclubs and bars as well as increasing rates of transmission among young Canadians in some jurisdictions across the country."
"We are all in this together, and have a shared responsibility to help keep COVID-19 transmission low."
"I encourage everyone, especially young adults, to find creative ways to stay socially active in the time of COVID-19. Singing, mingling and dancing in close contact with others in closed spaces, in crowded places, is not the way to party this summer."
"It is concerning that we're seeing the data show us that a greater proportion of our cases are now among what we call young adults, those less than 40."
"I can remember that when I was younger I thought I was invincible -- you can do anything, don't worry about it, it'll be OK."
"Having said that, we have seen some anecdotes of young people having severe outcomes so you can't consider that everyone is immune from having serious consequences."
Canada's Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr.Howard Njoo

Hundreds line up at a COVID-19 testing clinic July 14 in Montreal, after the city recommended that anyone who had been at a bar since July 1 get tested. Bars and restaurants are at varying stages of reopening across the country, bringing the risk of new outbreaks. (Ryan Remiorz/The Canadian Press)

Images of bars in Montreal crammed to the rafters with people relaxing and looking to socialize after a long and wearying lockdown, has been coinciding with a spike in new cases. Bars and nightclubs have fallen under suspicion as a result, as mingling in close quarters is known to facilitate the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Leading Dr.Njoo to urge people in youth-age categories to think hard about jamming bars and dance floors and nightclubs, stating there is "cause for some concern", since, following a steady decline in cases, new ones are rising.

Photo by Isabella Mendes from Pexels

Over the last week, he cited as the catalyst for his concern, 350 cases daily on the national level have occurred in comparison to the average daily case count in early July of around 300. Over 430 new cases were reported on Thursday alone, he said. Indoor activities raise the risk of spreading COVID and ultimately serious health consequences can arise among the greater population, even including the youth demographic.

In response to Dr.Njoo's concerned message of caution, Quebec's premier, Francois Legault announced his opinion that the recent resurgence of COVID-19 cases relates to private gatherings, not bar visits. He had stated only the day before contemplating whether to close bars and nightclubss in the province in the wake of a number of Montreal area outbreaks seemingly linked to such venues. He had sought advice whether recommending the closure of bars, or accepting the reality of their opening, a reflection of what people appear to approve of.

A patron enjoys a glass of wine at the bar of Lemeac restaurant on the first day after restrictions were lifted on restaurants in Montreal, on June 22. (Christinne Muschi/Reuters)

Dr.Njoo spoke of his concerns over COVID-19 being spread to older people; in particular parents and grandparents of the younger demographic that circulate through bars and nightclubs. Emphasizing in his message to them that theirs is a responsibility to act rationally in everyone's best interests, beyond the entertainment value of the bars and nightclubs that exert such an attraction, reflecting short-term desires, ignoring long-term outcomes.

Ontario, the province with the second-largest COVID cases in Canada after Quebec, announced that from the past Friday restaurants outside the Greater Toronto Area will be permitted to resume indoor service. Businesses like bars, gyms and theatres will begin to welcome their traditional patrons as well. Dr.Njoo stressed that even while young people see the most severe health consequences bypass them, there have been incidents wherein people under age 40 have been badly impacted.

Dr. Howard Njoo, Deputy Chief Public Health Officer. The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick

Apparently fit celebrities, he stated, have not been immune to serious consequences. His oblique but meaningful comment did not identify the fate of Canadian actor Nick Cordero, who died earlier in the month at age 43, having experienced an agonizing three-month battle in hospital when a range of health issues originating from COVID-19 exposure made him vulnerable enough to necessitate having his right leg amputated. The trajectory of the disease did not stop there; for Mr. Cordero, it took his life.