It may have been to my detriment, but I have never been embarrassed or ashamed of saying to anyone I was interviewing: “I don’t understand that answer. Can you explain it to me again?”
As a reporter, it was my job to clearly communicate a story to the audience, so if I didn’t understand it, there wasn’t much hope of me explaining it to anyone else.
In that same vein, this column is all about questions, and remember, there are no stupid questions.
I don’t pretend to have the answers so if you do, please chime in.
According to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s recent address to the nation, we are at the “crossroads” in the COVID pandemic. We are already in “the second wave” of the disease with the worst coming this fall and winter.
He is asking us to continue or in some cases recommit ourselves to the efforts we made earlier this year.
We should continue social distancing, wear masks in public and wash, wash, wash our hands.
I understand all of that and the science behind it.
However, when more rules come into effect, it sometimes leaves me scratching my head, although I don’t think I am supposed to touch my head. Or is it just my face that's off limits?
Let’s start with limited hours for stores, restaurants and bars.
Many stores have reduced hours called COVID hours.
Is that just because they aren’t busy enough to be open eight hours? Is it to keep staff at low levels? Is it to allow more time for cleaning?
So, its more likely I will get infected in their store before 11 in the morning? Between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. it will be safer? I am being facetious, but there actually is a question in there.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has required bars and restaurants to stop serving alcohol at 11 a.m. and to close at midnight. I am assuming that's because those spots get more crowded the later it gets leading up to last call? Perhaps imbibing alcohol affects our judgment and with foggy thinking we might not follow proper protocol?
Again, if people pack into a bar before 12 a.m. is that safer?
I do recall my mother telling me nothing good ever happens after midnight.
We are now back to 10 people indoors together and 50 outdoors.
Social bubbles.
It reminds me of that old Faberge Organics shampoo commercial: “I’ll tell two friends, then you tell two friends and so on and so on.”
It isn’t about you and your immediate family so much as how many people those members are in contact with. Have you ever tried to retrace your own steps in a day? How many people did I come in contact with?
I hope police never interrogate me for a crime, because I have no idea who or what I saw or where I went or who I spoke with. Ever. Actually, I have no idea what day this is!
Anyway, my question is why 10? Why was 15 OK just a few weeks ago?
Maybe it is the inconsistencies that send me around the bend.
While I am perfectly content with the ongoing closure of the Canada/U.S. border to non-essential traffic — I don’t understand why we can’t drive there, but we can fly there. Flights are still coming into Canada all the time. Shouldn’t closed mean closed? People with certain jobs are allowed. It's OK if you are reuniting with family.
I understand officials are trying to do follow-ups and asking all visitors to self-isolate for 14 days. But are they? Are they all?
Every time you are asked that series of questions before you go to an appointment — are you actually hearing them anymore?
Or maybe you just answered no, no, no and no just to get on with your day?
Governments can advise, suggest, educate and then I suppose fine us if we don’t follow the law. It is just all so confusing. I am perfectly willing to do what is asked of me for the benefit of all, but I wish there was more explanation of why the regulations keep changing.
If a politician would come out and say they really are just playing it by ear and making their best guesses as guided by data, I think I would be okay with that.
As with most things in 2020 — maybe the best answer is just an honest: “We have no clue. Do the best you can!”
