Dealing with reopening is a balancing act

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 04/08/2020 (2090 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

As we move into the next phase of COVID-19 recovery, we can see that residents have had a meaningful say in our public health authority’s decisions.

The voice of every Manitoban matters, and we were thrilled to see Manitobans make their concerns known to this government about Phase 3, which in turn caused the government to hold off on some of its planned easing of restrictions.

For residents with specific concerns, it’s important to continue the dialogue by making your views known to our same health authorities. Online engagement for Manitobans continues at Engagemb.ca/phase-four-restoring-safe-services.

Those without access to the internet can certainly write to the proper health authorities directly. My office would be pleased to provide you with the appropriate contact information.

In the many messages, letters and calls my office has received since the public health emergency began, many thoughtful points of view have been expressed on how we should move forward. It’s worth a moment of reflection to get a feel for the many serious and life-changing pressures this virus has created.

For example, many of our residents have had surgeries and treatments postponed with obvious health consequences for those affected. Loved ones in personal care homes have been more isolated than ever from their families. Now the new rules will allow two designated family members to visit family member’s rooms. While this is most welcome news and should ease the pressures on those separated families, there are still issues with staffing levels that the province has yet to address

Mental health issues mustn’t be overlooked. One resource residents can reach out to is the Canadian Mental Health Association Service at 204-775-6442, or email: hub@cmhawpg.mb.ca

It’s still too early to say what the true costs of the pandemic will be. We are still in a fight with an opponent we don’t yet know enough about.

This will affect us all down the road, although we should have some significant optimism that we are in a relatively decent position to recover if we do the right things on our end.

Each and every one of us must remain diligent, by continuing to practise social distancing, hand-washing, and not going to work when sick. Make no mistake about it, the impact on our economy will be real, and in turn, affect our ability to recover – in every way. For when all is said and done, dealing appropriately with this virus and its effects is a balancing act.

For more information on provincial programs, please contact my office at 204-415-1122 or email me at Jim.Maloway@YourManitoba.ca