Changes needed in COVID-19 regulations

The directives, rules and regulations surrounding the response of governments and public health to the COVID-19 pandemic crisis are quite extensive, reaching to every aspect of life and business in the community and across the nation.

This is only proper, as it is clear that this virus is deadly, without a cure or any medicine that can help those infected by it. For this virus to be declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization is unprecedented, and the lockdowns by communities,  provinces, states and even whole countries is also unprecedented.

The aim is to save lives, if it’s at all possible, and to stop the spread of it so that, eventually, life might return to normal and people can go back to work again, and to have normal activities again.

That being said, there are some adjustments that really have to be made, in the interest of fairness, and in the interest of continuing the essential services that we all still need in our communities.

We can restrict our activities and life in general, but the reality is, we do still have to live. We have to eat, sleep and exist, even if it’s under extraordinary circumstances.

An example of what needs to be changed is in how essential services are allowed to go on.

Take the trucking industry, where the shipment of goods is completely essential in order for people to have the food and household supplies to live.

It makes no sense to allow truckers to continue driving, but then make it impossible for them to do their jobs by not allowing for food outlets or bathrooms to be available. Unless you want to see a trucker doing his or her business on the side of a highway, these truck stops and gas stations have to allow truckers to use the facilities. They cannot be closed to the traveling public.

Even though traveling by the public-at-large is not being recommended, and indeed is strongly advised against, truckers still need to drive, and they have normal bodily functions. It is completely unreasonable to close washroom facilities to them.

Another area that needs changing are the benefits being offered to people who are laid off. What about people who don’t earn enough to qualify for EI benefits, yet are being left without any income at all if their place of work is ordered to be closed under the COVID-19 restrictions? This has to be addressed by the federal government or there are going to be some very real consequences as people won’t have any way to live or eat. This is not an acceptable situation in Canada.