So we progress further into this dark rabbit hole that is covid-19…. While some places are cruisin’ for a bruisin’ / taunting the virus for a second wave of illnesses (I’m looking at you Georgia and Quebec), others have contemplated how to slowly and safely adjust.
Sometimes it feels as if people have gotten the wrong message from the more recent news of less restrictions… A post on Twitter probably stated it best as “Lifting restrictions just means there is room for you in the ICU now“. I hope people can take a moment to think critically about a disease that spreads relatively easily, goes undetected in infected individuals for a period of time, all while being spread to others invisibly. Infecting both young and old, it has a wide range of clinical symptoms from very mild flu like symptoms to septic shock (spoiler: not good). I’m sort of going on a tangent, sort of not. I am trying to get across the point that this is a VERY difficult and scary disease (and outbreak) to control. Thinking we can just go back to where we were risks the lives of family, friends, and strangers. The reality of the situation is that despite restrictions slowly being lifted (which gives people a sense of relief), the curtain being pulled back is going to reveal a life very different from where we started. A lot of the changes that are coming will be long term changes. From the way we fly and the vacations we take, to the way we go to the doctors or vets office.
The Ontario Veterinary Medical Association with the help of infectious disease expert Scott Weese have even gone so far to draft up recommended changes to veterinary practice. Telemedicine, which I write about in this post, will likely become more and more popular. Waiting rooms may be reorganized to allow adequate spacing, gone are the days of sitting in a medical office with someone sneezing on your shoulder. Curbside pick ups for food and medicine, and contactless drop offs for appointments. Plexiglass between customers and reception. If clients must enter a building, the use of PPE for both staff and pet owner. Definitely less walk-ins. I hope this doesn’t freak anyone out, but changes will be happening, some of them no big deal, others will be uncomfortable. The veterinary community will work hard to continue to provide the best possible service to you and your pets while keeping us all safe and healthy.
Be patient. Be Safe. Be Smart.
Some light bedtime reading:
Decision Tree for contact with owners
PET Pulse 