There were undoubtedly many factors that came into play as health officials scrambled to convince a whole province to turn their lives upside down this year. Judging by the constant stream of information, it looks like repetition was one of them.

Weekly B次元官网网址� and daily during the height of pandemic B次元官网网址� updates from provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry and Health Minister Adrian Dix became part of the afternoon routine for readers and journalists alike. Amid the daily case counts B次元官网网址� oftentimes invoking concern and more questions than answers B次元官网网址� came words of encouragement and direction in how British Columbians could navigate their day-to-day.

In particular, a few dozen catchphrases surfaced B次元官网网址� one that has become so well-known its been sewn onto pillowcases, highlighted on holiday cards and incorporated into how we are told to respond to all the negativity and divisiveness the pandemic has brought with it.

To pay homage to the biggest newsmaker of 2020 B次元官网网址� a virus we wonB次元官网网址檛 soon forget B次元官网网址� Black Press Media has looked back in time to countdown some of the most popular catchphrases that came about:

8. Find virtue in virtual - April 8

Said by Dix in April, ahead of the Easter Long weekend, virtual celebrations became a staple in how British Columbians connect with their loved ones.

B次元官网网址淭his will be a long weekend like we have never experienced,B次元官网网址� Dix said at a news conference at the time. B次元官网网址淚ts religious and family significance is as strong as ever, but we must find other ways to make it memorable, restorative and affirming.

B次元官网网址淔ind the virtue in virtual and telephone connections, find togetherness without gathering, find comfort in your own home with family.B次元官网网址�

7. Stay local, stay apart, stay safe - May 11

Another phrase shared ahead of a long weekend B次元官网网址� this time in May, Dix and Henry urged people to stay close to home and avoid unnecessary travel as the weather started to warm.

At the time, B.C. was looking towards a reopening plan that would see businesses and services restart from the March to May shutdown.

B次元官网网址淪tay apart, stay local, stay safe,B次元官网网址� Dix said. B次元官网网址淲e canB次元官网网址檛 let up.B次元官网网址�

6. Break the Chain Day (BC Day) - July 30

Avoiding a surge in COVID-19 cases through the summer was crucial for health officials. After rules were broken on Canada Day B次元官网网址� leading to big spikes in infections seen across the province originating in Kelowna B次元官网网址� Dix and Henry urged those partaking in August long weekend events to stay small in their gatherings.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 make this long weekend a different one than what we saw in early July,B次元官网网址� Henry said at the time.

Dix meanwhile underscored the critical nature of safe gatherings by taking the B次元官网网址淏.C.B次元官网网址� in B.C. Day and giving alternate and timely meanings: Break the Chain Day, Battle COVID Day, Bend the Curve Day.

5. DonB次元官网网址檛 go, donB次元官网网址檛 throw, say no - Nov 5

Hosting parties got all the more difficult B次元官网网址� and dangerous B次元官网网址� in 2020, due to the virus spreading easiest indoors.

In November, many of the new infections were being traced through contact tracers back to house parties, sparking warnings and threats of fines by health officials.

In a Nov. 5 briefing, Dix said British Columbians should have a simple approach to house parties: B次元官网网址淒onB次元官网网址檛 go, donB次元官网网址檛 throw, say no.B次元官网网址�

4. When in doubt, rule it out - Dec 10

Most recently, ahead of Christmas, health officials placed a ban on social gatherings of all sizes and kinds B次元官网网址� forcing many to adapt their plans over the holidays. But the rules, criticized for being vague, left many unclear as to how their personal situation will be implicated by the restrictions.

For those people, Henry and Dix suggested to be safer than sorry.

B次元官网网址淲hen in doubt, rule it out,B次元官网网址� Dix said in a . B次元官网网址淲hen there is additional risk, rule it out.B次元官网网址�

3. Stick to Six - Sept. 10

Six became an important number in B.C.B次元官网网址檚 pandemic response, specifically when it came to how many people one should have in their social bubble.

B次元官网网址淪tick to six if youB次元官网网址檙e going out to a restaurant or a bar, to make sure your group is no larger than six,B次元官网网址� Dix said during a Sept. 10 news conference.

B次元官网网址淪tick to six if youB次元官网网址檙e hosting a small gathering in your home and if your home is smaller, if itB次元官网网址檚 an apartment like mine, less than six. B次元官网网址淪tick to six when youB次元官网网址檙e going out with others or having them over. Remember to choose from the same six people, not different groups. Stick to six with others outside your host household.B次元官网网址�

2. Bend the curve, not the rules - April 7

At the height of COVID-19B次元官网网址檚 first wave crashing in B.C., Dix and Henry coupled encouragement to those following the rules with stern words for those hindering the province from B次元官网网址渂ending the curveB次元官网网址� of COVID cases.

The term bending the curve, which points to the upwards curve in cases as seen on charts and graphs, also became a popular phrase in the early-to-mid months of 2020.

B次元官网网址淟etB次元官网网址檚 enjoy as much as we can with what we have here and the many blessings we have here, but letB次元官网网址檚 enjoy them without travel.

B次元官网网址淭his is the 12th week Dr. Henry and I have been doing COVID-19 briefings,B次元官网网址� Dix told British Columbians on April 7. B次元官网网址淭o be 100 per cent all in requires a lot of all of you, but we need it now more than ever. When there is some evidence that we are flattening the curve, we need to double down nowB次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪o letB次元官网网址檚 bend the curve not bend the rules. LetB次元官网网址檚 continue to be 100 per cent all in, committed to our collective effort to stop the transmission of COVID-19.B次元官网网址�

1. Be Kind, Be Calm, Be Safe - March 17

A phrase many cannot read in their head without hearing HenryB次元官网网址檚 calming voice, B次元官网网址淏e kind, be calm be safeB次元官网网址� has become a weaving thread in the fabric of B.C.B次元官网网址檚 COVID-19 response.

A simple message, repeated in almost every news conference since March 17 when Henry first used it publicly, has served as a reminder for how British Columbians can calmly navigate the social isolation of the pandemic, how we should show kindness to strangers when following health policies in public and even how we must follow the rules to keep our seniors and each other safe.

ashley.wadhwani@bpdigital.ca
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