Written by Payton McPhee

Thumbnail Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

With Nova Scotia’s third wave of COVID-19 upon us, the light at the end of the tunnel can seem so far away, even though it once seemed so close. It was only a month ago that life in Nova Scotia almost seemed normal again when restaurants were open and gathering limits were at a reasonable number. All of a sudden, it seems like we are not only back to square one, but we are in a worse position than during the previous waves. This wave brought us a record one-day case increase of over 200, which broke the previous record of around 60. Additionally, our highest number of total active cases, which was 466 in April 2020, has now jumped dramatically to 1655 on May 10th, 2021. During previous waves, it took the virus 407 days to infect 2,000 Nova Scotians and this time, it only took 15 days to infect another 2,000 this month.

Nova Scotia’s third wave of COVID-19 seems to be psychologically harder than the previous two. This is our third wave; one that snuck up on us when we were under the impression that we were out of the woods. It has been over a year since COVID arrived, and we are all just tired. We are tired of the uncertainty, the worrying and the changes to our once-normal lives. Additionally, this wave comes at a bittersweet time of the year with summertime putting everyone in a better mood, but also making us want to leave our house to do enjoyable activities. The eagerness for this wave to end is wrongly showcased by the many people and businesses who were fined for disobeying the rules, and by those participating in the anti-mask protests at Citadel Hill.

This third wave is more dangerous, deadly, and more transmissible than the other two waves combined due to the fact that this wave consists mostly of the UK, Brazilian and South African variants. The dramatic effects of these variants are why we need to be more diligent and cautious than before. Protesting against science and public health guidelines will not stop the COVID-19 virus; the only thing that will is following the restrictions that are in place to keep us safe. However, these restrictions don’t have to be such a terrible thing this time.

Now is the time to do things we wouldn’t normally do. Stroll down empty streets, people-watch on a park bench, or reach out virtually to an old friend to check in with them. Lay on a local beach and listen to the waves, do chores that you have been putting off for months, or talk to somebody and really listen to what they say. Before the pandemic, life almost seemed too busy to be able to do things like this, and the post-pandemic world will likely be the same. The third wave is the perfect time to take advantage of opportunities to do things you normally wouldn't do or usually don't have time for, because we may not get the chance again for a while.

This third wave is also the time to embrace boredom and learn more about yourself. Living through the pandemic filled each of us with a thousand different emotions. It was a unique, challenging, and completely unexpected experience that changed us all. Some of us lost loved ones, battled through COVID ourselves, or worried about who it would infect next. This experience was trying, and it could be helpful to take some time to reflect upon it. Journaling and meditation can be a beneficial tool during this third wave in order to reflect upon yourself, your experiences, and your dreams of post-pandemic life.

There is so much to look forward to in just a few short weeks. If we comply with restrictions and follow the rules that are in place, Nova Scotians will likely be able to experience a summer that we have been waiting for for over a year. According to Nova Scotia’s vaccine rollout plan, every Nova Scotian is expected to have at least their first dose of the COVID vaccine by the end of June. Notably, the vaccine is said to be 60-80% effective approximately 2 weeks after receiving the first dose, which suggests that things will look more promising by the end of June. Recently, the Public Health Agency of Canada has stated that if 75% of Canadians receive their first dose and 20% have both, we will be able to gather and enjoy the things that we used to during the summer, and especially in the fall. These figures offer us a promising idea of what our summer could look like if we follow the restrictions of this third wave that we are experiencing in Nova Scotia. A “one dose summer” is what we have all been waiting patiently for.

Soon we will be out of the woods. The vaccination numbers allow us to hope and dream about the experiences, adventures, and moments that are not too far away. It is finally the time to dream about normalcy again. Perhaps you are excited about finally seeing a loved one who lives in another province, or maybe you are looking forward to travelling around the country. On the other hand, maybe there are things that you wished you had done differently before the pandemic hit. Do you have regrets about not being appreciative enough, or loving as much as you should have? Do you wish you visited friends and family more? Do you plan to become healthier and take better care of yourself? This pandemic has taken a lot from each and every one of us, but now is the time to plan to achieve our goals and make them a reality. Normalcy is so close, but we have to make the most of our time, obey the guidelines, be cautious, and embrace this lockdown before normal can return.

So Close But So Far: Nova Scotia’s Third Wave

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