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The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted life across the country, affecting work, school, family and the economy.
Several provinces are now in the midst of the second wave of the pandemic, which is breaking case-counting records and straining health systems. More than 12,000 Canadians have died since the pandemic began.
The federal government is trying to distribute millions of doses of the vaccine – “as quickly as possible,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday – but until then, Canadians continue to face the effects of the pandemic. There are questions about whether schools should stay open or closed, whether there is enough support for struggling businesses, and what to do if you are unable to work from home.
CBC’s The national team hosted a special broadcast on Tuesday evening to address these and other questions about the state of the country during this crisis.
A group of health care and infectious disease experts has addressed concerns about the effectiveness of potential vaccines, whether families can get together over the holidays, and how to keep busy with their family safely.
Other Canadians have shared their stories about how they are coping with the pandemic and their concerns about what lies ahead. They included:
Mom was worried about her children’s mental health
Leah Gibbons lives with her husband Larry, their five children and a four month old grandson in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. Gibbons’ biggest concern as the pandemic rages on is how his children will cope with being locked up in the house together and keeping his income when schools are closed. 1:01
Leah Gibbons is a school bus driver and mother of six who lives in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut. She is not working at the moment because the schools are closed and she is worried about how her children will manage to stay indoors during a long winter. Both Gibbons and her husband are trying to make ends meet as the bills continue to pile up.
Restaurant manager worried if the industry will survive
Meaghan Murray spent 20 years working in the restaurant business. But the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a drastic reduction in her work and pay and she is struggling to pay her bills. He wonders if he will be able to find work in another field. 1:05
Toronto restaurant manager Meaghan Murray has worked in the hospitality industry for over two decades and has seen her hours drastically shrink due to the pandemic. He’s started a few side businesses, including a soup business, but that’s not enough to cover his expenses. Murray says she is unsure what her next career will be and the industry in general.
Real estate agents were concerned about what the second wave means for work, home life
Beth and Ryan Waller live in Guelph Ont., And own and operate their real estate company. Learning to do their homework while supporting their children and making sure they are involved with school was a challenge. But how will the second wave impact their business? 0:57
Beth and Ryan Waller moved to Guelph, Ontario to raise their family and start a real estate company in 2008. Helping their three daughters through home schooling and losing their friends was hard, as was working from home. But they are also anticipating real estate market uncertainty as contagions continue to rise in Ontario.
Gym owner looking to stay profitable
Jennifer Lau’s boutique gym has been closed longer than it has been open, as she first launched the business in August 2019. She says the government has not provided enough support to the health and wellness sector and that he will have to find creative ways to keep his studio profitable. 1:06
Jennifer Lau opened her small business, a boutique gym in Toronto, in the summer of 2019. They were only open for a few months before the first block took place in March. Lau fears he won’t get enough financial support to keep the gym from closing permanently and wonders if the company will survive the second block.
The nurse hopes the pandemic has demonstrated the importance of the community
Verena Rizg lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia and says she is exposed to those who are suffering the most from the COVID-19 pandemic. But he hopes more will recognize the importance of community as it is needed now more than ever. 1:05
Verena Rizg, a Canadian military professional nurse, says she has treated those who suffer most from COVID-19. But it has also seen communities working hard to support each other. He hopes the behavior will stay when the crisis is over.
The logistics coordinator faces the challenges of living alone in Nunavut
Randy Miller is 61 and has lived in Rankin Inlet, Nunavut, for 35 years. The COVID-19 pandemic has made life alone more difficult as he cannot visit friends and family in the south, as he usually does several times a year. 1:02
Randy Miller has lived in Nunavut for 35 years and works as a logistics coordinator for Nunavut Canada. But while he usually visited friends and family in the south several times a year, his visits were cut short due to the pandemic. He says living alone without respite has been difficult.
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