Covid Does Not Discriminate

COVID-19, an unexpected, unanticipated and an unwelcome reality, continues to wreak havoc on society. As we survey the damage and destruction to lives and livelihoods, there have been so many inflection points along the way that need to be examined further.

One of these inflection points is the growing level of COVID related shame, and its corollary ‘shaming’. Stigma and uncertainty about the virus have made people reluctant and fearful of getting tested and/or disclosing their COVID-positive status, past or present. Ironically, while COVID-19 does not discriminate when it comes to infection, sometimes those it could infect do.

I’ve spent some time holding community round tables with community leaders in Calgary and several other unfortunate hot spot areas in our province, endeavoring to hear their concerns and their worries. It has been heartbreaking to hear the stories of families who have been subject to blame, to hear the stories of children who have felt targeted at school, and to hear of certain communities being ostracized due to criticizing and moral policing. This has unfortunately added so much toxicity to the COVID-19 pathogen.

Ultimately, the revelations that have come out of these meetings include the need for greater communication leading to trust and then necessary empathy, essential to defeat this pandemic. There are several layers to this conversation that I will examine further.

The first layer relates to a better understanding of why some parts of the province have been hit harder than others. It is true that COVID-19 has hit ethnically diverse neighborhoods with greater ferocity than other areas. Let’s remember one important fact; COVID-19 does not reside in these communities, but is an unwelcome stranger. Many have speculated as to why, but more conversations need to be had for true empathetic understanding. With respect, I feel I can contribute by first sharing my own story.

I was born and raised in NE Calgary, I am a first generation Canadian. My parents immigrated from India in the late 60s and always worked in front line jobs; those were the only jobs that were available to them. My Mom worked in housekeeping and in order to get to work, she had to take a bus to the train station, hop on the LRT and then walk a few blocks to her place of work. My Father worked for the Canadian Pacific Railroad and more often than not, carpooled to get to the worksite. My uncle was a bus driver, and saw hundreds of passengers every day. My Aunt worked at the meat packing plant, and multiple family members drove taxis (while as a full-time job or during graduate studies). Others worked in grocery stores. Almost all of my relatives were front line workers, and could not make a living unless they left the house, took public transit and worked with the public. Their sense of gratitude for the opportunity to work and be responsible for their own destiny prevailed over any perceived shame at the status of the job. It was all honorable work.

This is the same for many present-day newcomers who have made their homes in Alberta. Although front line workers live everywhere in our province, many of them live in NE Calgary and in some other hot spots in Edmonton. Everyday, they face elevated risks to COVID-19, because they must leave their homes to work. They do so with their heads held high, and certainly deserve our respect. Let us recognize that their interaction with the public means that the probability of contracting the virus is so much higher, despite all precautions. This is one reason as to why the numbers are higher.

Coming back to my story, I also live in a multigenerational household, and so did my parents, and so do many families in the NE. Growing up, I lived in a bi-level home, and our basement was undeveloped so that meant that we all lived on the main floor; my parents, my siblings and occasionally, my grandparents as they made their rounds at our aunts and uncles places. It was wonderful to have this relationship with our grandparents. We had a respectful, dignified way of living and I have cherished memories of these times.

Many families live this way today, including mine. Our four children and their grandparents live with my husband and I. Logistically, in our COVID-19 world, this means that isolating can be difficult, no matter how great the intention and efforts to do so. This is another reason that numbers may be high; when one person gets COVID-19, often the whole household can get affected. COVID-19 spreads like wildfire.

It is important to note that the elders in families such as mine are often nurtured at home in their twilight years, and not in long term care centres. Vulnerabilities to the pathogen exist whether in such a care centre or in the home.

The second layer around this conversation has to do with the shame that some people feel in contracting the virus. When something like this happens, it can be devastating for the impacted person, as he or she grapples with health implications. Some of the first thoughts that comes to mind, are, will I be ok? How could I have prevented this? What did I do wrong? Am I going to be judged at work or by my social circle? Was I not careful enough? I momentarily had the same thought when my husband tested positive; were we not careful enough? We absolutely were, but the reality is, this virus is devious and it hides in plain sight. Spread through respiratory droplets and aerosols that are breathed in, or from touch or contact with an infected surface, there are so many hidden and invisible ways of catching this virus. This means that a COVID positive diagnosis can happen to anyone, anytime and at anyplace.

The third layer requires going a step beyond testing positive, to acknowledging those who test positive, to encourage them in their recovery and to learn from their experience. This will help erode the shame that is associated with a positive diagnosis. When one sees the faces of neighbors, friends, families and leaders sharing their stories, it helps others cope, and will encourage more willingness to ask for help.

This is a terrible time for many families and even as we see some brightness on the horizon with the arrival of various vaccines, we are also in a time that requires heightened compassion, collaboration, cooperation and yes, cultural sensitivity along with kindness. I would ask all Albertans to extend a virtual hand and a virtual open heart to the friends and neighbors who have been impacted by a COVID positive diagnosis and let them know, that there is no shame in this situation. We will have one thing in common with this virus…we will NOT discriminate.