Second Wave of COVID-19?

 Here we are smack dab in the middle of September and our local health unit is reporting a sharp increase in COVID-19 cases that resulted from university homecoming festivities and increased traffic at the local bars catering to university students.

Gone are those hopeful days of a few weeks ago when Ontario had fewer than 100 cases a day. The statistic that should rattle everyone is that 67 per cent of Friday’s provincial caseload were people younger than 40.

That’s sobering, given that so many students who arrive here for a top-notch post-secondary education are from Toronto, the GTA and Ottawa. We’ve watched COVID-19 disasters unfold at schools in the U.S.

“The key thing in all of this is that as we look across the province at where outbreaks are happening and we see people moving across the province and as we see people returning to campus or preparing for those fall parties with friends, we have to be vigilant,” associate medical officer of health Alex Summers said.

I’ve tried to be optimistic as we head into the fall and back indoors. I’ve confidence that our elementary and secondary school students, with parental support, can be safe and healthy. But, I’m not so sure about the university and college folks.

Last weekend, a chagrined Delta Upsilon fraternity cancelled its Faux Week 2020 event after realizing planning a bash was a “tone-deaf” in a pandemic. Western and Fanshawe have excellent safety protocols, but they won’t make any difference if off-campus behaviour goes off the rails.

So, to the students, let me be the adult in the room. We’re glad you’re here, but if you think you’re immune to the virus, you’re wrong.

I know we’re all weary, but as tempting as it is to go to a party or social gathering this fall, it’s just too risky. That’s a recipe for outbreaks. Physical distancing, hand washing, masks, social circle of 10 and no large gatherings is the mantra.

“The success we’ve had is because we’ve done our job and we’ve done our part,” Summers said.

Just remember folks, they can lose that success at any moment because university students have an amazing lack of critical thinking!”

The way I see it anyway!