6 Steps to Prepare for Mandatory Quarantine in Canada

I am getting ready to fly out of Puerto Vallarta on Friday and mentioned to my neighbour that I would have to find a mask to take with me. A minute later she came out carrying one, but not just any mask, an N95 mask complete with a front filter. I felt like a kid the had just been given a red flyer wagon or a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas. This was the ultimate in facemasks!

I asked her why she had it and she explained it was for her art work. She is a sculptor and this particular type of mask keeps her from breathing in the very small dust particles from the clay.
"I was given a few masks from a friend in Australia when he came to visit a couple of years ago," she said. "He is a fireman and these are the type of masks they use over there," as she handed me one.
I found it interesting that a mask that came from Australia was now going to keep me safe traveling from Mexico to Canada.
Or would it?
The Canadian government is telling me to come home but continue to social distance before and after. In order to get home I have to go to a very crowded airport where social distancing is not currently happening. Then I have to get on a crowded plane with 280 other people, who may or may not have the virus, and spend another 5 hours in the air with them.
Three weeks ago when this all began coming down, I had my friend in Canada arrange a flight out for me. He originally booked me on a flight for March 20th but the airline moved my flight up to March 27th, otherwise I would already be home without any severe restrictions in place.
As of yesterday, the Canadian government has changed the goalposts which I understand had to be done to keep everyone safe. Once I arrive in Vancouver on my crowded plane, I understand that I will be put in quarantine for 14 days under the government's mandate, but they aren't sure where they are going to put me yet.
Hopefully I will continue on to Kelowna. I was originally scheduled to fly there after a 2 hour layover in Vancouver but now I am spending the night in "Airport Chateau Vancouver" (thank you for the new name of the airport, Gail) and I will fly out on Saturday morning now.
The government is telling me when I get to my destination (wherever that is) I will be on complete lockdown, unable to even get outside for a walk...... or I will be subject to huge fines. Hopefully that will change or I will go stir crazy!
That makes me laugh because people who haven't got a job to return to when they get off the plane won't have the money to pay a fine.
Supposedly A&W and Tim Horton's have remained open in Vancouver International for fliers so I won't starve.

I am currently making my arrangements to return home. They include:
1. Draw out my 6 foot social distancing cloth, ready for my trip to the Puerto Vallarta airport tomorrow.

2. Get in touch with family so they can begin making arrangements for my stay either in Vancouver or my home town of Vernon, however far I get. This will require a vehicle to get from the airport, disinfected groceries for a week or two, someplace to stay that will keep everyone safe.
3. Gather information. The number that Canadians out-of-country in Mexico can call for more information about mandatory quarantine is 001-204-983-3500. Within Canada the number is 1-833-784-4387. Canadian Border Services (in Canada) is 1-800-461-9999.
4. Listen to the news and find out what the Canadian prime minister is saying this morning and whether the goalposts have changed yet again.
5. Pack my dinner for the plane because I gather there will be no food or drink services available.
6. Line up sanitisers, ie; hand sanitisers and sani-wipes.

Our world is dealing with an unprecedented event that we have to overcome anyway we can. I would rather stay here in the sunshine but I know the covid 19 has already made it's way here too. I can only hope that all my friends who stay behind stay safe! Enjoy this song first sung 35 years ago. We can beat this!

We Are The World!

(Susan Gerle is a writer who lives 6 months of the year in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in a very traditional Mexican neighbourhood.) 

Corona in Puerto Vallarta - Last of the First 5 Days

In 2003, while living in Toronto I slipped, fell, and broke my pelvis. An ambulance picked me up for what should have been a short journey to the closest emergency ward. Three hospitals later, I was finally accepted and registered.

It was right in the middle of SARS and Toronto was the Canadian ground Zero. It took twelve hours before the medical team could even get to me, that was how crazy things were. There was staff shortage, exhaustion, lack of equipment and follow-up beds. I ended up in an extended living facility for the following 3 weeks that wasn't yet under lockdown. It was far enough away from the centre that people there weren't being affected by the disease....yet!

SARS was contained, everyone was relieved, the exhaustion of the front-line workers passed, and life returned to normal. I recovered over the next six months. Looking back, I realize that was our global warning bell saying, "this is what can happen in one city. Get your act together and be prepared for the next time." Unfortunately we didn't listen.

We can't go back and change history but we can become more aware of what is happening around us right now and do everything we can to help. The Mexicans in Puerto Vallarta, as well as snowbirds and expats, are beginning to respond to the new way of being but it is difficult for many of the locals who live hand to mouth because they have to work or they don't eat. I'm expecting the governor of Jalisco may introduce another 2 weeks of self-isolation on day 5 which is tomorrow.

Downtown and the malecon are already dead, restaurants and bars that attract the tourists, closed, but I imagine the markets will remain open. North Americans are spoiled on the most part because our households come with a refrigerator to keep perishables in. Many Mexicans aren't so lucky.

I read Leo Buscaglia's book 'Born for Love' as a daily journal and have been doing so since the mid 90s. I thought today's passage was quite fitting. He talked about the golden rule, 'Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.' I quote of Mr. Buscaglia, "If the dominant theme of our lives has been 'what's in it for me?' we might begin to ask a more essential question, 'what am I able to do for others?' We must do our part to alleviate some of this world's distress."

Emotionally, I've been on a rollercoaster. Even if I do get my scheduled flight out with Air Canada on Friday, I will be in the necessary 14 day self-isolation when I get home. I am usually a person who can focus on a project to the extent I have to tear myself away from it because I often get too entrenched but that isn't the case right now. My mind is going in a dozen directions and when I talk to friends I find the same thing is happening to them.

I try to keep positive by sharing funny clips and videos with my online family. Now that the entertainers of the world are becoming involved and putting on free concerts, I'm sharing the links. We can't go to them so they are coming to us and it certainly takes me out of chaos around me for an hour or two. As I researched for things to enjoy, I came across a song that is so relevant once again. 'We are the World' was originally sung in 1985.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4M7c-JOnPdw

Please do what you can. Everything helps, no matter how small.Stay safe everyone and please share this blog post with others!