Don’t let your guard down on COVID-19

THE EDITOR, Madam:

Jagmeet Singh features prominently on newscasts across Canada, despite the New Democratic Party losing almost half of its parliamentary seats under his leadership in the 2019 federal election, and trailing miserably behind the Conservatives and Bloc Quebecois on opposition benches. Even when there is little substance in what he has to offer, Singh has never seen a camera that he didn’t like, he constantly pops up on television screens. Maybe he missed seeing the camera because of the rain on May 8 when he exited a car at his parents’ house in Mississauga, Ontario and immediately gave a hug to the passenger. Neither men wore masks, and blatantly broke COVID-19 protocols; the film surfacing almost three weeks later with that age-old undeniable political message :”Do as I say, not as I do”.

Canadians are informed that vaccines are coming faster than anticipated, and by the end of summer we should have all received our second shots, but a quick glance further afield tells a different story, with many countries large and small in far less favourable conditions. Japanese authorities want to host the Tokyo Olympic Games in July, but the over 80 per cent population is against that idea, struggling in an extended state of emergency against a vicious COVID third wave, and only six per cent got vaccinated with their first shot. Melbourne imposed another complete lockdown after a new variant began to spread like an Australian wildfire. Trinidad and Tobago, where I have relatives, has a new lockdown, state of emergency and curfew extending to July 4, with hospitals almost overwhelmed, and India has recorded new cases and deaths every day for the past several weeks. That’s just a few examples, the tip of the COVID-19 iceberg, and Canadians should strive for the whole world to receive the vaccine before any of us can feel really safe, and leave the celebrations and hugging to the likes of Singh.

BERNIE SMITH

Parksville, BC

Canada