The lights are going up, the stacks of presents under the tree continue to grow, but questions remain about whether the family will be able to crowd around the table for the Christmas turkey.
CanadaB次元官网网址檚 chief medical officer Dr. Theresa Tam asked Canadians to plan for a safe holiday season, one which will look different than ones from years prior.
B次元官网网址淥ur best protection, now and into the holiday season, is to limit errands and outings to the essentials, keep in-person social activities to our existing household and strictly and consistently maintain public health practices,B次元官网网址� Tam said.
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She recommended B次元官网网址渙nline game nights and sharing special meals together virtually with people outside our household, to warmly-dressed, physically distanced walkabouts and cheering our neighbours with decorated balconies, windows and lawns.B次元官网网址�
Some experts warn that COVID-19 may exacerbate the mental health strain of the holidays.
B次元官网网址淭hese next couple of months are going to probably be the hardest,B次元官网网址� said Richard Stanwick, chief medical officer at Island Health. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be that slogging through and mentally trying to tough it out.B次元官网网址�
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Data reveals that calls to B.C.B次元官网网址檚 crisis lines have spiked 27 per cent since the pandemic began, with the number of people reporting poor mental health tripling compared to pre-pandemic times. The Vancouver Island Crisis Society has seen a five per cent rise in call volumes compared to this time last year, with many callers saying they feel anxious and depressed.
B次元官网网址淣ow weB次元官网网址檙e heading into more indoor time, more people who are affected by a lack of light. And then of course on top of that, a holiday season in which weB次元官网网址檙e probably not going to be able to celebrate in the way that weB次元官网网址檙e used to,B次元官网网址� Stanwick said.
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