With the Coronavirus among us and spreading quickly, it is hard to not be afraid. Not only do I not want to get sick, I also do not want to spread this virus to anyone–especially my parents. Most people understand this. Then again there are always going to be those that don’t. And I get that. Everyone is allowed to have their opinion.
Mine is that if I don’t have to come in contact with anyone I don’t need to, I am not going to. It is that simple. And the reason for this is that there are and always will be people who simply don’t think of the consequences of their actions. An example of this was in an article in the Toronto Sun dated Tuesday January 21st, 2020, titled, Can’t Be Too Careful. In it Doctor Belchetz states that, “… was the admitting doctor for the youngest patient who died in Toronto of SARS during the 2002-2003 crisis. That patient lied about his symptoms and his travel history. We cannot rely on patients being honest. We must become much more proactive about this.”
I don’t know about you, but I can’t afford to get sick for more than a day or two because of someone else’s actions. I certainly don’t want to be ill and unemployed with anything when I can take measures to prevent it. So, if you don’t see me out and about, outside of work that is for the next two to three months, recognize that I don’t want to be around anyone. I am not discriminating. I am telling you this because I know it is hard on the Chinese community now.
People aren’t shopping in Chinatown as they normally would during the Lunar New Year. It is supposed to be the busiest time of the year for them but the stores, like the sidewalks and streets are empty. People are afraid and you can’t blame them. It is human nature to protect and provide.
Since I need to protect and provide for myself, I am going to say it again, I will not be out and about unless I am on my way to and from work, or at work. There are lots of other people out there who have far more money than I do. If they want to keep the economy going, or more specifically the economy of Chinese-based businesses in Toronto or Ontario as a whole, I am okay with that. I am not alone.
One person I know said that he wasn’t even going to an annual Super Bowl Sunday party because he didn’t know who the other people there had been in contact with. “I might just hang out here,” he said, “I know everyone, where they’ve been and who they hang out with. I can’t risk getting sick. I’ve got bills to pay.” I agreed. But I am still staying in as much as possible. I have to.
Toronto is an expensive city and a growing number of people, like me, work in the gig economy. It is also a big city and there are a lot of Chinese people who live in it and the surrounding areas. With the coronavirus having an incubation period of up to two weeks, and people being people, I am of the belief that that just increases the risk of getting it. And really, if Chinese people are and have been wearing masks for months and now they aren’t shopping in Chinatown or Chinese related businesses, then why should we? I didn’t before. Between SARS and now the coronavirus I am not going to start now.
IMHO, there are more people afraid of getting the coronavirus then people discriminating against Chinese people and their businesses. If Chinese people aren’t out and about, supporting Chinese businesses then I guess they too are afraid.
Thank you for reading, A. Rebel’s Rant! ;D
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